Farmers hit back at anti-wool rock star

Australian rock star and face of a controversial Peta campaign against the wool industry, Jona Weinhofen, could be getting shearing lessons thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign by WAFarmers.

The lead singer from metalcore band ‘I killed the prom queen’ came under fire earlier this year for his part in advertising criticizing sheep shearing.

In the advertisement paid for by lobby group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, he stands with a bloodied sheep which has supposedly just been shorn.

But it was later revealed to be a fake made of foam.

A social media storm ensued, with many from the industry coming out to say that it was an inaccurate portrayal of shearing.

WAFarmers' campaign on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo reached its $4,500 in 17 days, and the lobby group has been in touch with Mr Weinhofen to invite him to shearing school.

WAFarmers president Dale Park said the group was frustrated with Peta’s misrepresentation of the industry.

“Peta reported an annual turnover of $52 million dollars last financial year, compared with our turnover of roughly $1.6 million dollars,” he said. 

“We don’t have the resources or funds that large organisations like Peta do but that doesn’t mean we’ll sit back and be bullied.

“WAFarmers constantly promotes the high animal welfare standards which our members maintain and strive to improve but all it takes is one misleading campaign to undo that work.”

Wool was Western Australia’s fourth biggest agricultural export in the previous financial year, worth more than $400 million to the state’s economy.