Runner-up was Manning Doughty, 27, a manager in a commercial livestock operation at Hay and Hillston. He will receive support to the value of $1000 under the scholarship.
Such was the calibre of the finalists in the prestigious sheep and wool industry’s Peter Westblade scholarship that joint winners have been announced.
Young sheep industry professionals Josh Molloy and Emily Anderson were chosen from a field of 24 applicants from NSW, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania by a panel of industry judges.
The winners were announced at the Peter Westblade Scholarship dinner at the Cache Function Centre, Wagga, on March 2.
Josh Molloy works in the family sheep and wool enterprise at Yerong Creek in southern NSW while Emily Anderson, 24, is from Binda, NSW..
Now entering its fifth year, the scholarship will provide cash and in-kind support worth up to $10,000 over a 12-month period.
The winners will benefit from practical skills training, mentoring and the establishment of industry networks.
Open to young people aged 18-30, the scholarship honours the late Peter Westblade, a Lockhart sheep producer passionate about breeding profitable sheep, and a supporter of young people interested in agriculture.
Runner-up was Manning Doughty, 27, a manager in a commercial livestock operation at Hay and Hillston. He will receive support to the value of $1000 under the scholarship.
Emily Anderson graduated from the University of New England in 2012 and has worked in the family’s sheep and wool enterprise at Binda. She also works part-time for a local contract shearing team.
Miss Anderson’s career goal is to participate in industry networks and groups, and identify and implement improvements to the family farm business.
“I would like to take advantage of the opportunities this scholarship provides to expand my skill set and to gain a better understanding of the many facets of the sheep and wool industry,’’ she said.
Josh Molloy has worked both on and off-farm in the sheep and wool industry since leaving school.
He applied for the scholarship with the expectation of meeting industry leaders and young people with a passion for sheep and wool.
“I would like to learn more about genetics, explore new technology and study the wool processing pipeline from farm to final product,’’ Mr Molloy said.