TWO dairy representatives from SA are headed to Belgium next month after being selected as part of a team representing Australia on the world dairy youth competition stage in the Young Breeders School.
Melbourne Royal, Jersey Australia and Holstein Australia announced the team selected after a rigorous application and interview process with representation from five dairy regions across two states and a number of dairy breeds.
The team members are Andrew Gray, Chapel Hill, Courtney Afford, Woods Point, Georgia Sieben, Torrumbarry, Vic, Kaitlyn Wishart, Cohuna, Vic, Nathan Hart, Stanhope, Vic, with team reserve Oakley Henry, Tinamba, Vic. The team will be led by Glomar Holsteins' Justin Johnston, Bundalaguah, Vic.
The Young Breeders School is an annual five-day event run by the Association Wallonne de l'Elevage, involving hands-on workshops including bedding, showmanship and clipping, as well as classroom-based sessions in marketing and herd promotion.
After three days of workshops and practice, participants put their skills to the test in stock judging, showmanship and calf classes.
An Australian team competed at the Young Breeders School for the first time in 2019, with all team members finishing in the top third of the results and three in the top 15.
Formerly called the European Young Breeders' School, the event's increasingly international nature has seen it rebranded as the Young Breeders School to reflect its global reach more accurately.
RELATED:
Mr Johnston said the experience would be a real opportunity to showcase the talent of Australian dairy youth on the world stage.
"The key selection criteria for our 2022 team was that individuals were focused on a dairy career and were able to demonstrate leadership potential," he said.
"What became clear to us during this process is that Australia is in a good place in terms of youth participation, with opportunities like this playing an important part in nurturing and developing that potential."
Jersey Australia general manager Glen Barrett said the Young Breeders School was not only a great opportunity for the participants to hone their show craft and compete against the world's best but also enabled the dairy industry to foster the personal development and growth of each team member through the dairy industry.
Holstein Australia chief executive officer Rohan Butler said the experience would enable the team members to benchmark themselves against some of the best young competitors from Europe, the UK and Canada.
Following the European Young Breeders School, the Australian team will travel through Holland on an educational tour visiting several farms, Alta Genetics and Lely in what is regarded as one of the world's most productive dairy regions.
Mr Gray said he hoped to meet likeminded dairy people and build a global dairy network and friendships.
"Once back home, I hope to share my experiences and learnings developed through the Young Breeders School with other young dairy breeders here in Australia," he said.
"I want to express my gratefulness for being selected and for the organisers Holstein Australia, Jersey Australia and all the sponsors."
Ms Afford said the opportunity would allow her to gain greater knowledge about training, showing and managing dairy cattle in a foreign setting and to be an ambassador for the Australian dairy industry.
"Taking part in the Young Breeders School competition will be a great privilege and one I know will be a stepping stone to help me achieve my long-term goals within the industry," she said.
"To meet people from all over the world that have the same passion and see different types of dairy farms will be awesome."
The European Young Breeders School takes place in Battice, Belgium, from August 31 to September 4.