The Herefords Queensland Youth Association held their annual youth show in Pittsworth on the first weekend of July.
The show drew 55 keen competitors from across NSW and Queensland who enjoyed a weekend full of educational activities and cattle competitions. Participants ranged in age from six to 25 with Seniors buddied up with Pee Wees for the weekend to assist with their cattle.
Saturday morning saw the Pee Wees partake in a hands-on branding activity with Julie and Lyall Nixon and Mark Duthie. Breeders who had donated cattle for the weekend brought in their branding irons for the kids to practice branding on pieces of timber. The boards were then varnished and had hooks fixed to be turned into hat racks to be auctioned off at the dinner on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the Intermediate and Senior competitors took part in a Breedplan information session and activity conducted by Steve Reid. Steve explained the use of Breedplan as a selection tool and the use of various traits. Participants were then split into groups and given sheets of EBVs from which they had to choose the best animal to meet different production goals.
All groups attended a farm safety and first aid session where they were taught basic first aid skills such as bandaging and CPR. Participants were reminded to take care of their own personal safety while on farm including wearing helmets and protective gear when riding motorbikes.
Throughout the day all groups had a paraders practice session in preparation for the paraders competition on Sunday. Competitors were instructed on how to best show off their animal while in the ring, including standing the animal and ensuring halters and leads are correctly held and fastened.
Other activity sessions included halter making, photography, arts and craft and an information session on animal health and vaccination.
All competitors participated in a public speaking workshop in preparation for the junior judging competition. All participants had to deliver a short presentation to their peers and were given tips and pointers on how to overcome nervousness and present clearly to an audience.
Saturday afternoon saw competitors compete in the junior judging classes under the watchful eye of overjudge Leanne Ridley.
Grand champion Senior junior judge was awarded to Chloe Jamieson and reserve champion Senior junior judge was awarded to Alex Rankin.
In the Juniors Kayla Duncan was awarded the grand champion sash while Taylah Doman took out reserve.
First place in the Pee Wees was awarded to Taylah Doman, the Junior class was won by Bella Tyrell, Sub-Intermediates by Kayla Duncan, Intermediates by Alex Rankin and the Senior class was won by Chloe Jamieson.
Sunday morning kicked off with the hotly contested paraders classes. Cattle, equipment and competitors were shining as each parader did their best to impress judge Lawrence Sehmish-Lahey.
Grand champion parader was awarded to Senior winner; Chloe Jamieson and reserve champion went to the Junior division winner; Liam Langenhorst.
Riley Bacon was awarded first place in the Pee Wee paraders, the Sub-Intermediate winner was Alex Hill and the Intermediate winner was Lily Emmerton.
Following the paraders classes, cattle were once again brought into the ring for the cattle classes, this time judged by Ben Crowley of Tycolah Poll Herefords.
Champion steer was awarded to Vegas, a purebred Hereford owned and exhibited by Charleigh Tucker and champion commercial heifer was won by Blossom, a black baldy heifer exhibited by Bridie Gurner.
The bull class drew four entries, with Ownaview Storm P010 being awarded the champion sash. A Glendan Park Storm W134 son, Ownaview Storm was owned and exhibited by Intermediate competitor Lachlan Bacon.
The competition heated up in the heifer classes with the majority of the cattle entered at the show being purebred heifers.
In the junior heifer division Wallan Creek Lioness took home the champion sash. Lioness was exhibited by Felicity Roberts and donated by the Nixon family of Wallan Creek Herefords.
In the senior heifer classes the show’s youngest competitor, Connor Duthie led Callaway LK98 Ellen P009 who was awarded champion senior heifer and grand champion heifer of the show.
Supreme champion animal of the show was awarded to the champion futurity female; Talbalba Moonbeam M141, who was led by Bridie Shooter with her young bull calf at foot, led by Riley Bacon.
Judge Ben Crowley commended Moonbeam’s femininity and the excellent job she was doing on her young calf.
The Bred and Owned class was the final class of the day where competitors with their own studs entered animals that they bred. The champion sash in this division was awarded to Jacaranda Corisande, a 12-month-old daughter of Tondara Clines Vendetta J303, bred and owned by Alex Rankin.
The final presentations of the day saw the presentation of the special awards for the weekend.
The prestigious Herdsman competition was judged by a team of judges over the weekend with competitors assessed on their personal presentation, the presentation of their animal and their willingness to lend a hand to other competitors at the show.
Grand champion Herdsman was awarded to Aleacea Nixon and reserve champion Herdsman was awarded to Charleigh Tucker.
In the individual age groups Riley Bacon was awarded Pee Wee Herdsman, William Marshal was Junior Herdsman, Ebony McLennan Fletcher won the Sub Intermediate award and Charleigh Tucker and Aleacea Nixon were the Intermediate and Senior winners respectively.
The public speaking awards were based off competitors’ performance in the junior judging and in the public speaking workshop. Senior grand champion public speaker was awarded to Mitchel Portbury and reserve Senior champion public speaker was awarded to Aleacea Nixon. Grand champion Junior public speaker was presented to Tom York, with Georgia Hobday in reserve.
The Pee Wee public speaking winner was Laura Cameron, Tom York was the Junior winner, Georgia Hobday won the Sub-Intermediate award, Mitchel Portbury won the Intermediates and Aleacea Nixon won the Senior award.
Senior Most Potential Hereford Breeder was awarded to Bailey Duncan and Junior Most Potential Hereford Breeder was presented to Riley Bacon.
The Queensland Ambassador Award was presented to Alex Rankin and the Lyn Zillman award was awarded to Lyall Nixon. Both awards were judged by Felicity Reeves of Reevesdale Poll Herefords.
An encouragement award was awarded in each age group to Matilda Hart (Pee Wee), Allyssa Rix (Junior), Kayla Duncan (Sub-Intermediate), Ethan Kent (Intermediate), and Solene Helies (Senior).
The new Herefords Queensland Youth Association committee was voted in at the AGM on Friday night and will continue planning other youth activities for the year and begin preparing for next year’s Pitttsworth heifer show.
CLICK HERE to download the full spreadsheet of results.
The Pee Wees enjoyed a hands on branding workshop at the Youth Show. The branded boards were turned into hat racks and auctioned at the fromal dinner on Saturday night.
Connor Duthie gets some branding practice with the help of his dad Mark Duthie.
Mia Hobday competing in the Pee Wee junior judging.
The cattle classes were too tiring for some!
Grand champion parader: Chloe Jamieson of Chinchilla.
Supreme champion animal: Talbalba Moonbeam M141.
Grand champion heifer: Callaway LK98 Ellen P009
Champion Bred and Owned: Jacaranda Corisande P001, bred and owned by Alex Rankin.
Grand champion and reserve champion Herdsman was awarded to Aleacea Nixon (right) and Charleigh Tucker (left).
Senior and Junior Most Potential Hereford breeders: Bailey Duncan and Riley Bacon.
Champion Junior junior judge: Kayla Duncan.
Grand champion and reserve champion Senior public speakers: Mitchell Portbury and Aleacea Nixon.