The SA Junior Heifer Expo has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1985, with 154 young beef enthusiasts aged between eight and 23 taking part this year.
While some competitors come from SA's beef cattle studs, many have little or no prior experience working cattle – meaning the expo can provide a valuable insight into a possible career in livestock.
The four-day program, running from July 13-16, covered all areas of stud breeding and showing, with this year's competitors learning about nutrition, MSA grading, embryo transfer, pregnancy scanning and animal health, while also receiving a marketing class from Stock Journal's Mark Scown and Catherine Miller.
The annual event educates and celebrates the cattle industry's next generation, with more than 50 prize ribbons awarded, culminating in the prestigious senior champion herdsman title, won this year by Jessica Burpee.
The 22-year-old from Drayton Park Red Angus at Tintinara has been competing at the expo since she was eight.
To view all the photos from the SA Junior Heifer Expo, click on the image above.
"I can't believe I started 15 years ago, and here I am today," she said.
"You come here every year and you try your hardest, but you don't come here expecting to win.
"You come to learn, and for a lot of social networking - a lot of the people here are like your second family, you've grown up with them.
"Everybody has the same passion for cattle - they're like our pets or babies.
"We're learning from the best people in the industry here. You've got people who have been around for 40 years - what better way to learn?"
Ms Burpee will receive a $6000 scholarship from Landmark, CGU and the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA towards a North American study tour.
The senior champion herdsman competition is judged on entrants' scores in public speaking, junior judging, clipping, presentation and parading, a herdsman quiz, a marketing assignment, an interview, their performance in the buddy system and general attitude.
She said some of her most vivid memories of her first expo years were the early mornings.
"It's a lot of hard work – you can't just rock up here and expect to meet your heifer for the first time. It needs bonding every weekend and every chance you get, going out and working with the heifer. If you've got a good bond with your heifer and they trust you, it makes your job a lot easier.
Ms Burpee said excelling in one area of the competition was often not enough to achieve a senior herdsman win.
"You've got to try your best to be an all-rounder, they're not just looking for someone who's good at one aspect, you have to do well on the junior judging, the marketing, and your communications with people," she said.
The secretary-treasurer of SA Young Beef Breeders said she was passionate about getting young people involved in agriculture.
"I'm studying teaching and I graduate at the end of this year," she said. "I want to be an ag teacher so getting youth involved is very important to me."
She said the expo's buddy system – which paired older, more experienced competitors with younger entrants – delivered big benefits for all involved.
"I'm still in touch with some of my first buddies – the friendship you develop really does last for years and years," she said.
"It's also good for me being a teacher to learn how to communicate on their level to get them to understand what's important and that the heifer comes first."
On her way to the top award, Ms Burpee also claimed the reserve senior junior judging ribbon.