Ag & Primary Industries Report 

Report by Agriculture & Primary Industries Teacher, Ms Bray

2022 has gotten off to quite the trot!

The agricultural department has seen some adventure and new additions this last term. In March the ag farm welcomed six Merino wethers to host for five months. These wethers came from Elegbra Merino Stud in Warren and are in our care until August when they will need to be taken back to Dubbo to complete in the National Merino Wether Challenge, where the wethers are judged on meat and wool quality. This initiative provides the students with a memorable ‘hands-on’ experience covering a broad range of sheep and wool production skills. Students have begun working with the Merino’s getting them halter trained and have already named tag no.135 Wilson. 

March also saw our senior Agriculture and Primary Industry students head out to an on-farm visit at 'Carinya' to observe and learn about pregnancy scanning, artificial insemination and semen collection. Students spent the day chatting with industry professionals Caitlyn Warner and Peter ‘Boff’ Smith, which gave them an insight into the animal breeding and genetics sector of agriculture. 

It was ribbons were all-round at the Narrabri show with our WWHS students enjoying great success. The Young Judges competition saw the students compete against others in the categories of grain, fruit and vegetables, Merino sheep and meat breed sheep.

These competitions allow students to build confidence and skills in the agricultural industry and enhance their understanding of desirable traits in livestock and produce quality. The weekend ended with WWHS' heifers ‘Rose’ and ‘Moscato’ achieving second and third place in the high school led cattle section. Three students, Mackenzie Jones, Caitlyn Coutts-Smith and Megan Crutcher have achieved a spot to compete in the Young Judges group finals in Moree in July. They are to be  commended on this achievement. 

With any luck, the agricultural year should end with hooves clipping into a gallop!