IN her first year as a senior and only second year competing at the SA Junior Heifer Expo, Dayna Grey has taken out the highly-coveted champion herdsman award.
The emotional 20-year-old said it was a shock win, but a good one.
"I have only competed here once before as an intermediate," she said.
"This is amazing.
"I must credit past Heifer Expo winner Annika Whale, who has been very supportive throughout this journey, and the Hann family at Nampara for getting me here as well."
Ms Grey is originally from the North West Coast of Tas, where her family bred Murray Grey cattle.
She "learned the ropes" on the Royal Show circuit with Ms Whale's NSW Murray Grey stud, before taking a few years off to undertake a degree in agribusiness at Marcus Oldham College in Vic.
She then took a SA internship at Thomas Foods International in their sales and marketing department.
"I am now based in Adelaide and work at TFI as their livestock assurance coordinator," she said.
"We have implemented a program to guarantee the integrity of our products."
The senior herdsman award is judged over a three-day period, with points given for skills in junior judging, marketing, clipping, parading, public speaking, presentation and attitude.
There is also a buddy system, a herdsman quiz and an interview.
Ms Grey also won the expo's senior marketing award.
The scholarship prize includes $3500 from Landmark for airfares and $3000 from the Show Society Foundation for spending money towards a four-month beef study tour of North America.
Ms Grey plans to attend Farmfair International and Canadian Western Agribition, experience the North American cattle show circuit and visit the Texas A&M University.
She won champion herdsman ahead of runner-up Nichole Kopp, Roseworthy, and 19 other competitors.
An elated Ms Kopp took home a $1750 scholarship trip to New Zealand, sponsored by Rabobank.
The self-proclaimed "beef cattle industry ring-in" had competed at the expo multiple times, this year with a roan Shorthorn heifer from Bundaleer, Gulnare.
"I am not off a farm, but in year 10, I did a school placement on a farm and fell in love with cattle," she said.
"I have competed in the expo ever since."
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The 23-year-old is studying veterinary science at university, graduating in three months.
"The expo is a great networking mechanism and the education program is fantastic," she said.
"To meet all the farmers and get to know them has also been very rewarding."
About 175 entries competed in this year's expo.
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