LAMBEX will be held on August 5-7 in Perth, Western Australia and it’s the third time the Young Guns Competition has been held.

The Young Competition has secured the Australian White Suffolk Association and National Australia Bank as sponsors and the event aims to reward and encourage young and upcoming producers, industry professionals and scientists to consider a future or ongoing career in the Australian lamb industry.

The three Young Guns competition categories include high school students; undergraduate, honours, masters or PhD students; and early to mid-career producers and professionals (aged 40 years and under).

Entrants must submit a 350-word response to the question: The Australian lamb and sheepmeat industry has a bright future, it is currently worth an estimated $4.38 billion to the national economy and has grown significantly in the past decade. Identify and discuss a key opportunity within the Australian lamb industry and how it will influence the future of the sheep and lamb sector?

A Selection Panel will then choose the nine finalists – three from each of the three categories – who will each receive up to $800 for travel and/or accommodation, one complimentary LAMBEX conference pass and a complimentary pass to a Professional Development Workshop on Sunday, August 5, 2018.

Three winners will be chosen after finalists deliver a four-minute presentation to the judging panel at the event, including a one-page PowerPoint slide and a poster on their lamb industry involvement.

The winners will each receive a $1000 cash prize and be interviewed on the main stage in front of the LambEx 2018 audience.

LambEx 2018 chair Bindi Murray said the competition helped to promote the many opportunities available in the lamb industry to a younger audience.

“It’s important to help support and provide opportunities for young people in agriculture,” she said.

“We need to ensure more young people become involved in the sheep and lamb industry to build on the current buoyancy and help secure its ongoing success.”

Ms Murray said the competition would focus on a wide range of topics within the industry.

“On-farm project topics could focus on research, development and extension projects, genetics, animal production, pasture and grazing management, marketing, environment, welfare, health, or e-technology,” she said.

“Off-farm subjects could include transport, processing, storage, retail, food service, new product development, marketing and exports, as well as social and cultural aspects or communication.

Entries are now open and close on Friday, April 13. Click HERE for more information.