Stephanie Davies from Grenfell says she was shocked to be named NSW champion in the RAS/ASC Merino Fleece Young Judges competition at the Sydney Royal Show.
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"I'm so surprised, I honestly didn't think I was going to make it to the orals section let alone winning," Miss Davies said.
Judge, Chris McDonnell, Gundagai said the 16-year-old was one of the best wool handlers in the competition.
"She was very correct in her observation and being able to distinguish between the fleeces, she also spoke very well, really she was a stand out," Mr McDonnell said.
Miss Davies' grandfather was a wool grower and she comes from a cropping and prime lamb property in Grenfell and attends Henry Lawson High School.
She said her family moved back to Grenfell from Western Australia five years ago and she has been competing in junior judging for the last two years.
"There was a qualifier in my local town and I went alright so I just kept going to other qualifiers and now I'm here," Miss Davies said.
Miss Davies, who qualified in Cootamundra this year, is one of three female placegetters in this year's state final with Emma-Jane Lovell, Dubbo in third place and Louisa Gilmour, Warialda in fifth.
"We've been seeing more and more girls in the finalists in the last few years which is fantastic," Mr McConnell said.
Kieran Smith, Armidale was named reserve champion and Reece Webster, Mudgee came in fourth.
Mr Smith was a 2018 recipient of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF), Rural Scholarship.
