She's shear class!
The rise and rise of top-class female shearers is a growing phenomenon in NZ – especially during recent times.
The media response to sheep shearing's potential as a Commonwealth Games demonstration sport, if not the Olympics, has gone international.
"Shearing as a demonstration sport has gone viral," says Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson, with the Australian, UK and US media picking it up.
"I've had interviews with BBC regional stations but am being interviewed by Skype for BBC One.
"I've also checked Google News and shearing sport has generated at least 262 news items. From ESPN and a Washington Post blog to Britain's Daily Telegraph, you can say it has grabbed imaginations the world over.
"Some of it may drip with sarcasm but it's giving us the chance to tell people overseas that sheep don't die for their wool. Unbelievable as it may sound to Kiwi ears, some people overseas believe wool is like fur.
"While wool is natural, renewable and completely sustainable, it needs more and perhaps sport provides that magic.
"Our shearing athletes, men and woman alike, are in peak physical condition. When people wear New Zealand wool it has come from the work of people like of Ivan Scott and Kerri-Jo Te Huia.
"We can also add Stacey Te Huia and Sam Welch. Yesterday, they broke a 16-year world record for two-stand nine-hour ewe-shearing.
"I'm under no illusion that this will take time but given the big eight sheep counties are China, Australia, India, Iran, Sudan, New Zealand, Nigeria and the United Kingdom, shearing is more global than many people think," Maxwell says.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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