Grand rewards for Naracoorte High School in successful Steer Showdown

The competition which was held to replace the void of the Royal Adelaide Show's cancellation had a reach of almost 38,000 people, with 7700 video views on Facebook and 15,600 page views on the Steer Showdown website.

Stock Journal editor Jacinta Rose said the team felt privileged to give SA students their first experience of competing in an online cattle show.

"I was thrilled to see so many different schools achieving success throughout the competition. Across our six classes, we had 11 schools and one breeder earn a spot on the podium," she said. "I think that speaks volumes, not only for the quality of beef cattle being bred in SA, but also for the standard of our school agricultural programs and our ag teachers."

She also thanked major sponsors - Thomas Foods International, the RMA Network and Hills Farm Supplies - "for taking a leap of faith and believing in our concept".

An eye-appealing Limousin steer won by Naracoorte High School in Penola Show's junior judging competition in October was awarded grand champion in Steer Showdown.

Judge and Iranda Beef feedlot general manager Tom Green, Tintinara, had high praise for many of the 51 steers in the online competition.

But March 2019-drop Naracoorte Quitters Never Win, which was also the export champion, left a lasting impression for its softness of hair type, smoothness and overall balance.

The grand win came with $500 cash sponsored by Thomas Foods International.

"It is an animal that really has some presence about it, when we talk presence they are animals that draw you in and you want to see more of them," Mr Green said.

"This steer's best side is when it walks, it really softens up on the move - that depth of flank and hind (quarter) makes it a really quality animal with adequate fat cover."

Quitters Never Win, donated by Warrawindi stud, Penola, had been fed for 120 days on a Hills Farm Supplies ration at the school.

Naracoorte High School agriculture teacher Emma Phillips said it had been great to continue their steer curriculum during COVID-19 times and the win was a huge accolade for the school.

Making it even more special was having Jake Shepherd, Angus McKenzie and Ben Frick - whose keen eye had won the steer at Penola - involved in preparing the steer.

"Because the boys worked so hard to win the steer initially and for it to win a competition that hasn't happened before in a virtual form is very exciting," she said.

"It gives us the chance to back ourselves into it (show steers) again and go even bigger next year hopefully."

Mrs Phillips thanked the Galpin family for their generous donation of such a "well-balanced" animal and their support of youth.

"Their generosity and getting students engaged and into agriculture is absolutely priceless," she said.

Also in contention for the tri-coloured ribbon was light domestic champion Quantas, a Murray Grey exhibited by Bordertown High School, as well as a Limousin steer, Maryvale Bruno, from Mount Compass Area School.

STOCK Journal's Steer Showdown judge Tom Green said it had been a privilege to judge his first online show, describing it as a fun but challenging experience.

"The way we present and film and photograph our animals is important, it is a new art that we are all learning," he said.

"I have tried to look through that when reviewing the footage but not having that ability to have the animals stand side by side has made it more challenging than I first thought."

Across three nights last week he provided impressive commentary on each of the 51 entries from across the state, which were judged in classes based on their weights in early August.

These steers were all entered in the Royal Adelaide Show's beef carcase competition and processed at Teys Australia's Naracoorte abattoir.

For his placegetters, Mr Green was looking for "real world", commercially-orientated cattle that could produce beef efficiently.

"We have seen some real quality and a number of different breeds and types and all animals that would fit a purpose and serve the industry well," he said.

There were plenty of viewers that agreed with his decision to make Quantas the light domestic champion.

The Murray Grey steer from Bordertown High School won the People's Choice Award and $150 cash from Stock Journal with close to a third of the 623 votes that were cast in the three days following the competition.

Two steers from Unity College, Murray Bridge, were the next highest ranking in the popular vote - Drayton Park Ralph Q038, a Red Angus, followed by Andaur Quantum Q01, a Poll Hereford.

One lucky voter will be notified soon that they have won a Stock Journal prize pack.

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