A young woman who hails from the suburbs of Sydney but has developed a passion for cattle is the winner of the Herefords Australia Youth Travel Scholarship valued at $5000.
Judges Keirin Martin and Katelin Davies announced Grace Collins as the recipient at the Herefords Australia Youth Expo dinner at Parkes on July 8.
The judges chose a person who would use the scholarship to learn and further their knowledge of the industry, not just in Australia but further abroad and apply those learnings to Hereford Youth.
“The applicants were of a high calibre and had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve from their trip,” Keirin said.
“Grace had a well thought out plan, a budget and an idea of what to give back to the youth group.”
Grace, 20, grew up in the suburbs of Sydney and is in her third year studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England, Armidale, NSW.
She aims to complete a Master of Teaching and teach agriculture.
“I have such a good social community in the bush I would like to continue that, but I see a big need to teach agriculture to city students,” she said.
Grace’s agricultural teachers at Pymble Ladies College, Sally Rivett and Grant Jackson, made an impact, instilling a passion for ag.
“The college has a recently renovated ag plot and we always prepared four school steers a year for Sydney Royal Show and Scone’s Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza,” she said.
“In 2018 I attended the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo at Wodonga with our school cattle coach Fiona McWilliam. Last year I did the Queensland Hereford Youth Association youth camp and I’m now the vice president of that committee.”
Grace conceded she was gobsmacked to win the travel scholarship.
“I had my heart set it was going to one of my very good friends, Emily Taylor, and I was quite shocked.
“The application process pushed me to research more – I am going to New Zealand next March to see three bulls, Kairuru Penman, Lime Hills Starter 160062 and Duncraigen Zeus, on behalf of Te-Angie Poll Herefords.
“Te-Angie has just bought the Australian semen rights to Duncraigen Zeus with the calves due in August. Harry Robertson, whose parents own Duncraigen, attended the Sydney Royal and expo with us on work experience.
“We will do a tour of the South Island and look at the easy calve Hereford bulls over dairy cows in the North Island.”
Grace is an integral part of the Te-Angie team at Wongwibinda, NSW, doing the halter breaking, clipping, washing and show preparation of the cattle.
She was overseeing a team of 24 head and handlers at the Parkes expo, even shouting instructions while parading a heifer in the ring, and had just returned from taking 24 head to the Queensland youth camp at Dalby.
The team will be straight into preparing for the 2023 Royal Queensland Show in August.
“We also have 12 young bulls we will be taking to Ekka – it is a very big job in three week’s time. Hopefully after that a bit of rest.”
Grace has visited New Zealand twice in the past, winning a Lincoln University scholarship in 2018 but choosing to study in Australia.
She has ambitions to serve on the national youth committee and aims to eventually breed Herefords.
“I see a Hereford in the ring and it fills me with joy – they are soft, calm and friendly.
“At both the Queensland and NSW youth camps I was able to pick up valuable tips on clipping for the southern and northern show circuit from Lee White and Jonathon Tink.”
Winner of the Herefords Australia Youth Travel Scholarship, Grace Collins, with her heifer Te-Angie Innovation T151 ringside at the Parkes expo.
