It is more important than ever to attend the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in July this year to catch up on all the trends happening in the sheep and wool industry
The Australian Sheep & Wool Show is the largest exhibition of its type in the world. More than 2700 sheep including 25-plus breeds are joined by 30,000-plus show attendees including 5000 farmers and 350 stallholders
The Victorian regional centre of Bendigo is considered a geographical mid-point for farmers across the main sheep producing areas and has been the home of The Australian Sheep & Wool Show (The Sheep Show) since 1999
Sheep breeders along with industry participants gather each year in the Victorian regional city of Bendigo to watch the country’s ‘best of the best’ sheep breeders compete and to celebrate fine food, fibre, fashion all riding on the back of the mighty Australian sheep
The Sheep Show opening times for the 19 to 21 July 2024 are, Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 4pm with the Merino Ram Sale on Sunday from 1pm – 3pm
After a record event in 2023 organisers are busily planning the next big sheep industry event, the ASWS, to be held from the 19 to 21 July 2024 at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds Bendigo VIC.
Feature breed for 2024 is the Dohne and the event will also be welcoming many overseas visitors who have already indicated their plans to attend.
Intense action is assured in the shearing shed, where the Northern Shears competition opens the sporting season and also serves as the only qualification event for the Victorian Shearing and Wool Handling Championships final the following day.
And on the main arena, working dogs and their handlers will showcase their incredible bond and herding skills during the Central Victorian Yard Dog Championships.
Several networking opportunities are available throughout the ASWS, including the Stud Masters Muster on the Friday night and Sponsors and Breeders Cocktail Party on the Saturday evening, when the Grand Champion fleece award will be announced and the Women of Wool lunch on the Friday.
And tomorrow’s industry leaders can be inspired in the Careers and Technology Hub, which focuses on job opportunities and innovative practices and includes keynote addresses by many leaders in the field.
Other highlights include live merino and dorper ram sales; twice-daily fashion parades in the Noble Pavilion running on Friday at 11am and 3pm; and both Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 2pm. In addition, make sure you catch Australia’s largest fibre market exhibition, and the creative genius of Woolcraft Competition entrants, with the theme The World Through Textiles.
About 350 sites will be highlighted around the venue, including over 300 focussed on food, fashion, gifts and homewares. This is alongside 50-plus livestock displays and another 50 exhibits featuring agricultural trade products and services.
This event is where people come to showcase and benchmark against the rest of Australia. And the ASWS can’t wait to welcome everyone back.
The charity partner to benefit from the Australian Fleece Competition is Downs Syndrome with more than $200,000 being donated to various worthy causes since 2001, as wool growers donate fleeces to be auctioned for charity after judging.
The Australian Sheep and Wool Show is on at the Prince of Wales Showground in Bendigo from 19 to 21 July 2024. Tickets are available on this link, starting at $25 for adults and $17 for concessions. Children under 14 are free.
For anyone wanting to attend, view the options available on this link. See the full Australian Sheep and Wool Show program on this link.
