Angus Youth take out major awards at Sydney

Diana Wood, Marketing & Communications Manager

Past and present Angus Youth representatives put their best foot forward across an array of youth competitions, taking out some highly covetable awards at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, including Dayna Gray in the National Judging Competition and Lochie McLachlan in the National Paraders Competition.

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2022 National Beef Cattle Young Judges Final

Dayna Gray, representing South Australia was the winner of the 2022 Agricultural Shows Australia national beef cattle young judges final at the recent Sydney Royal Show. Raised in the North-West of Tasmania on a small beef cattle property, Dayna ventured across the water to Geelong, completing a Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) at Marcus Oldham before accepting a position with Thomas Foods International, in a mixed role of supply chain and marketing management in 2019. In February 2021, Dayna commenced a Livestock Pregnancy Scanning business initially working on weekends and in July took the pregnancy scanning business full time. Towards the end of 2021 Dayna was selected to take part in the GenAngus Future Leaders Program. GenAngus is a flagship Angus Youth program developed in conjunction with Achmea Australia and designed to aid young beef industry leaders in increasing their knowledge and confidence to launch a new or existing beef enterprise. Placing second was Brittany Abbott, representing Victoria, who has competed in Angus Youth events previously. In third was Micquella Grima whom earlier in the day was awarded the NSW State Championship title in the 2022 RAS/ASC Cattle Young Judges Competition State Final. Micquella was recently announced as the recipient of the NH Foods Angus Youth National Roundup Senior Bursary which allows her to attend the Young Beef Producers Forum (YBPF) in Roma QLD. Micquella grew up on a small property in Orchard Hills, NSW and has been showing Stud Beef cattle for nearly 10 years at both regional Ag Shows and at a Royal level for a number of beef producers. Micquella commenced her second year studies of a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Business majoring in Agribusiness through the University of New England this year. Once graduating, she intends to pursue a career in either agronomy with a particular emphasis on efficient grazing strategies to improve the resilience and efficiency of farming operations or livestock nutrition and genetics. In 2021 she established Hope Hill Cattle Company whilst also managing Donnelly Downs Pastoral Co. with her partner based on a 3000 acre property in Western NSW, specialising in both commercial and stud beef cattle including both purebred and cross bred Angus breeders. In 2021, Micquella was the recipient of the Norman Lethbridge Award through Angus NSW which opened up the opportunity for her to be selected as the Youth Representative for Angus NSW. Incidentally, the 2022 National competition was judged by Meat & Livestock Australia managing director, Jason Strong, who himself just happens to be another alumnus of Angus Youth. Jason was an instrumental part of the team in developing the Roundup to its current format and also won the University of Illinois Scholarship in 1990.

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2021 National Beef Cattle Young Judges Final

In the 2021 National Beef Judges competition (delayed due to COVID travel restrictions on 2021), Alice Hall, from Quarter-Way Angus in Tasmania, placed third. Alice spent many years on the Angus Youth Management Committee and has been involved in a myriad of Angus Youth events and organising committees. The winner of this competition, Sarah Sutton, and runnerup Angus Llewellyn, have competed in a number of Angus Youth activities throughout the years. 2022 National Paraders Final

Queensland representative Chloe Plowman has won the 2022 Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA) national beef cattle paraders final. Chloe is a third generation beef cattle producer from Ruby Ridge Angus at Kingaroy and has a long history of involvement in the Angus Youth program. Chloe finished year 12 at the end of 2021 and is now working part time at Aussie Land and Livestock, Kingaroy. At the 2020 Angus Youth National Roundup in Toowoomba Qld, Chloe was awarded the EJ Angus Encouragement Award, Reserve Champion Intermediate Meat Judge and Champion Intermediate Parader. 2021 National Paraders Final

After a three year wait, Lochie McLauchlan finally got the chance to compete after being selected by Victoria at the 2019 Royal Melbourne Show.