![CHAMPION AT WORK: Jordan Meade is in her second year of a Veterinary Science Degree at the University of Adelaide, and has been showing cattle since she was five. CHAMPION AT WORK: Jordan Meade is in her second year of a Veterinary Science Degree at the University of Adelaide, and has been showing cattle since she was five.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/2033159.jpg/r0_0_600_397_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
AFTER an eight-year absence from the annual South Australian Junior Heifer Expo Jordan Meade, Wistow, returned last week and won the grand prize as senior champion herdsman.
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She fended-off Amy Holmes, Eudunda, to win the award which will see her travel to North America on a scholarship worth a total of $7000 courtesy of CGU, Landmark and the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA.
Jordan, 22, is in her second year of a Veterinary Science Degree at the University of Adelaide, and has been showing cattle since she was five, attending the expo between the ages of eight and 14. She took a break for eight years to focus on her high school studies and attended the expo this year for placement as part of her tertiary studies.
"Animals are my passion and my life and with this opportunity to travel to North America, I'll be able to further my career in cattle medicine," she said. "My aim is to be a production-animal vet specialising in cattle medicine."
In an emotional acceptance speech, Jordan thanked friends and family who had helped her on her journey, and made special mention of Lyn Nitschke, Carlton Poll Shorthorns, Hahndorf, who she described as a "surrogate grandmother".
Jordan exhibited a Nitschke heifer – Carlton Cherry.
"Dad bought some foundation heifers and cows from Lyn when we first started our stud Broadwood Shorthorns, which was dispersed in 2003, which is how I got to know her," she said.
"The support of the Shorthorn breeders and the Shorthorn Society has been great.
"Attending the expo has taught me discipline, how to work as a team, and industry knowledge from knot-tying to information about ET."
*Full report in Stock Journal, July 25 issue, 2013.