Australia's biggest sheep how is planning at return in 2021, overcoming the uncertainty of Covid-19, with organisers making plans for July 16, 17 and 18.
The Australian Sheep and Wool Show, held at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds, Bendigo, Victoria, is one of the worlds biggest stages for all breeds of sheep as well as the nations largest fleece competition.
Event CEO Margot Falconer said herself and the board are cautiously optimistic that the show will go ahead in July.
"We are currently in the process of applying for government approval to go ahead with the event," Ms Falconer said.
"Every major event has to submit a Covid-19 safe plan, making sure we tick all the boxes."
Entry numbers in recent years have sat around 2000 with Merinos normally attracting the largest interest drawing entries from all over Australia.
"The Merino section normally constitutes for a big proportion of entries - nearly half of the sheep numbers," Ms Falconer said.
"We have had up to 2500 in other years, but we are hoping to get at least around that 2000 mark."
The 2021 feature breed is the Border Leicester, rolled over from the 2020 planned schedule which was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Ms Falconer said she had recently written to all breed societies asking to update their schedule and begin organising judges.
The annual Australian fleece competition is the largest fully measured fleece competition in the world and 2021marks its 20th year.
Run jointly by the Australian Sheep Breeders Association, Australian Wool Testing Authority and Nutrien Ag Solutions, the competition attracts fleeces from every wool growing state and caters for all major wool types.
All fleeces are weighed and sampled for objective measurement under the standard procedures of the AWTA and are also assessed by two industry experts.
Ms Falconer said all sponsors are in and all signed off on, and all hopes are they will attract the largest entries of fleeces in the history of the competition.
The Women of Wool luncheon as well as fashion parades, shearing, fibre markets and of course ram sales are all scheduled to go ahead as usual, all following Covid-19 safe rules and restrictions.
"It's about putting the show on again the best way we can to keep everyone safe," Ms Falconer said.
"We are just really hoping that by July, we have one hell of a show!"
Ms Falconer said ASWS organisers were keen to hear from anyone who hoped to participate in the July event.
They can email ceo@sheepshow.com to find out more.
