Leeton’s Ellie Quinn, Elise Walker of Rankin Springs and Ben Patrick from Yass were chosen from a total of 30 applicants by a panel of industry judges on February 13.

The finalists will attend the MerinoLink conference in Temora, NSW, on March 5, with the winner announced that evening.

Now entering its third year, the scholarship will provide cash and in-kind support worth up to $10,000 over a 12-month period.

The winner will benefit from practical skills training, mentoring and the establishment of industry networks.

Open to young people aged 18 to 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.

An agricultural teacher, Ellie Quinn applied for the scholarship to further her knowledge of best practice technologies in the sheep and wool industry.

Ben Patrick has worked in the sheep and wool industry for the past five years, and wishes to strengthen his professional interest in Merino genetics.

Elise Walker seeks to gain an understanding of sheep management, genetics, breeding values, technology and software.

The 2013 recipient Annabel Lugsdin grew up on a pastoral property at Hay and now works for Temora wool brokers, Moses and Son.

The scholarship enabled Ms Lugsdin to attend workshops and field days on lamb eating quality, sheep genetics, technology, ewe management, nutrition, objective measurement and visual assessment.

“Being part of the scholarship has been a great experience – it has given me the opportunity to create a rounded and invaluable network for both my personal and professional life with like-minded people,” she said.

Ms Lugsdin now works with MerinoLink Limited and Australia’s largest commercial genetic trial, the Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge.