Liebelt claims prize in junior judging

She has spent the past 12 months in the showring, polishing her skills.

"I've been listening more and paying more attention to judges, getting that better terminology and trying to be more confident," she said.

Ms Liebelt has been competing in the junior judging contest for the past five years, since she was 15.

"It's so important to find the next generation of judges," she said.

"This is one of the only times the year I get to practice these skills, because I'm not ready to judge at a real show yet."

Ms Liebelt said these critical skills also came in handy when selecting cattle on her own Holstein stud, Torlea.

"You've got to use judging skills to pick your heifers out, and when showing, you need to know your heifer's weakest points," she said.

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Judge Rob Walmsley, Myponga, who previously represented SA and won the national competition at the Royal Qld Show in 2014 before going on to judge at shows across SA, said these competitions helped anyone with an interest in judging cattle in the showring as well as when selecting cattle at home.

"It also gave me more appreciation of judges in the showring," he said.

The group of competitors were required to cast their eye across groups of four dairy heifers and cows - from the Illawarra, Jersey and feature Guernsey breeds - and place them, with the seniors required to share their placings on the microphone.

Second place in the senior division went to Karoonda Area School student Reanna Turner, with Eliana McIntosh, Loxton, in third.

In the junior section, Mieka White, Orroroo Area School, came first, Connor Tweddle, Glencoe, second and Chelsea Schutz, Joanna, third.

Mieka was also the Landmark encouragement award winner.