Australian Sheep & Wool Show an annual affair for Weir family's operation

Norm Weir, Kerrilyn Merino stud, Dunluce, has been bringing his sheep to the Australian Sheep & Wool Show for close to 30 years.

"We've been coming to Bendigo since it started," Mr Weird said.

"We actually went to the show when it was in Melbourne for two years before it shifted here."

The 67-year-old bought 28 sheep to the show this year.

He has tasted success in recent years, taking out the champion Victorian ewe title and grand champion medium wool champion two years ago.

However, he admitted the competition was very strong this year.

"We've had some success, but this year we're down the list a bit," he said.

He has been sheep farming since he was young, leaving school at 17 to work on the family farm.

He has a 1000-hectare property and runs 3000 head of sheep.

Mr Weir said it had been a tough season, but it wasn't as bad as the 1982 drought.

"Water is the main issue," he said.

"The dams have been dry.

"We've cleaned out most and and instead of putting the sheep where we want to put them, we've had to put them where the water is."

Mr Weir said he had not yet been forced to buy water.

"We haven't carted any water in yet like we have had to in other years," he said.

"But it does make the management of the sheep harder."

Mr Weir said he loved farming.

He has three grandsons who he hopes will one day follow in his footsteps.

Xander Hamilton, 6, said he would love to one day run his own sheep farm.