The 21-year-old who is in his third year of training recently won the NSW/ACT champion apprentice butcher title beating seven other competitors from throughout the state.

The competition is run by the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) who also organise the popular Sausage King championships.

Jackson from Greta became interested in a career as a butcher through having a couple of friends who were working in the industry.

He first started working for Andrew Bushell when he operated a shop in Greta before moving he moved the  business to Singleton.

With the sale of the business to Craig Meyn Jackson stayed on to complete his apprenticeship with Meyn Street Meats.

The competition involved three parts the first cutting a side of lamb, whole beef rump and pork lion into portions for retail display, a theory section and the last part value adding cuts.

“The last part was the hardest because the competitors from Sydney were much better at creating gourmet products which really add value to the cuts of meat,” Jackson said.

“Its showed the difference between country and city butchers that section.”

In the past apprentices would attend regular classes at  the TAFE’s Hamilton campus but with fewer people training to be butchers the teachers now come out to the workplace to check on the apprentice’s progress and at the same time taking them through undertaking training sessions.

Jackson wanted to thank his mentors Andrew Bushell, Craig Meyn, Graham Barnett and Dave Wild for all their assistance, training and encouragement. .

Commenting on his apprentice’s success Craig Meyn said it was a testament to his ability and a real credit to Jackson’s enthusiasm for his trade.