Angus Youth awards five scholarships to the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course

Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer

The Angus Foundation is excited to announce that they have awarded scholarships to five Angus Youth members to attend the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course.

Unfortunately, due to restrictions posed by COVID-19, the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course, which was due to take place in September 2021 has been cancelled, so each of the five recipients will be offered their place in 2022. Candina Crowden, Charlotte Nugent, Hamish Smith, Kristen Fredericksen and Liam Mowbray have each been selected for the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course scholarships, which will see them take part in the course organised by Angus NSW in 2022. The Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course is widely recognised as the most practical and hands on beef cattle selection course of its kind. The course covers a wide range of topics ranging from using EBV’s, structural conformation and selection of market utilising Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus breeds and their crosses and will help participants through developing practical skills and information, presenting networking opportunities. “Our recipients all come from both varied experience levels and backgrounds in the industry but are all enthusiastic for the opportunity to expand on their skills within cattle assessment and judging through this scholarship opportunity,” said Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips. “The Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course gives affirming, practical skills that the recipients can take from the course and apply directly on farm.” For further information regarding the Angus Youth Scholarships and Bursaries Program please contact Angus Australia Breed Development Officer Jake Phillips at youth@angusaustralia.com.au.

Kristen Frederickson:

Kristen Fredericksen comes from Orange, NSW where her family own and run Dalwhinnie Angus. She graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga in 2017 before working as a mixed practice Veterinarian in Cowra NSW then Dalby Qld. Kristen is now back on the family farm in a managerial role as well as running her own business offering bovine reproduction services. Kristen has had an involvement with the Angus Youth program for several years and looks forward to the opportunity to further advance her skills at the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course.

Liam Mowbray

Liam Mowbray is a young beef cattle producer on the Mid North Coast. He has been building an Angus cow-calf operation over the past 6 years with both registered and commercial branches. Liam is a Veterinarian working in the farming community of Gloucester with a passion for cattle medicine, nutrition and reproduction.

Charlotte Nugent

Charlotte Nugent grew up on her family farm and has a had an affiliation with agriculture from a young age. She was involved in the show team whilst at school and has continued her growth in the field, currently studying a Bachelor of Agriculture Business Management at Charles Sturt in Wagga. With her siblings, Charlotte has recently started her own small Red Angus stud. Charlotte is excited to be the recipient of the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course scholarship and cannot wait for the opportunities that this course will present for her future in the industry.

Candina Crowden:

Candina Crowden resides on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania. She began showing cattle in 2018 with Tasman District School. She first became involved in the Angus breed in 2020 when she won the Grand Champion Herdsman Award at the Tasmanian Junior Beef Expo – with the prize being a registered Quarterway Angus heifer, from which she developed her Angus stud OSLO Angus. Candina looks forward to attending the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course and growing her junior judging knowledge and making new connections that will help with the development and progression of OSLO Angus in the future.

Hamish Smith:

Hamish Smith hails from Northern Victoria. Along with his brother, Alex, and grandfather, Frank Sorraghan, Hamish is a partner in “Rockwood” Angus and is in charge of artificial insemination programs, registrations, performance information collection, vaccinations and other practical aspects. He also does this for “Andes” Angus - his parents’ Charles and Carolyn Smith’s stud. Hamish participated at the 2018 Angus Youth Roundup in Wodonga, the 2019 Angus Youth Roundup in Armidale, the 2019 SA Junior Heifer Expo in Adelaide and the 2019 Angus Centenary Royal Melbourne Show and regularly attends Beef Week and seedstock Angus sales.