Open to young people between 18 and 30, the 12-month scholarship honours the late Peter Westblade, a Lockhart sheep producer passionate about breeding profitable sheep and supporter of young people interested in agriculture.

The 2018 scholarship recipient and Tasmanian woolgrower, Anna Cotton, is touring the processing sector in Italy.

Anna has followed her clip to the processing stage at the woollen mills where it will be spun into high-end fabric for clothing.

Scholarship executive officer Georgie McGuiness said the scholarship provided hands-on experience and mentoring for young participants.

The 2019 recipient will be involved in the industry’s largest commercial genetic trial, receive practical training, travel and the opportunity to develop wider networks of key industry contacts.

Applications close on Friday, December 21 at 5pm with applicants short-listed in early February for interviews by an industry panel.

The 2019 Peter Westblade Scholarship recipient will be announced at a dinner in Wagga on Thursday April 4, 2019.