Two young New Zealand shepherds will be taking on the world's best next week, in an international test of sheep farming skills.
Hamish Best and Peter Klaassen (right) flew the flag for New Zealand in the first World Young Shepherds Challenge, in 2011. Photo: Supplied
Katey Craig and Mitchel Hoare will represent New Zealand at the second World Young Shepherds Challenge in Auvergne, France.
Katey, 21, is a junior shepherd at Otiwhiti Station in Hunterville, while 19-year-old Mitchel is a senior cadet at Waipaoa Station, near Gisborne.
The pair were selected after earning top scores in the New Zealand leg of the competition.
They will compete as a team against young shepherds from 15 other countries from Europe, North and South America, Ireland and the UK.
The inaugural World Young Shepherds Challenge was held in New Zealand in 2011. New Zealand's Peter Klaassen, then a student at Lincoln University, won that competition and was named World Young Shepherd.
The competition aims to foster professional development in the next generation of sheep farmers, build strong relationships between the sheep production sectors in each of the countries, and showcase the talent and careers in the sector.