Darkan Sheepfest proudly presents our Young Judges Competition, celebrating the enthusiasm, knowledge, and talent of emerging agricultural leaders.
Inspired by the traditions of the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia, this competition provides students with an exciting opportunity to develop practical judging skills in a supportive environment.
Participants will gain valuable industry exposure, build confidence, and connect with professionals passionate about nurturing the next generation. Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings.
Competition Categories:
• Merino Sheep Young Judges • Meat Sheep Young Judges • Merino Fleece Young Judges • Grain Young Judges
Introducing in 2026 Zara Horley Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the winner of the Merino Sheep Young Judges competition.
This special trophy honours the memory of Zara Horley, who was a valued local young person. It celebrates the passion, dedication, and spirit of youth within agriculture.
Saturday 14 March 2026
Location: Darkan Sheepfest – adjacent to the Show Shearing and Wool Handling
10:00am Education sessions for each of the sections by industry leaders.
12:30pm Judging begins.
Presentations will take place at the end of the day at the Shearing and Wool Handling shed.
There is an online entry form that should be completed by shearers and wool handlers wishing to compete at the 2026 Darkan Sheepfest.
CLICK HERE to complete online entry form and payment.
This year Darkan Sheepfest Shears and Wool Handling will be held in the Darkan Township on the corner of Fisher Street and Coalfields Highway, Darkan.
Nomination fee for Open, Senior, Intermediate is $50, Novice Entry fee is $20
Entry Fee for Wool Handling, Open and Senior is $50, Novice Entry Fee is $20
The competition will be run on Saturday 14 March, with registrations open at 8:00am. Heats to start at 8.30am sharp, and Novice division will compete first.
This is a clean shears event and will be run under the West Australian Competition Shearing Association rules (WACSA). This show will be included in the WACSA circuit.
Our volunteers are ready to bring back Darkan Sheepfest as a full “Good Old-Fashioned Country Show” after a rest in 2025, when the shearing and wool-handling competitions were run as a stand-alone event.
With new volunteers on board and some of the old stalwarts taking a step back or bowing out altogether, there are new ideas simmering to add a new flavour to this well loved community event.
The date for Sheepfest in 2026 will be Saturday 14 March.
The Darkan Sheepfest Shearing and Woolhandling Competition is set to take place on Saturday, February 8th, 2025. With a 9am sharp start (beginning with Novices). Participants are reminded that registration closes at 8:30am, so be sure to get there early to secure your spot if you haven’t put an entry in. Entry for this event is by prior registration only, so it’s important to submit your entries as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
Please note that this year, only the shearing event will be featured—no other activities will be held on the oval (although food will be available) so it’s all about the woolhandling and shearing skills on display!
Act Belong Commit Darkan Sheepfest President, Jodie King, cannot have more passion for sheep, wool and involving young Australians in the industry.
“I’m so excited to see The Next Generation Hub at Sheepfest this year. There are so many young people getting involved in the wool industry, this is our future for the next 50 years and I think it is in very capable hands!”
Jodie King
The Next Generation Hub is set to be a buzzing meeting place for youth at Act Belong Commit Darkan Sheepfest. There will be interactive activities as well as industry representatives present for meet and greet opportunities. These include Rural Ambassadors and Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia Next Gen Committee members Lauren Patane and Chloe Blight, WA Shearing Ambassadors, and Western Australian College of Agriculture representatives.
Jodie King, Act Belong Commit Darkan Sheepfest President.Ag College student Zaine Cuthbert, from Darkan, will be competing at the 2024 Darkan Sheepfest.
A LARGE addition to our 2024 show will be a bright purple semi-trailer, the iNSTRUCKTA that is taking road safety up a level in Western Australia.
It’s an interactive, technology-driven educational space that teaches current and future road users how to safely interact with heavy vehicles. Those at the show will be able to immerse themselves in the virtual reality and also climb up and sit in the prime mover to get a first-hand view of where the truck driver’s blind spots are.
Given the number of road trains that travel through Darkan each day, this will be a great opportunity for visitors to Darkan Sheepfest to learn more about how to safely share the road with these heavy vehicles.
We are back again for Sheepfest 2024! Our supreme champion who had it all last year was Da KING raised by Racheal Quill. Who will take out the prize this year?
Event Categories are: Best Name Best Looking Best Behaved
Your pet could then be sashed ‘Supreme Pet Sheep Champion’.
To enter, simply post a photo of your pet sheep, with your sheep’s name, age, and home town on our Facebookpost HERE.
Entries close on 1st February 2024. If you are a finalist we will be in touch then to invite you to our show.
The 2024 Act Belong Commit Darkan Sheepfest will focus on The Next Generation – reaching out to all Young Australians to ignite their passion for sheep and wool.
New this year will be The Livestock Collective’s Virtual Reality Experience. Come along and experience what it’s like on a live export ship through VR!
Australian Wool Innovation has a new Show Challenge, and Sheepfest has introduced a Toy Shearing Competition for kids. The WA Rural Ambassador and Wool Ambassador will be at Sheepfest to meet and greet, and there will be representatives to talk to about Wool in schools.
We will also have our regular events and activities including Australiana Wool & Natural Fibre Fashion Show, Sport Shear Competition, Wool Handling Competition, Best Pet Sheep, Young Farmer Challenge, Ewe Hogget Competition, Farm Boot Foot Race, Free Kids’ Entertainment, Junior Merino Judging, Market Stalls, Log Chopping, Hillman Farm Skydivers Sunset Dive, Live Band & Baa!
Act Belong Commit Darkan Sheepfest is now more than a sheep and wool show. The event is a testament to the cultural and economic value that a show can provide to a community and town.
Act Belong Commit Darkan Sheepfest was held on Saturday 11th February at the Darkan Town Oval, hosting a record crowd with estimates of over 2,800 in attendance. The theme this year was ‘Putting Wool Back on the Table’ and included the promotion of an online media campaign called #woolworkforce.
Special guest presenters Emily Riggs, creator of South Australian clothing label Iris and Wool, and Steve Noa, owner of The Merino Polo company, both shared their personal stories and passion for wool. Both animated and at times emotional, it made for a unique broadcast around the entire showgrounds.
Best pet Sheep competition at the Darkan SHeepfest 2023, judged by Heather Ewert of the ABC Backroads program.
Act Belong Commit Darkan Sheepfest President, Pam Stockley, sees the benefits firsthand of what a local show brings –
“Ironically a locally run rural show is very universal. It brings together a diverse range of volunteers from different ages, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds. Everyone contributes varying skillsets, knowledge, and experiences to enhance the show. In the lead-up to a show, there is a buzz of energy in the community and a swelling of pride for the town and surrounding shire they live in. A visitor at Sheepfest made the comment that our show wasn’t just about sheep and wool it was about our people.”
An influx of visitors to a town often leads to return visits, generating an increase in economic growth for businesses and in turn benefits their employees and families. Shire of West Arthur CEO, Vin Fordham Lamont, explains –
“A rural show does involve a lot of planning and work to put together, but it is definitely worth the effort. The tourism that a show generates, and the spending tourists do in small towns are invaluable. The recent demand for short-term holiday rentals in our Shire has increased greatly and it is starting to have a flow-on effect with a renewed interest in long-term rentals and business opportunities. Small country shows like Act Belong Commit Darkan Sheepfest certainly have their rewards.”
Darkan has recently been given the opportunity of being highlighted on the Australian tourist map by featuring in the next season of ABC Television Back Roads documentary series. ABC Producer, Louise Turley, can attest to shows being good for a town –
“Back Roads is a very successful television program that celebrates rural life and communities. Many of the towns we visit have an annual show or event that brings everyone together. In often remote places, these occasions are vital to the health and well-being of the community. Sheepfest has become synonymous with the town of Darkan and is an exemplar of how transformative events like this can be. The towns on Back Roads can be very isolated yet after the episode airs, people have been known to travel from the other side of the country to visit them. I am looking forward to the time that Australia gets to see Darkan.”
BEST PET SHEEP COMPETITION 
Best Name
