2024 has been very successful for the Parkes High School Agriculture Department with success at the Poll Dorset Championships, the annual Schools Wether Challenge and the Parkes Show.

NSW DORSET CHAMPIONSHIPS

The newly formed Parkes High School Show Team, exhibited their 6 school bred ewes in the School and Open classes at the NSW Dorset Championships, coming second in the Ewe under 18 months school division.

SCHOOLS WETHER CHALLENGE

Year 9 Agriculture students attended the National Ram Sale and Schools Wether Challenge in Dubbo.

Over 600 students from 69 schools across NSW participate in the Wether Challenge for a comprehensive insight into the sheep and wool industry.

Over the last 6 months, Year 9 Agriculture students have been preparing six wethers that were donated to the school from Egelabra Merino Stud at Warren.

Students have been teaching the wethers to lead as well as weighing them weekly to gauge their growth rate.

Unfortunately, we were just out of the placing this year however the Parkes High students were awarded highly commended on their knowledge and preparation of the wethers and professional engagement with the judges on both days, during the restocker and carcass classes.

The students did an amazing job preparing and presenting their wethers and these awards were well deserved.

In addition to the competition, students took part in career development sessions, industry workshops ranging from wool classing to carcass evaluation and competing in the young farmer’s challenge.

PARKES HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPION AND RESERVE CHAMPION AT PARKES SHOW 2024

Our Poll Dorset's were exhibited by our students in the show team at this year's Parkes Show.

The team was very successful this year with winning Champion and Reserve Champion in the Dorset Ewe exhibit.

We also won Supreme Champion Female for the British Breed exhibit.

Congratulations to our show team members who have worked hard to prepare our ewes both during classes and after school.

JUNIOR JUDGING -PARKES SHOW

Our students in the show team also competed in the Junior Judging, competing in the grain, wool, Merino sheep and fruit and vegetables.

Our students were successful in the Merino Sheep Judging with Jacob Macrae winning 3rd place, whilst in the Grain Group Final, Anderson Ball was the winner, and he also placed 3rd in the Group Final in Wool.

Anderson will now represent Group 10 and Parkes High School at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2025.

The judges encouragement award was awarded to Manon Sengara for her enthusiasm in the judging classes.

SUCCESS IN THE PAVILION AT THE PARKES SHOW

Our Parkes High School students have also had success in the pavilion with their produce.

This year we exhibited Pumpkins, herbs, beetroots, mandarins, oranges, lemons and eggs.

Again, we were successful with our items grown by students from Year 7–10.

A huge thank you must also go to Mr Brett Davies who has assisted and supported our students, show team and teachers.

By Miss Natasha Shankelton & Mrs Grace Wright

Agriculture Teachers – Parkes High School