Set down for three days from February 22 to 25, the challenge this year will include two aboriginal stockmen (Davin Lorraine and Stewart Foster) who have travelled from Northern Australia to Murrurundi for the event.

Davin, who calls Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, his home, works for the Heytesbury Cattle Company which owns six stations spanning 2.5 million hectares across Northern Territory and West Australia.

Among these is the Victoria River Downs Station which is now run as four stand-alone stations.

One of these is Moolooloo Station where Davin is now located.

Stewart is from Doomadgee in the Gulf and he works on Morstone Downs Station, a property of around 176,000 hectares near Camooweal.

Morstone runs about 15,000 head of Brahman and Brahman/Charbray cattle.

Running for its 15th consecutive year, the Challenge centres around work stockmen are required to do on properties and turned into a competition.

The program of involving indigenous stockmen goes back to 2015 when officials co-sponsored with Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company (based in the Gulf of Carpentaria) aiming to assisting young aboriginal stockmen to develop skills and widen their experience.

In 2017 locals David and Claire Paradice became involved and helped support the expenses of the program.

For 2018 the Aboriginal Development Benefit Trust has partnered with the King of the Ranges organisation.

The young stockmen are now being taught the rudiments of the events in order for them to compete.

The King of the Ranges opens on Thursday, February 23 for competitors with public viewing from Friday to Sunday.

The last day, Sunday, comprises the finals for most of the events along with a parade.

Entry costs range from $20 a day for adults and $10 for juniors and pensioners.