A CHILDHOOD spent on the family dairy farm has helped sharpen the eye of junior judge Caitlin Liebich, Jervois, winner of the state finals of the dairy young judges competition for the second time.
She was runner-up in the national competition last year.
Caitlin says she is looking to get into the judging side of showing and that judging competitions are great in helping young people in the industry gain confidence.
She has her own assessment criteria for picking top quality.
"You look for the cow you'd like to take home," she said. "I look for 'dairyness' even over size.
"It doesn't matter if what you think is the same as someone else, so long as you have confidence and justify it."
Over-judge James Warren, Cornwall, Britain, who has been showing and judging dairy cattle since he was in his teens, had some tips for the finalists.
"When you are the judge, you are the judge for the day," he said.
Junior judges should be confident in their opinions and give good, strong reasons to back them up.
And participants in the competitions must to make an effort with their presentation - as they would have to in a real judging situation.
"These are the future of the show, any show, and of the dairy industry," he said.
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 18, 2014 issue.