A passion for Hereford cattle, feedlot carcase research and encouraging the next generation to consider a career in agriculture has seen Jill Burgess, 24, awarded the Herefords Australia Emerging Leaders Award, along with a suite of other accolades.
Jill is currently in her second year of her PHD study at the University of Sydney which involves working in a Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) project studying the body and carcase composition of British, European and Bos Indicus steers during growth in feedlots.
“I enjoy the research because it’s industry applicable and it’s a nice mix of hands on and science,” Jill said.
While Jill grew up in Sydney her family have always had a cattle property, initially at Tenterfield but now at Retreat, north of Tamworth.
The family’s original herd was comprised of Hereford and Angus cattle, but following the drought and bushfires they have rebuilt with whatever cattle were available.
“When we bought the new property cattle prices were high so we bought whatever we could out of the saleyards.
“It was a bit of a shock going from nice, quiet, well performing Hereford cattle to some of the yaks we ended up with!”
Jill says that she would ideally like to start her own Hereford stud in the future and sees the temperament and consistency of Hereford cattle as well as the progress being made on carcase traits as some of the major drawcards.
“I definitely think temperament is a big thing, with their good temperament and consistency in performance we never had issues with our Herefords.
“I think Herefords are kind of bomb-proof,” Jill said.
When she’s not working on her PHD or helping out at the family farm Jill also coaches the cattle show team at Pymble Ladies’ College and says it’s one of her favourite things to do.
When Jill initially started coaching the team five years ago there were only eight students involved, and now there are between 35 and 40 kids from year seven to year 12.
The exposure to cattle and agriculture through the Pymble show team has led to students considering careers in agriculture when they may not have had a previous interest.
“Everyone I’ve had come through the team now has gone on to do animal science, ag, or vet science and wouldn’t have considered it before,” Jill said.
Many of Jill’s students have also participated in the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo which Jill says has been an invaluable experience.
“The students come back from the Youth Expo and I’ve never seen them so passionate and excited.
“It’s such a great way to teach and it makes the kids feel really accepted even when they don’t know anything about cattle showing,” Jill said.
The connections and friendships the students make at the Expo are another aspect that makes the experience so valuable.
“The kids come away from the Expo with dozens of new friends, then we go to Sydney Royal and they catch up with them and it’s pretty wholesome,” Jill said.
Jill further involves herself with teaching through her involvement with the Sydney Uni Inter Collegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) team to compete in Wagga.
“We look at more than the meat, we go to local butchers and look at the whole supply chain from start to finish,” Jill said.
Jill’s involvement in the program is encouraging further young people to consider a career in the beef industry, something which she is thrilled about.
“Youth, young women, and people that don’t have a lot of prior exposure to ag – I’m passionate about getting those people involved,” Jill said.
Jill’s research and passion for the beef industry has gained her a great deal of well-deserved recognition:
She has been the recipient of the Feedlot Cattle Production Scholarship through the University of Sydney, the Christian Rowe Thornett Stipend Scholarship from the Sydney Institute of Agriculture, has been named the 2024 Hawkesbury Young Woman of the Year and was selected to be a MLA Red Meat Industry Ambassador at the start of March this year, as well as earning the Herefords Australia Emerging Leaders Award.
As for her future plans, along with her own Hereford stud, Jill says she would like to end up in a career that is similar to her PHD research where she can work with cattle while still being involved in the science that will benefit the industry.
Jill Burgess, 24, recipient of the Herefords Australia Emerging Leaders Award.
