With double the enrolments and growing interest from city-based youth, The Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA) has celebrated a highly successful Young Sheep Handlers Expo, for the second year.
Open to participants aged 9 to 22, the three-day expo offers a unique, hands-on learning experience in sheep handling, husbandry, showing and industry knowledge, equipping the next generation of agricultural leaders with real-world skills and inspiration.
Taking place at Claremont Showground from 10 to 12 July, the annual event welcomed 60 participants – up from 30 last year – reflecting a growing interest among young Western Australians to get involved in the agricultural sector.
The 2025 Award of Excellence and the expo’s highest honour was presented to Phoebe Armstrong, who impressed judges across all categories with her skills, commitment and leadership. As part of her prize, Phoebe – who is based in Margaret River – received a champion’s ribbon, a return airfare to South Australia, and full registration to attend the 2026 South Australian Sheep Expo.
Winners were also recognised in each age division. In the Junior section, first place went to Remy Ives, with Oakley Wilkinson awarded runner-up. The Intermediate division saw Phoebe Armstrong again take out first place, with Tyeson Day named as runner-up. In the Senior category, Andi Osborne claimed the top spot, while Mikayla Vlemmix was awarded runner-up.
Phoebe Armstrong, who took home the 2025 Award of Excellence said:
“I had such an amazing time at the expo. it was a really fun experience and I learnt so many new skills. It was great meeting new people, building my confidence and getting hands-on with the sheep.
“Winning overall was such a surprise and really exciting, but the best part was just being part of it all and seeing how much we could learn in a few days. I’d definitely encourage other young people to give it a go.”
This year’s expo had a field of expert leaders including Royal Agricultural Society of WA’s Perth Royal Show sheep committee councillor in charge Peter Gelmi and Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association of WA president Donald Cochrane.
Peter Gelmi, RASWA Co-Founder and Councillor in Charge, praised the enthusiasm of this year’s cohort and the broader impact of the initiative. He said:
“We started the Young Sheep Handlers Expo to give youth the chance to gain real, hands-on experience with farm animals, often for the first time. It’s incredible to see how much confidence and knowledge they walk away with after just a few days.
“It’s more than just learning to handle sheep, it’s about showing young people that there is a meaningful and rewarding future in agriculture. We’ve already seen students use the skills they’ve gained here to take up further education and even begin pathways into rural careers. That’s what success looks like and it’s why we do what we do.”
The Young Sheep Handlers Expo aligns closely with RASWA’s commitment to increasing youth participation in agriculture.
Over the three days, each participant was allocated a sheep and received an official expo shirt, halter, daily meals, and hands-on mentorship from experienced breeders, educators and industry professionals.
This year’s extended program also introduced new activities such as public speaking, sausage making, and a showcase of wool spinning and weaving, designed to broaden learning and allow participants more time to bond with their sheep.
RASWA extends its sincere thanks to all 2025 sponsors whose generous support helps create accessible, high-quality agricultural experiences for young Western Australians.
For more information about the 2025 Young Sheep Handlers Expo visit raswa.org.au/education/young-sheep-handlers-expo/. A full list of the winners is available in the official Results Catalogue.
(L-R) Image Caption: 2025 Winners pictured at this year’s Young Sheep Handlers Expo
