Growing knowledge and skills at Glen Innes youth camp

The Herefords Northern NSW Youth Group hosted their annual youth show at Glen Innes showgrounds on January 12-14 with 85 up and coming cattle enthusiasts attending.

The event is an opportunity for students to grow their knowledge of the beef industry and improve animal handling techniques, including parading and judging.

The intermediates and seniors were treated to a tour of the Glen Innes Agricultural and Research Station and talks on meat science from Dr Peter McGilchrist, University of New England School of Environmental and Rural Science, ear tagging and tattooing with Ben Crowley, cattle welfare and safety from Murray Weller, and cattle nutrition and careers in research with Sam Platts.

Lachlan James was the overjudge for the junior judging while James Forsyth judged the paraders and Tyson Will judged the cattle classes.

Riverina Australia senior nutritionist Cameron Wright covered feeding grain, molasses and oil to demonstrate the development of a balanced feed ration to the pee wee and junior participants.

“It is exciting to see the knowledge and skills among the more advanced age groups – the future is looking bright for industry with such capable individuals,” Cameron said.

Mort & Co sponsored the pee wee dress-up challenge where students decorated their animal in “anything but cows” and were marked on their creativity.

In the junior judging, Hunter Will was champion pee wee with Alice Coombes in reserve, while in the juniors Kirsty McIndoe was sashed as champion and Allora Gould in reserve.

Gemma White triumphed in the intermediates as champion and Laura Vary was reserve champion. Olivia Laney emerged as senior and grand champion while Zoe Rudder was reserve senior champion.

In the paraders, Angus Emery was sashed champion in the pee wee division with Sophie McDonald in reserve. Josh Hartup was champion junior parader and Isabella Hann reserve champion, Mattia Rudder was sashed intermediate and grand champion and Marcus Wythes in reserve, and Ryan Knee was senior champion with Georgia Bailey in reserve.

In the herdsman classes, Jessica Tower was champion in the pee wee division and Angus Emery in reserve, Josh Hartup completed a double to be champion junior and Isabella Hann in reserve, Toby Lamph emerged to win intermediate champion with Georgia Sheridan in reserve, and in the seniors Riley Weller, Weller Bros Herefords, Hodgson Vale, Qld, was champion and grand champion parader, with Olivia Laney in reserve.

The competitive Breed Ambassador category resulted in Arley Crowley sashed as pee wee champion and Hugh Crowley in reserve, Skye McIndoe was junior champion and Jackson Emery in reserve, Drew Weller was sashed intermediate champion and Toby Lamph in reserve, while Damon Murphy was senior and grand champion with Lucy Crowley as reserve senior champion.

Competing for the Most Potential Breeder Award were Arley Crowley, Logan Scott, Gemma White, Mitch Taylor, MT Herefords, Quipolly, NSW, and Riley Bacon, Ownaview Herefords, Yangan, Qld, with Riley taking out the prestigious award.

The Herefords Northern NSW Youth Group held their annual general meeting at the show with Emily Taylor, Eclipse Herefords, Quipolly, elected president, Damon Murphy as vice president, Jessica Kernahan as secretary, and Makaala Dodd as sponsorship officer.

“We select for functional cattle that can handle Australian outback conditions. Good growth rates, carcass and fertility are essential,” Peter says.

General committee members are Drew Weller, Morgan Hay, Jacinta Cooper, Taylah Doman, Georgia Sheridan, Leisl Cooper, Rhani Dorey, Victoria Sullivan, Sophie Cooper and Isabella Thompson.

Chris Lisle, Tummel Herefords, Walcha, was on hand to see three Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander teenagers compete at their first youth show with their Tummel heifers.

The siblings, Year 12 student Anika McKenna,17, Shaun, 15 and Olivia, 13, had grown up in Townsville, Qld, and moved with their parents to a Walcha farm six years ago.

3. There were plenty of skills to be learnt and honed in the parader’s classes. Images: Mikaala Dodd

4. Intermediate champion parader Mattia Rudder.

5. The pee wee handlers get a helping hand from their buddies.

6. Matthew Durkin placed fourth in the paraders and breed ambassador in the pee wee division.

“Their father works part-time for me and the kids came over to help with the cattle so I let them break some heifers in themselves and take them to the heifer show,” Chris said.

Coming from an urban childhood, Anika said the siblings had been well mentored by Chris.

“We started out leading the heifers and young bull at Walcha show then to the youth camp during the holidays, followed by Guyra and Inverell shows,” she said.

“For me, I picked up leaderships skills and helped teaching the young ones about preparing and leading, it helped with my self-confidence and networking.

“We love the Herefords, they are so quiet – we broke them in and prepared them ourselves. Walcha is a great community with lots of people willing to help you out.” cubic metre models.

The siblings followed up the youth camp with the Guyra show and Anika taking out the paraders 17 to 22 years, Shaun placed second in the junior judging, and Olivia was called up in her heat.