A DAY of interaction and learning is how Grenfell Merino specialist Rick Power describes Merino ewe flock competitions.
"It's unfortunate we call them a ewe comp, because breeders don't spend enough time with their fellow woolgrowers to see what they are doing and how they do it," Mr Power said.
"That's the idea of a ewe comp.
"Sheep breeders don't leave the farm very often unlike grain growers who will travel for hours to a cropping field day.
"It's not about winning the blue ribbon, it's about what the fellow woolgrowers do in their area and how you can do it better and learn from others.
"And getting the judges to come from outside of your area. It's really free advice in sharing their knowledge and wisdom of what they have learnt and life experiences over the years."
Mr Power was chief steward of the Boorowa competition for 10 years before passing it on, then helped establish the Caragabal fixture and also aids in the regional Southern Tablelands final.
As a sheep classer, he is also Nutrien Ag Solutions' NSW Merino sheep specialist based at Grenfell.
He says the property visits are enlightening.
"They are about going up driveways you've never probably been up and inspecting a near lifetime of Merino selection at each property," he said.
"I think it is great for a stud breeder to see his client succeed. It is the stud breeder's investment in his genetics and it's his client's investment as well as to how he can get those genetics to perform at the commercial end.
"From a sheep classer's point of view, I think it is good reward for your services and the vision of what you think their flock should look like and how you class them up.
"It's rewarding for the classer as it is for the breeder."
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