For the first time, Sean McElrea has his name engraved on the trophy for the West Otago A&P Society ewe hogget competition. The victorious sheep farmer talks to Shawn McAvinue about hid Perendale flock and why the breed suits his family farm on rolling to steep terrain in Edievale. Sean McElrea got a "good surprise" by winning the hogget section of the 2026 West Otago A&P Society ewe hogget and 2-tooth competition. "I wasn’t expecting it because there is plenty of good sheep around West Otago and plenty of good farmers," the sheep and beef farmer said. The win was confirmation he "must be doing something right". He entered a commercial flock of 950 Perendale hoggets and it was the first time he had won the top prize in his own name. The family farm, Gowan Braes in Edievale includes a Perendale stud. His father, Mike McElrea, had his name among the winners etched on the trophy since the early 1950s. Operating a stud meant more hoggets were wintered than if it was solely a commercial farm.…