Two South Australian teenagers have excelled at the 2018 Herefords Australia National Youth Expo, held in Wodonga, Vic, early this month.
Eleni Fogden, Loxton, took out the champion herdsman award from 67 entrants from Vic, NSW, Qld, SA and New Zealand.
Georgia Auricht, Callington, won intermediate champion judge.
Both 15-year-olds were first time entrants at the Hereford Expo, but are long-time participants in the all breeds youth show, the Landmark CGU SA Junior Heifer Expo.
Ms Fogden was invited to attend with Tondara Herefords, Urana, NSW, after working with the stud at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for the past three years.
The Charolais and Santa Gertrudis junior breeder says she was “stoked” to win the herdsman award for her conduct and willingness to help others.
“It is cool to know that people who I have looked up to and have helped me get to where I am today recognised my abilities,” she said.
“I really want to be able to help the young ones coming through by sharing the skills that I have learnt.
“Tondara had nine head (at the Expo) and three of the kids had never shown before so hopefully they were given a boost to attend more youth shows.”
Ms Fogden may only be in Year 10 but she knows her future lies in the livestock industry.
“I want to do something with animal health and nutrition and Dad and I have been talking about creating a brand for our beef,” she said.
After placing the bull and female classes the same as the overjudge Ms Auricht impressed with her comments during the public speaking to win her age group.
It follows her success at the 2017 Royal Adelaide Show where she won he under 15 years age bracket of the Young Judges competition.
Ms Auricht’s mother Gail said it had been a “dream come true” for her daughter to attend the Expo with a heifer borrowed from Glenholme stud, Cootamundra, NSW.
“She had been wanting to do it for a long time so we decided to give her an early birthday gift,” she said.
“The whole experience to focus on an individual breed was special especially her first time preparing a (horned) Hereford.
“The classes offered were amazing too from pasture management to estimated breeding values.”
Georgia established her Andaur Poll Hereford stud in 2016.
While living in the NT she won her foundation female through the Rabobank Junior Encouragement Award at the Alice Springs Show.
The award also provided $1000 for her to attend the SA Heifer Expo.
Since then she has not looked back with her stud, now based in the Adelaide Hills, growing to nine head.
Herefords Australia youth coordinator Katelin Davies said it had been a fantastic few days and thanked the sponsors and breeders who had provided cattle for the Expo.
“We were able to attract many participants from outside of the breed, with some having no previous involvement in the cattle industry,” she said.
“It is our overall goal to keep these youth engaged moving forward so they can form the same passion for this breed that has benefitted so many youth that have come before them.”
Taylah Sykes, Longford, Vic, won the most potential cattle breeder award which helps a youth member establish a stud or add to their genetics. She received a heifer donated by Kanimbla stud, Holbrook, NSW.
