More than 100 competitors, aged six to 25, travelled to Parkes over July 5-7 with 109 head of purebred and commercial cattle to participate in the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Competitors hailed from all over Australia, and included a team of six from New Zealand, as well as teams from the Upper Lachlan Shire including Jake Lawton, Charlie and Hayden Tarlinton.
The three-day schedule started with an educational program on Friday. Topics included everything from pastures, animal health, tattooing and tagging, to animal preparation and a mock bull auction.
Saturday morning saw competitors put to the test in the Junior Judging Competition under the astute eye of judge Marty Lill, Coonabarabran. As well as winning the senior division, Jamie Hollis, Pittsworth QLD, was named overall champion junior judge, a feat that also earned him an invitation from RASV to associate judge at the 2019 Melbourne Show. Other divisional winners included Brooke Doolan (Peewee), Rebecca White (Junior), and Charlie Pout (Intermediate).
The cattle classes took place Saturday afternoon, with 109 head of cattle judged by Hereford Youth alumni Brooke Rayner of Armada and Grathlyn studs, Mudgee. It was a successful day for Mawarra B with Mawarra B Perfume 01, exhibited by Katie Kerby, awarded grand champion champion female, and Mawarra B Power Play, exhibited by Taylah Sykes, claiming grand champion bull. Champion female Mawarra B Perfume 01 was named supreme exhibit of the show.
The futurity female class attracted five entries. Binara Kalara Revona, exhibited by Jamie Hollis was named champion, with Cloverlee Minerva L042 awarded reserve champion.
In the steer division, it was a 12 month old Hereford Charolais cross steer named Binara Pedro, exhibited by Jamie Hollis, who claimed champion, with Leeway Pokie, a Hereford steer exhibited by Charlie Pout, in reserve.
Rounding out the cattle judging was the bred and owned class. This class was introduced to encourage youth members to start and continue their own studs. Kalara Miss Revona P24, owned and exhibited by Jamie Hollis, was named champion.
The prestigious Most Potential Breeder competition gained record interest from competitors this year, with 22 applications received. In the end it was 16 year old Liesl Cooper of Bithramere NSW that rose to the top, taking home Tilly and claiming the title of 2019 Most Potential Breeder.
All eyes turned to the judging ring on Sunday morning to the Paraders competition. Judge Andrea Falls, Finley, had her work cut out for her, sifting through three classes of each age group. In the Paraders competition, Jake and Hayden were highly commended in their class and Charlie claimed second.
In the end it was eight and a half year old peewee champion parader Sam Garvin who took out overall grand champion parader, impressing Ms. Falls with his calm and natural ability to show off his animal. Other divisional champions included Riley Weller (Junior), Eleni Fogden (Intermediate), and Alana Wade (Senior).
The winners of the herdsman age division awards were: Peewee - Max White, Junior - William VanGend, Intermediate - Cassie Bush, and Senior - Hannah Gibb.
Intermediate competitor Connor Evans was named grand champion herdsman.
