A "self-taught" shearer will get the chance to build on his skills in the coming months, after winning the Heiniger Learners Scholarship at the SA Sheep Expo at the Adelaide Showground last Friday. Troy Julyan, Manoora, has 43 stud Texel ewes, run under the Dlorrah Park prefix, with him competing at a number of shows. His first experience with shearing came from crutching at 16 before he "picked up bits and pieces" in terms of skills and developed his technique. Mr Julyan says with showing, he has to shear his ewes several times a year, to present the sheep in their best light, while he has also helped out on some other local properties with their stud rams and other sheep. As part of the scholarship, he received a Heiniger starters kit, which included combs, a handpiece, singlet and much more to get him started, while he will also attend an upcoming shearing school. He has been considering an upcoming course, across several days, at nearby Blyth. He also is looking forward to the chance to compete in some competitions at local shows. READ MORE: Mr Julyan said this was a great opportunity for him to improve his skills. "I'm trying to get a bit quicker and learn some techniques," he said. While he says the future is still open, he said shearing as a career was an option in play. "If I got good enough, the money is good enough, but I will see where it takes me," he said.