Wool producer Felicity Brady honoured to be Sheepvention’s first female judge

Felicity Brady has many things to be proud of during her career as a wool producer. But she is most proud of being Sheepvention’s first female judge.

Felicity Brady, Stavely park Merinos

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WHEN Felicity Brady started a Merino stud at the age of 16, she was not daunted by the male-dominated industry.

In fact, plenty of the esteemed breeders and classers in the industry took her under their wing and offered not only support, but advice, she said.

Felicity credits those mentors to the success of her Stavely Park Merino stud at Stavely near Glenthompson, which has a band of loyal clients eager to buy her genetics.

Those who helped her included sheep classers Graham Holton and Stuart Hodson, yet her great inspiration came closer to home.

Felicity’s father, Paul Brady, was a shearer and saw first-hand the qualities on a sheep that produced good wool.

“Dad explained that the skin of a sheep indicates its quality as a wool producer,” Felicity said.

She took the advice on, and now classes her own flock, as well as clients’ sheep, and will look to line up the best of her own when she begins showing the Stavely Park flock next year.

She credits her greatest achievement as being the first female judge at Sheepvention at Hamilton, yet takes equal pride in her clients’ flocks and the way they perform.

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