Sam Garvin always stands out from the crowd with his presentation, finesse and professionalism beyond his years when it comes to parading cattle in the showring.
The 14-year-old from Orange, in central NSW, was identified for his natural skills with cattle handling and snapped up by several studs to show their bulls and females at major events on the Hereford calendar.
Although his family breed Angus cattle, he was introduced to the Hereford breed through the Herefords Australia Youth buddy program where a senior mentors a pee wee.
“At my first heifer show in 2016 at six I had Keirin Martin as my buddy, and it all went from there. He has been a mentor to me ever since,” Sam said.
In 2022 Sam cruised through the heats at the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo at Wodonga to win champion junior and grand champion parader, making it back-to-back titles after taking out the grand champion parader at the 2019 Expo at Parkes.
Paraders judge Jamie Hollis, Killara poll Herefords, Pittsworth, Qld, rated Sam as the clear winner.
“He blew me away with how experienced and professional he was,” Mr Hollis said.
“I would be happy to have him on the halter of my animals.”
Sam paraded Kianma Matchless S04 and paid tribute to his father Chris Garvin for helping him hone his skills.
“I love the expo for its atmosphere, meeting people and learning new things,” he said at the time.
Sam then went on to the National All Breeds Heifer Show at Blayney where he won the junior champion herdsman, the junior champion junior judge and grand champion parader.
In the junior heifer division, Sam Garvin paraded Kianma Matchless S04 to win their classes with Kianma Matchless S004 sashed junior champion heifer.
Sam’s winning streak continued at the 2023 Youth Expo, again dominating the sub-intermediate division being champion junior judge, champion parader and grand champion herdsman.
He expertly paraded Kianma Matchless S022 to senior and grand champion female.
Last year Sam graduated to the big time, parading bulls for the Ardno stud at the 2024 Wodonga National, including a first place with Ardno Titan T413.
A Year 9 student at James Sheahan Catholic High School at Orange, Sam has a busy program after school helping his father with the stud and halter breaking heifers and young bulls to earn money for genetic purchases. He is waiting for the first calves to be born from a frozen embryo purchase.
He joined Herefords Australia Youth in 2018 and competed as a pee wee at his first Youth Expo in 2019, winning grand champion parader.
Sam has no idea how he did it and admitted he was “shocked”.
“A few different people help me with my parading skills including Kierin Martin, Annie Pumpa and my dad.
“They gave me tips on how to stand an animal for judging, staying calm and focusing on what you have to do. If you are calm, the heifer will stay calm.
“Even if you have a shocker, go back to the basics and work on remaining calm.”
Sam said presentation including cleanliness of his gear and equipment was important, with his mother Kylie influencing him from a young age.
“I started working with my dad showing cattle at Sydney Royal and I have since branched out to other shows with Kierin Martin at the Wodonga National, Melbourne Show and Dubbo National.”
Cricket and cattle are Sam’s two passions, and he is looking forward to showing animals with the school’s new ag team.
He also enjoys the junior judging and is building his skills in public speaking. Sam has ambitions to study at Charles Sturt University to become a large animal vet, in the footsteps of his grandfather who founded the Orange Veterinary Hospital.
“Hereford Youth are a great group of people and I have made plenty of new friends – it is pretty much like a big family, and I enjoy networking, meeting people, and growing self-confidence.
“I would like to apply for the Herefords Australia Youth scholarships when I’m older to visit AI centres in America.”
He likes to study US and Australian genetics with good marbling and phenotype. Sam eventually aims to judge cattle at royal level and serve on the Herefords Australia Youth committee.
“I look for AI sires with good growth, calving ease, positive fat, and above breed average for marbling. I like the females to be feminine yet have muscle and size.
“I want to thank Herefords Australia, my parents and all my mentors for their help along the way.”
Sam Garvin parades the grand champion heifer at the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo at Parkes in 2023.
