SA YOUNG judges cleaned up at the national finals held at Brisbane's Royal Queensland Show last week, and were ultimately awarded the interstate trophy for their success.
It is the first time SA has won the Patrick and Beverley Keast Shield for most successful state, following a tie with Qld when the finals were held at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2012 and equal second in New Zealand last year.
The result came after Courtney Ramsey's win in the Rural Ambassador competition and Robert Walmsley, Murray Bridge, and Tara Clarke, Melrose, placing first in the dairy and fleece judging competitions.
Alistair Keller, Booleroo Centre, placed second in the Merino judging competition, and Jessica Seeliger, Eden Valley, and Jarrad Eason, Lucindale, both achieved third placings in the dairy and beef paraders competitions respectively.
Agricultural Societies of SA immediate past president Grant Waterman said the "chickens had come home to roost" after a concerted push by the council to bolster junior judging competitions across the state.
"I think the improvement has come over several years," he said.
"We've made a concerted effort to get to high school teachers and encourage them to put students through the competitions at local shows, before heading to Adelaide (state finals)."
Mr Waterman - who ended his tenure as president of the Federal Council of Agricultural Societies at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year - said he thought the SA competitions had improved "out of sight".
"We encourage kids to participate with more sponsorship and prize money," he said.
"We've also now got a formal sponsor for clothing.
"The (state winners) used to go away with no formal state identification; now we have sponsored clothing and look smart and look the part."
* Full report in Stock Journal, August 21, 2014 issue.
Carla Wiese-Smith
Editor of SmartFarmer magazine.
Editor of SmartFarmer magazine.
