The NSW Alpaca Youth group celebrated the 10th anniversary of their annual Alpaca Youth Camp at Cambewarra.
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The camp, which attracted more than 35 youngsters between 12 and 14, was held at the Cambewarra property of Ian Davison, and drew young alpaca enthusiasts from all over the state.
Senior members from the Hunter, Highlands, and South Coast also attended.
Alongside them were junior members from schools including Vincentia High, Tomerong Public, Nowra Anglican, and closer to Sydney, Elderslie High, Menai High and Cranebrook High.
The youth camp is run by graduates who were once the founding students of the first camp in 2010.
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All the young leaders are volunteers despite being active university students or in the workforce.
The camp aims to encourage interest and develop skills in a broad range of rural activities, with an emphasis on fun.
Activities were directly related to alpacas, such as showmanship, stockmanship, fleece classing, husbandry, and judging, with intent to compete at their local agricultural shows.
Of a general nature, common agricultural skills were covered such as the use of knots and tie-downs, hitching a trailer safely, identification and use of tools, public speaking, alpaca art, setting an electric fence, all of which would open doors for those choosing to work on the land.
Illawarra Alpacas mentor Janie Forrest, said it was "an exceptional opportunity for children to experience a farm in a safe, friendly and family environment".
"Additionally, it provides opportunities for animal handling rare to urban dwellers," she said.
"We hope to excite children about working, living, and having a future in rural Australia."
The weekend was punctuated by regular breaks for generous meals, relieving dips in the pool, and a mega-thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon, delivering three inches of rain and landing many campers in the shearing shed.
The weekend concluded with a competition, in which teams of participants completed a course testing some of the skills learnt over the weekend.
The challenge served as an introduction to the Young Farmers Challenge conducted at the Sydney Royal Show and multiple agricultural shows throughout the state.
Rural Agricultural Society's Rural Achiever 2022 Katy Armson-Graham, convener of the camp, was "delighted to see such a range of ages win the Young Farmers Challenge event".
"It was so good to see effective mentorship in action," she said.
Local mother Rachel Hollaway, whose children attended the camp, said more ag teachers should know about this event.
"Their agriculture students would learn so much and have such fun," she said.
The NSW Youth Group now looks forward to upcoming agricultural shows in Nowra this weekend, February 4-5, Goulburn (March 5-6) and Camden (October 22).
These will be a prelude for the 200th anniversary of the Sydney Royal Easter Show (April 8-19), where they will be involved in Alpaca Youth Showing and Stockmanship, Young Judges Competition, public demonstrations, Little Hands on the Land, and leading alpacas in the Grand Parade.
Parents, Ag teachers, or aspiring Alpaca Youth members are encouraged to contact the Alpaca Youth Group should they wish to become more involved at alpacayouth@gmail.com
