Cattle judging from afar
• Target Livestock and Marketing virtual junior judging competition Pee Wee champion Darcy Smith (centre) with sisters Sophie and Nikayla of Springfield. Photo supplied.
By Daisy Baker
May 20, 2020
While cattle handling and judging hasn’t been an option during the COVID-19 pandemic, some keen students have found a virtual alternative.
Target Livestock and Marketing ran a national virtual junior beef judging competition earlier this month, drawing out young cattle judges across the country.
Springfield’s Darcy Smith won the national title in the Pee Wee class for six to nine-year-olds.
Darcy said it was a great surprise to find he’d secured the top spot when winners were announced on Friday.
“I was really excited and once Mum read it she was jumping up and down,” he said.
Entrants were provided with videos and photos of steers to judge.
“There were three lots. The first was a group of four steers and that was oral judging so I had to send a video in,” Darcy explained.
“Then there were two groups of heifers, joined and unjoined, which I had to place in order one to four.”
Darcy’s family breeds Murray Grey steers at their Springfield farm ‘Homevale’.
The nine-year-old said this was his first time entering a cattle judging competition but he is keen to get involved in real life when the competition restarts.
Darcy’s sisters Nikayla and Sophie, who attend Scottsdale High School, also entered, along with fellow students Tom and Will Hadley.
Scottsdale High School agriculture teacher Kylie Rattray said the competition was a great opportunity for local students.
“It has given our Cattle Handling team the opportunity to stay connected to their interest of cattle handling during these difficult times,” she said.
“It great to see that they are so keen to be involved and participated in this national competition.”
Congratulations to all the local entrants!