A KEEN eye for high-quality cattle and excellent public speaking skills helped Jessie Thomson claim her first state young judges beef cattle blue ribbon.
Jessie, 24, edged out Nicholas van den Berg, Cherry Gardens, and Nicole Muller, Rellum Farms Simmentals, Mount Gambier, and will head to Sydney next year to represent SA in the national young judges final.
Jessie said her experience in previous years had helped her hone her skills.
"Practice makes perfect, so I've been trying to compete in as many competitions as I can to improve," she said.
"I've been taking part in this for the last few years, and my ability to speak and judge has improved. Today I was firstly looking for good structure, but also muscle and power in the bulls."
The young judges had to rank four cattle from three beef breeds - Santa Gertrudis, Poll Herefords and Charolais - before the top six 15 to 25-year-olds gave an oral presentation explaining their Charolais rankings.
Overjudge Rachael Wheeler, T&R Genetics, Wellington, NSW, said Jessie's oral presentation was particularly impressive.
"When she spoke, she was clear and had that ability to compare animals," Ms Wheeler said. "She gave accurate reasonings for her rankings, and clearly outlined the faults and positives she had seen."
A previous NSW beef cattle young judges winner, Ms Wheeler said it was exciting to see the level of interest in young judges competitions.
"I was involved in these competitions throughout my youth, so it's nice to give back a bit and to see the future of the industry coming through," she said.
In the under-15 competition Phoebe Eckermann, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, claimed victory ahead of Thomas Fogden, Boulview Charolais, Loxton, and William Weir, Ammaroo Station via Alice Springs, NT.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 18, 2014 issue.
Jacinta Rose
Stock Journal's online editor.
Stock Journal's online editor.
