SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Thomas Fogden considers collecting the top honours in an enormous and very competitive junior paraders competition at the Royal Adelaide Show this year his best achievement in a cattle ring.
That’s saying something because just two days earlier the youngster led the same heifer, Nangaringa Naomi, from his family’s stud at Loxton, to a breed Supreme Exhibit title.
Mr Fogden, who represents the fourth generation of Santa Gertrudis breeding in the Fogden family, has been involved in showing all his life and has had numerous successes but 2018 will be tough to beat.
He picked Naomi out himself as a weaner - he says she was structurally very solid and clearly had potential - and has been preparing her for show since.
That’s one of the keys to parading success, according to both Mr Fogden and judge Gavin O’Brien, Winchester Charolais in Orange, NSW.
“You need a good animal to start with and the longer you have worked with the animal the better a team you will be,” Mr Fogden said.
Mr O’Brien said showing cattle was about making your own luck.
The four paraders who won their sections and contested the champion title, junior Travis Wilson, intermediate Holly Wilson, senior Thomas Fogden and open Nicole Muller, had very good exhibits, he said.
“You have to make everything work in your favour,” Mr O’Brien said.
“There were a few paraders here today just as skilled but their animals didn’t present as well.
“So the message is to select well and prepare well.”
Another secret to success, to Mr Fogden’s mind, was to be humble and “go out expecting not to win but hoping to learn something.”
“Don’t worry what the other paraders are doing, just run your own race,” he said.
“And if the animal does get away from you, just keep going, never give up.”
Mr O’Brien said all four paraders in the final line-up had confidence and understood the importance of their role and how to get the job done.
It was the fact Mr Fogden was “in the right spot every time” that gave him the edge, Mr O’Brien said.
“He’s at ease with animal and every time I looked to assess the animal from whatever angle he’d ensure she was set up just right,” he said.
Mr O’Brien had a good deal of faith in the future of all the champion contenders.
Of 11-year-old Travis Wilson, he said: “You can tell he loves this and is as proud as punch of what he is doing and that’s what it’s all about.”
Master Wilson’s parents Anita and Mark Wilson run Kerlson Pines Poll Herefords at Keith.
Mr Wilson had four pieces of advice for his two children, who were both competing the paraders competition: Hold the lead short, stay in control, always monitor where the judge is and be gracious if your sibling wins and you don’t.
That last piece wasn’t required as Holly Wilson, 13, was also first in her category.
Both Wilson children first came the Adelaide show as babies and have been leading cattle since they could walk.
Given Master Wilson’s future plans are to “kick mum and dad out and be the boss of Kerlson Pines”, it’s a good thing his sister has her sights set on teaching agriculture.
The Landmark achievement award this year went to 15-year-old Lucy Oldfield, from Allendale.
RESULTS
Judge: Gavin O’Brein
Entries: 84
Junior: 1. Travis Wilson, Keith. 2. Zana Spence, Keith. 3. Samuel Buick, Bordertown.
Intermediate: 1. Holly Wilson, Keith. 2. Emily Loane, Tasmania. 3. Thomas Spence, Keith.
Senior: 1. Thomas Fogden, Loxton. 2. Angus Llewellyn, Keith. 3. Abbey Potter, Strathalbyn.
Open: 1. Nicole Muller, Victoria. 2. Sarah Sutton, Victoria. 3. Kate Fairlie, Mt Gambier.