Hosting the National Herefords Australia Youth Expo for the first time, the Queensland Youth group certainly did not disappoint the youth members and spectators that traveled from across the country to attend.
81 entrants aged seven to 25 and 112 head of cattle attended the event, held at the Pittsworth showgrounds 29th June to the 2nd July 2017.
Queensland Herefords Youth Association president Kate Reid said the aim was to create a more commercial and knowledge-based focus to the expo. In addition to the usual parading, junior judging and public speaking sessions, competitors were encouraged to improve their knowledge of the breed through nutrition talks, cattle analysis, and taken ‘back to basics’ for safety around cattle. There were also information sessions and discussions with leading professionals in the beef industry, including presentations from MLA on MSA grading, animal health by Virbac, and advertising by Jane Lowe from Queensland Country Life.
Intermediate and senior competitors were treated to a tour of Oakey Beef Exports and Kerwee Feedlot, allowing them to broaden their knowledge of the finishing and processing side of the industry.
Georgie Beighton of Penola, SA was awarded the Most Potential Hereford Breeder award, taking home a stud Hereford heifer donated by the Glasser family of Yagaburne Poll Herefords. The award is given to a competitor of any age that shows the most potential to breed Hereford cattle and make a positive impact on the Hereford breed. Ms. Beighton was also co-recipient of the CM Hocking Scholarship awarded earlier this year.
In an attempt to increase the ‘National’ aspect of this year’s expo, a National Competition was added. 8 selected state representatives, from SA, NSW, TAS, QLD, VIC, competed in parading (where each competitor picked a ballot heifer out of a hat), herdsman, junior judging and public speaking competitions. Aleacea Nixon of Queensland rose to the top of her worthy peers to claim the title of National Champion of the 2017 Expo.
Further awards from the weekend included:
Grand Champion Parader: Rhys Branson, Pittsworth QLD
Grand Champion Junior Judge: William Schmidt, Dalby QLD
Grand Champion Public Speaker: Bonnie Chandler, Millmerran
Grand Champion Herdsman: Meg Reid, Millmerran QLD
Champion Steer/Fat Heifer: Binara Meica led by Lachlan Taylor, Oakey QLD
Champion Commercial Heifer: Wallan Creek Clotilda L112 led by Lucy Gurner, Moonie QLD
Champion Bull: WRL Makka M007 led by Chloe Temple, Sheffield TAS
Champion Junior Heifer: Binara Kalara Revona M027 led by Lachlan Darr, Oakey QLD
Champion Senior Heifer: Binara Frolic M030 ked by Chloe Taylor, Sheffield TAS
Grand Champion Heifer: Binara Kalara Revona M027 led by Lachlan Darr, Oakey QLD
Supreme Champion Animal: Binara Kalara Revona M027 led by Lachlan Darr, Oakey QLD
Queensland Ambassador: Kate Reid, Millmerran QLD
National Competition Awards
National Champion/Champion Parader: Aleacea Nixon, Dulacca QLD
Champion Junior Judge: Chloe Temple, Sheffield TAS
Champion Public Speaker: Georgie Beighton, Penola SA
Champion Herdsman: Aleacea Nixon, Dulacca QLD
Georgie Beighton, Penola SA claimed the title of Most Potential Hereford Breeder at last weekend’s National Herefords Australia Youth Expo held in Pittsworth Queensland, taking home her prize – Yagaburne Poll Hereford stud heifer.
Lachlan Darr, Oakey QLD lead Binara Kalara Revona M027 to Champion Heifer at the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo in Pittsworth QLD last weekend. Judge James McWilliam of Kanimbla Poll Herefords, Holbrook NSW is also pictured.
Judge John Koehler, Dalby QLD presents the Grand Champion Parader award to Rhys Branson, Pittsworth QLD.
Vying for the title of National Champion of the 2017 Herefords Australia Youth Expo. Pictured from left to right are Kate Shooter (QLD), Aleacea Nixon (QLD), Helen deCosta (NSW), Georgie Beighton (SA), Chloe Temple (TAS), Alicia Trovatello (VIC), Charlie Sides (NSW), Alex Rankin (QLD)
81 enthusiastic Youth from 5 states, aged seven to 25, converged on Pittsworth QLD last weekend for the 2017 Herefords Australia National Youth Expo.
