Young and veteran Lincoln exhibitors get a chance to shine at the ASWS

Veteran exhibitors Rae and Ian Christie, Garvald Lincoln stud, Byaduk, took home the sashes for champion ewe and champion ram at this year's Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo.

"We've been showing since 2001, but before that, the Christie family had been showing for many, many generations," Ms Christie said.

"But most of all, we exhibit because we care, and we want to continue our family tradition, which our son Peter will carry on."

The Chisties have been breeding Lincoln sheep ever since the Garvald stud was registered in Australia in 1873.

Judge Caitlin Grieve, Clarkes Hill, said the grand champion ram was "nice and dominant".

"It was a pretty good example of the breed," she said.

Ms Christie said what made the Lincoln special was its versatility with meat and wool.

"The sheep have a broad and lustrous wool, which grows an inch a month with adequate feed," she said.

"They're carcase sheep as well, so they're dual purpose."

The Christies run 60 Lincolns on their 202-hectare farm, but fear government restrictions on importing overseas genetics may hinder the development of the breed for the future.

"Our genetic pool is extremely small because you can't bring anything in," Ms Christie said.

"So we have to swap within the few breeders that are there in Australia.

"It's a good thing because it keeps the diseases out of Australia, but harder for us to develop good genetics.

"You can't just keep breeding within your own little nucleus because eventually you get into trouble or you get faults."

Ms Grieve gave Geelong Grammar School the award for most successful exhibit.

A group of students from the school had been participating in an agriculture and horticulture program, where they had been taking care of Lincoln and Corriedale sheep after school.

"We practice handling them and getting them used to being shown when we come to shows," year 12 student Grace Nadorp said.

Ms Nadorp is the only student among the group attending the show who does not come from a farming family.

"It's really great that I can have a go at this and have the opportunity to go to events like this," she said.

Geelong Grammar School estate manager Matt Dickinson said he hoped the program would help to get more young people into the agricultural industry in the future.

"The core group of students really enjoy working with the animals and spending time with each other in that environment," he said.

"For some of them, it's a lot less stressful than being in a classroom.

"I hope the program has raised the students' interest in farming, and I think a lot of them will consider going into the industry in the future."