National honours for Bendoc Park

■ Sellers family success at Hereford Youth Expo

By SAM TONKS

BENDOC Park Poll Herefords attended the National Hereford Youth Expo held at Parkes Showground from July 6 to 9.

Bendoc Park is run by the Sellers family, headed by Eddie and Gail Sellers, with three of Eddie and Gail’s grandchildren keen to have the opportunity to attend such a fun and educational event.

Eddie Steele, Lottie Telford and Albert Telford headed off to Parkes with three young bulls from Bendoc Park Poll Hereford stud, with these bulls only having a very short 68-day preparation for the Youth Expo.

“In the 68 days the bulls gained 120kg each which is a testament to the performance these cattle will achieve given the opportunity,” Bendoc Park’s Lucy Sellers said.

“Bendoc Park has been striving to source performance genetics while maintaining structural soundness and temperament. The temperament of these bulls made the job of getting them trained to be lead, washed, clipped and most importantly handled by kids a breeze.”

The three young bulls behaved impeccably for their junior handlers, two of which had never shown cattle before. Bendoc Park is family owned and run, so the job of training and feeding the bulls went to aunty Lucy and uncle Steve.

The Youth Expo was very successful for team Bendoc Park, with Lottie placing third in her paraders class, while Eddie placed with his bull in the show classes.

Albert placed in his junior judging, but most importantly, walked away from the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo with a foundation heifer for his new herd.

Albert was the recipient of the Herefords Australia Most Potential Breeder Award, and received a registered heifer, Kidman Vanity T181, donated by

Kidman Poll Herefords of Dubbo.

She was awarded to Albert as the Most Potential Breeder, which is an outstanding achievement for a 14 year old who was up against competitors up to 25 years of age.

“The Herefords Australia Youth Expo was a tremendous event. A massive congratulations must go to the organizing committee for the outstanding effort that has gone into this event,” Lucy said.

“Not only did it showcase the Hereford breed, but the opportunity for learning, personal development, making new friends and most of all having fun that it offered the kids was second to none.

“To see participants from six to 25 years-of-age outside, having fun and learning about the beef industry, whilst taking on the responsibility of caring for an animal for the duration of the expo was very impressive and leaves the spectator with a sense