Representing South Australia: Tom Megson (18)
Tom is the South Australian state finalist at the 2021 Agricultural Shows Australia National Young Judges finals held at the Royal Queensland Show. Agricultural Shows of Australia sat down with Tom (while he was driving a tractor) to learn a bit about his story with sheep.
I’m from a small town called Kanmantoo in the Adelaide Hills. It’s about 1/2 way between Adelaide and Murray Bridge. I went to Oakbank Area School where I studied agriculture and also was part of their show team, first with goats and then with Merino wethers.
I was involved at the Royal Adelaide Show in the Schools goat team and also part of the Schools merino wether team. I recently was a judged some Merino Fleece at a Country Show, Mannum. Also got some practice with judging Meat Sheep at my local show, Mt Barker Show.
Work wise, I started a traineeship on Lucernbrae Merino Stud farm in April this year. It’s just a 1/2 hr drive from where I live. In ten years time, I hope to still be working in the Agricultural industry at this stage not sure doing what but I finish of my three year traineeship and see what happens next
I started competing in Junior Judging at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2018 because another student, Nick Leech, from my school was going to do Merino fleece and sheep judging so I thought I’d give it a go. My relief ag teacher Mark Commane gave me a quick run down on how to do the judging just before the event.
Subsequently, in 2019 my mother, Glenys, put my name down to a few of the sheep junior judging events at the Royal Adelaide Show seeing as I was going to be down there for the School. I competed in the meat sheep, prime SAMM ram, Merino fleece and Merino sheep competitions.
I actually came 2nd in the State Young Judges Championship for the Meat Sheep Breeds but fortunately for me the young lad who won was just under age to represent at the National level so that’s why I’m heading to Ekka.
My favourite show is probably the Yorke Peninsula Field Day at Paskeville, and looking at all their big machinery on display. And I enjoy watching the fireworks at the end of the night at the Royal Adelaide Show.