Meet our ZQ Growers: Andrew Sutherland

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Station Name Ahuriri Downs Station

Wool type Merino and mid-micron 

Standard ZQRX 

Farm size 5300 hectares 

Location Omarama, New Zealand

Flock size 13000 merino, 5000 mid- micron 

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Andrew is the fourth generation to farm on Ahuriri Downs and is passionate about wool. Like many of our ZQ growers, Andrew is also a professional wool classer, meaning that by touch he can determine the micron and quality of the wool fibre. After each fleece is shorn, he inspects it for characteristics like length, thickness, colour, and strength, grouping them into uniform lines, before pressing them into bales.

“The wool is our passion” - Andrew Sutherland, Ahuriri Downs Station

Andrew Sutherland - classing wool

We’ll be showcasing stories from eight ZQ growers over the next few months, so keep an eye out for the next one in the series coming out soon.