DESPITE being the largest wool and sheep show in Western Australia, only a handful of wool producers attended the annual Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) forum at last week's Make Smoking History Wagin Woolorama.
And the low attendance suggests a need for a change in the annual AWI forum.
The few farmers who attended the meeting expressed concern about the low levels of interest and some criticised the attitude of AWI CEO Stuart McCullough in his address.
Claypans stud principal Steven Bolt, Corrigin, had gone to the annual meeting for the past three years and said it had never been well attended.
"The start time of the meeting could have played in the low attendance because a majority of stud breeders were busy showing sheep," he said.
"The question of advertising was also raised because I didn't see it advertised anywhere.
"Apparently it was, so maybe they just aren't getting it to the right target.
"But also the thing with growers is, that unless they have a problem, you don't see them
"The wool market is travelling pretty well and the AWI as a board has got the finances reigned in and under control.
"Just going around talking to growers, I don't have anyone coming to me with complaints about what AWI is or isn't doing, so I don't think there are a lot of issues at the moment."
Former Australian Wool Growers Association chairman and Quairading sheep producer Shane Edwards said the response to the forum was disappointing.
He called for AWI to market the event better and suggested changes needed to be made.
"1pm on the Friday isn't an ideal time to hold that meeting as a lot of shareholders are tied up with the judging at that time," Mr Edwards said.
He also condemned the attitude of Mr McCullough when he was asked questions during the forum.
"I turned up as a shareholder, asked a question and the attitude was terrible," Mr Edwards said.
"I asked him (Mr McCullough) a question about what AWI had in the pipeline for lice and worm research and I did not think his response was appropriate.
"If AWI is going to promote this event as a forum, then it should be a forum and a forum is a discussion, not a presentation."
Ray Lewis, Wickepin, also expressed concern about the limited number of farmers at the meeting.
He said AWI was losing touch with wool growers.
"Woolorama is the biggest sheep show in WA and there were only five wool growers at the meeting," he said.
"I think a few things need to be changed, including the timing for one.
"It also needs to be more of a forum so growers can ask questions and have a bit more of an input.
"We don't want a lecture."
Pingelly wool producer John Hassell said he was disappointed by the way Mr McCullough answered questions put to him by growers in the audience.
"Every time someone asked a question he answered in a defensive way, which I think puts people off from going to these meetings," he said.
"The AWI calls itself a company, but it is not a company, it is a research and development organisation.
"In a company you can take your money out and run and farmers cannot do that with the AWI.
"This defensiveness happens all the time, they need to get off the back foot, they ought to be accountable to the people who pay the tax."
Mr Hassell, however, wanted to reiterate that he believed AWI was doing a good job.
"I am happy with the work they are doing in the marketing space and mostly happy with the research and development," he said.
"They do a fantastic job, but they still need to be accountable, and be open to asking questions."
Jean McGregor, Wagin, said the issue with the meeting was that the few growers who did attend were effectively shut down every time a question was asked.
"Mr McCullough does very well at presentations, until someone asks him a question," she said.
Ms McGregor said a majority of the questions asked by farmers in the room were soft and fair and deserved an answer.
"A big part of the reason why not many people show up to those meetings is that WA farmers tend to get ignored a little bit," she said.
"The AWI does well in marketing to the high end fashion market, but it is hard to respect them because they don't seem to respect us and when the CEO doesn't answer our questions at what is supposed to be a forum."
A spokesman for the AWI said they attended Wagin Woolorama every year and every year a forum was held for shareholders.
"The 1pm event was mentioned many times during the Friday morning, it was advertised on the back page of the Woolorama program and mentioned numerous times on ABC radio," the spokesman said.
"AWI attends at least four events a year in WA as well as keeping WAFarmers, Pastoralists and Graziers Association and Australian Wool Growers Association leaders abreast of developments.
"AWI also regularly speaks with brokers and has a standing offer to speak at any event with at least 50 growers at it.
"We are always keen to look at new ideas to improve what we do."
