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Catching the Bug – Why Shearing Competitions Matter
You can smell it in the air again – that mix of lanolin, sweat, and freshly shorn sheep. The shearing competitions are back for another season, and whether you’re a seasoned open-grade legend or a first-time novice just trying to keep your nerves (and comb) steady, there’s something about competition that hooks you right in. And once you catch the bug… you’re done for. In the best possible way. Sharpening the Trade Competitions arent just about ribbons or trophies – they're a
Oct 276 min read
Good Bastards of the Shed
Every industry has them, but ours seems to breed them — the good bastards. You know the ones. The people who make a hard day’s graft not just bearable, but bloody enjoyable. The ones who bring the shed alive, keep everyone moving, and remind us why we love this mad job in the first place.
Aug 315 min read
The Woolshed Rumour Mill – Grinding Good People Down
You can hear it before you see it. Not the whine of the handpiece or the thump of the press — I’m talking about that other sound. The low murmur in the pen. The side-eye at smoko. The whispered “Did you hear…?” that travels faster than a bloody southerly up the Waitaki Valley.
Aug 186 min read
Too Tough to Struggle? Bullshit!Let’s Talk, Let’s Listen!
In this industry, “hard” is part of the job description. Long days, sore bodies, tough sheep, tight schedules, no sick days, little...
Aug 116 min read
Flu Season in the Shed: What You Need to Know (and How to Dodge the Worst of It)
Ah, flu season. That time of year where half the crew’s coughing like old Massey Fergusons and the other half are popping Panadol and...
Aug 46 min read
Quit Ya Whingeing — Start Bloody Talking
There’s a fine line in our industry between having a good ol’ whinge and actually doing something about what’s pissing you off. And I get it — life in the sheds, on the farms, or just bloody existing some days — it can be hard yakka.
Jul 288 min read
Fit for the Season – Mental Strength in the Pressure Cooker
Shearing season doesn’t ease you in. It chucks you straight in the deep end, boots and all. Cold mornings, long days, tired bodies,...
Jul 213 min read
Fuel for the Grind: What It Really Takes to Get Through a Day in the Shed
The days are long, the sweat’s real, and if you’re not fuelling the machine right — you’ll hit the wall and stay there. This is your no-bullshit guide to feeding the body, firing the brain, and getting through the day without falling apart.
Jul 1413 min read
Subzero Starts & Serious Safety: A Timely Yarn on Driving Smart
The mornings are getting colder, and subzero starts are creeping in. Vans are frosting over, black ice is waiting in the usual spots, and...
Jul 74 min read
"Who’s Watching You? Role Models in the Shearing Industry"
Every one of us has a yarn about someone who shaped us — for better or for worse. Could’ve been the first person who showed you how to...
Jun 308 min read
Make Your Money Work as Hard as You Do: Smart Money Moves in the Shearing Game
Why 'Saving for a Rainy Day' Still Matters ☔
We work with and against Mother Nature. That means jobs can get canned last minute when the weather turns. A couple of wet weeks with no work and no coin coming in? That's when savings can keep your head above water.
Jun 238 min read
DRUGS IN OUR INDUSTRY: A HARD LOOK AT A SHITTY REALITY
This isn’t about being the fun police. It’s about calling out the reality. Because over the years, drugs have become a harmful blight on what good does happen within the industry. And there is good — tonnes of it. Bloody good people doing bloody good work, day in and day out.
Jun 1617 min read
Sort Your Shit — Because Sharp Nights Make Sharp Mornings
A selection of shearing gear essentials We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: you can’t half-arse this job and expect significant...
Jun 88 min read
Beyond the Beers: What Happens Next?
Last week we ripped the top off the drinking culture in the sheds — and holy hell did it pop off. The response was bloody huge. And not...
Jun 25 min read
Booze, Bullshit & Breaking the Cycle – Time for a New Culture in the Shearing Game
Let’s rip the band-aid off – we’ve got a drinking culture in the shearing industry that’s long overdue for a shake-up.
May 269 min read
Bush Mechanics & Shed Fixes: A Homage to Getting Shit Done
Let’s face it: if rural New Zealand had a flag, it would probably be a piece of duct tape flapping off a busted tail light on a Hilux....
May 214 min read
We’re All in It Together: Why Teamwork is Essential in the Shearing Game
Let’s not beat around the bush—shed work is hard graft. From sun-up to sundown, it’s a high-pressure gig, and every role in the wool chain cops it in some way. It’s noisy, physical, bloody hot or freezing cold, and there’s always someone wanting something done five minutes ago.
But here’s the real kicker: no one gets the job done alone.
May 196 min read
The Truth Hurts — But So Does Losing Our Own
We’ve had the kōrero. The hard yarns. The uncomfortable truths about suicide and mental health in our sheds. But let’s take it a step...
May 142 min read
Having the Hard Yarns — When It’s Time to Speak Up
We’re not always the best at talking, are we?
Especially not when it’s about the stuff we can’t fix with a change of comb, a squirt of oil or a yarn at smoko.
May 124 min read
🧠 Staying Strong in the Shed: 5 Health & Wellbeing Tips Every Shearer Needs
Life in the shearing shed is hard yakka. It’s early mornings, long days, heavy lifting, and mental focus from go to whoa. Whether you’re on the handpiece, handling wool, pressing, penning up, managing the teams or the farm — the work takes a toll.
That’s why looking after your health and well-being isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.Here are five practical ways to stay strong in the shed, from start to finish.
May 32 min read
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