On the money

Head shepherd at his family Marlborough property, Muller Station, since June 2023, Ben Satterthwaite and his sister Alice are now involved with the property, alongside parents Steve and Mary, and are kicking their own goals. 

Ben has been back since June 2023 after completing his Diploma in Agriculture and Farm Management at Lincoln University, spending a year and a half shearing in Gisborne, working on a cattle station in Australia for a season and a summer working at Otematata Station.

He’s also been through one of the driest periods for the upper Awatere Valley, making for a challenging home-coming.

“When judging you need to relate it to commercial reality and justify your order, even if it may be in a different order to others.” – Ben Satterthwaite, 2024 National Merino Junior Judging winner, Muller Station

Ben says that most of his understanding of Merinos has come from his parents, Steve and Mary, but getting alongside visiting Australian sheep classers was also helpful in going on to win the 2024 National Merino Junior Judging title at the Wanaka A&P Show.

Ben says he enjoyed the Junior Judging competition and recommends anyone to have a crack.

“When it comes to tips to help score points, it helps if you look over all areas of the fleece. While the mid-side is the best indication of wool, it’s good to talk about the overall coverage, belly and points,” advises Ben.

Ben says you have to be able to verbalise what you see and can’t be shy about talking out loud as it’s important to explain clearly to the judges why you have put the sheep in a particular order.

There were at least 50 people watching the judging process, with D’Arcy Palmer the 2024 judge.

“Relate it to commercial reality and justify your order, even if it may be in a different order to others. Correct handling of the sheep and the wool is important too,” says Ben.

As well as receiving $1,000, Ben says part of the prize he really values is being a guest judge for the following year.

“In 2025, I’ll be able to go around all the sheep sections with the judges and follow along.”

Ben’s win comes on the back of another success for the family business, winning the Westpac Osgrow Seed Marlborough Farmer of the Year for 2023. Since being home, Ben has been working on achieving his private pilot licence (PPL) aircraft rating, out of Kaikoura. Other interests are horse breeding with Ben and Alice both travelling to Australia this year to choose an Australian Stock Horse/Quarter Horse stallion to cover the station mares.

2024 Merino Junior Judging Results

Sponsored by the NZ Merino Company and The NZ Merino Stud Breeders Association. Prize money $1,000 plus a trip to Australia.

• 2024 National Title (hosted by the Wanaka A & P Show Show): 1st Ben Satterthwaite, 2nd Sophie Wright, 3rd Archie Calder, 4th Alexis Faulkner, 5th Louise Stevenson.
• Marlborough (hosted by Blairich): Lou Stevenson, Ben Satterthwaite, Will Brown
• Otago (hosted by Earnscleugh): Archie Calder, Sophie Wright
• Canterbury: Samantha Harmer, Emma Ashworth
• Mackenzie: Alexis Faulkner, Jacob Rollo
• The 2025 competition is open to those under 28-years as of 31 May 2024.