THEY say there is no substitute for hands-on experience.
But despite their youth, the students at WA College of Agriculture-Narrogin can shear, class and press at a level well beyond their years.
Last week the Year 11 students from the college visited the Elders wool stores in Spearwood to get a greater understanding of the whole wool production process.
Elders Narrogin district wool manager Tim Burgess said it was important to encourage young people back into the agricultural industry from the grass roots level.
"We really enjoy bringing the kids from Narrogin Agricultural College to the wool stores," Mr Burgess said.
"It gives them a true understanding of what they are growing on the farm, they see what happens to the wool when it leaves the farm gate, which is interesting for the students.
"They can come up here and look at how we process the wool, how it is tested, they can see the samples on the show floor, and they can go into the auction room.
"We can then tell them who the buyers are, where it is going and what the end use is going to be.
"It is really the whole process from greasy wool to the finished product."