The Thompson family have continued their winning streak in the beef cattle young judges competition, after James Thompson, Yorketown, took out the senior competition this year, following his sister Alexandra’s win last year.
Owing his win to hard work in the junior competition for many years, the 17-year-old was “very excited but nervous” about competing in the national event in Perth, WA, next year.
Its Mr Thompson’s first attempt at winning the senior competition and he said his experience in the family shorthorn stud, Bayview, helped him to refine his judging skills.
“We are always using judging skills in our own stud to select heifers and bulls so I just used that knowledge to help me in the competition,” Mr Thompson said.
“Throughout the years my judging skills have improved and, the junior competition was such a great way to build on those for the senior competition,” he said.
“I hope to continue judging while I have the opportunity.”
Overjudge judge Hannah Powe, Cargo, has not been a stranger to winning judging competitions herself, with her most recent grand champion title being at this year’s Angus Youth National Round-up at Wodonga, Vic.
“I have been judging since 2009 and I have been an associate judge on the country show circuit since then,” Ms Powe said.
Ms Powe has also judged at this year’s Alice Spring Show, National Charolais Youth Stampede and, the Red Angus and Angus classes at this year's Royal Adelaide Show.
Throughout the competition Ms Powe said she was looking for a judge that displayed confidence.
“I wanted the judges to convey to me what they were looking for in the cattle and how accurate their observations were,” she said.
“It was not about having the same order as I put the cattle in but it was about convincing me with reasons about why they placed the cattle in the positions they chose.”
Ms Powe said the key to a successful national judge was “to not doubt yourself”.
“If James makes use of the skills he has learned at home with his own cattle then he will have a good chance at placing in the national competition,” she said.
Runner-up in the senior competition was Nicole Muller, Rellum Farm Simmentals, Mount Gambier, and the junior winner was Mr Thompson’s younger brother, 15-year-old Luke.
