A group of female competitive sheep shearers from New Zealand are set to drop in for a demonstration to students at Newtown College on Wednesday, June 19.

Last year they starred in ‘She Shears’, a film investigating what drives women shearers to sacrifice so much personally and professionally to follow their dream to win The Golden Shears.

For legends, Jills Angus Burney and Emily Welch, personal bests have been world records. Encouraged to quit in her 50s by her orthopaedic specialist, Jills found a second career as a High Court barrister and solicitor, but she says you can’t keep her away from the Golden Shears, the world’s top shearing competition.

Emily Welch is one of New Zealand's first and most successful female shearers, and is the current World Record Holder for shearing 648 lambs in nine hours (overtaking Jills’ 2007 record). Emily is mother to 3 small children and also finds the time to run her own shearing contracting company, coordinating shifts for dozens of contract shearers every season.

Central Otago shearer and wool handler Pagan Karauria returned to the Golden Shears last year following a horrific car accident that tragically killed two of her friends and left her with severe injuries. She believes her true determination lies in beating the terrible internal injuries suffered in that accident. She now mentors other young women to become champion shearers.

They are also this year’s keynote speakers for the Farming Connect Women in Agriculture event and will tell the story of passion, purpose and determination.

Booking is essential and light refreshments will be provided half an hour before the classes. For more information or to book your place, contact Farming Connect’s Service Centre 0845 6000 813 or visit the website at www.gov.wales/farmingconnect