Mr Hartwich grew up at Ballyrogan which is south east of Ararat, and is proud to present Victoria.

"It's a privileged to be able to represent Victoria," he said.

"It will be a good opportunity to met more people in the industry and learn a bit."

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Mr Hartwich, aged just 22, works full time on his family farm, along with his father and brother. He is the fourth generation to work that farm, Mt Challicum, which has a commercial flock of around 12,000 along with a Merino stud.

The primary focus of the operation is fine wool production.

"We look to target 15-17 micron wool," Mr Hartwich said.

It is this background that allowed Mr Hartwich to develop a keen eye for the breed at an early age.

"I've been judging at local shows. Growing up with it, it's an interest of mine."

He will participate in the competition, where he judges four ewes and four rams against the standard of what is considered a good Merino type.

The competition brings together the best young Merino sheep judges aged from 15 to 25 in each state to compete in Queensland, where the national competition will be held at the Queensland Ag Show in August.

In terms of his farming career, Mr Hartwich said he saw a bright future for the Merino breed.

"They're nice and versatile," Mr Hartwich said.

"You can get breed fat (prime) lambs out of them, you can get wool out of them, they're quite flexible and that's the best thing about them."

Along with the commercial operation he said he wanted to continue with stud breeding as he moves forward with his career.

"I will keep on trying to improve every year, to get the sheep so they cut more wool, cut better wool and grow bigger sheep."

He said with high meat prices the ability to have both a meat and wool enterprise was a big strength.

"You can put your culls across to a get a fat (prime) lamb to benefit out of the meat job or sell wether lambs for the meat job, all while you still get profit out of the wool.

Mr Hartwich said he was pleased to be continuing in the family farming business.

"The family has always been sheep farmers," he said.

"I want to keep running this farm, that's the main goal."

Mr Hartwich said he enjoyed farming because it doesn't feel like a job.

"It's not really a job, it's a lifestyle. It doesn't feel like you're going to work every day," he said.

"You're making a living off your own work."

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