Two young shepherds to world challenge

Katey Craig and Mitchel Hoare will represent New Zealand at the second World Young Shepherds Challenge, in Auvergne, September 30 - October 1.
Katey, 21, is a junior shepherd at Otiwhiti Station in Hunterville, while 19-year-old Mitchel is a senior cadet at Waipaoa Station, near Gisborne.

"The World Young Shepherds Challenge is a fantastic event, showcasing a vital industry and a range of young people from around the globe who have a major contribution to make to the international sheep farming sector," says Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive, Dr Scott Champion.

The competition aims to foster professional development in the next generation of sheep farmers, build strong relationships between the sheep production sectors in each of the countries, and showcase the talent and careers in the sector.

"Sheep farming is an essential industry in New Zealand and a big part of our national economy," says Craig. "This is an awesome opportunity for young shepherds to be recognised and represent their countries at an international level."

Hoare says sheep farming is his passion. "The World Young Shepherds Challenge is a great opportunity for me to meet the next generation of farmers from other parts of the world, as well as a good test of my own knowledge and skills."

The pair were selected after earning top scores in the New Zealand leg of the competition. They will now compete as a team against young shepherds from 15 other countries: Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Scotland, United States, Uruguay, and Wales.

The inaugural World Young Shepherds Challenge was held in New Zealand in 2011. New Zealand's Peter Klaassen, then a student at Lincoln University, won that competition and was named World Young Shepherd.

Hamish Best and Peter Klaassen (pictured) flew the flag for New Zealand in the first World Young Shepherds Challenge, hosted by B+LNZ in 2011