Junior handlers bring wisdom to the show

Those who have an understanding of the breed and the desired traits a judge looks for will be able to handle and show animals to a much higher standard, according to the young judges 2022 national winner Dayna Grey, Marrabel.

Representing SA, Ms Grey won this year's Agricultural Shows Australia national beef cattle young judges final at the Sydney Royal Show earlier this year.

She also represented the state in the national beef cattle paraders competition.

Originally from Sheffield, Tas, she said her dad was to credit for her judging experiences.

"If we wanted to handle cattle, then Dad made us do the judging too," she said.

"We were judging from day dot, so probably about 13-years old.

"We had to pick our own animals to show and that is how we were encouraged into it."

She still applies the same principle that her father instilled in her when teaching.

"If kids want to be a part of the handling team, then they need to be doing the judging too," she said.

"I forced the kids to get in and have a go.

"They hate me for it, they cry tears and say they don't want to talk on the microphone but that is the negotiation for being involved."

She said showing was a massive help to make connections.

"I have lived in many different parts of the country and have been welcomed with open arms by lots of families," she said.

"I wouldn't be where I am without the network and connections I have made through showing.

"I had the confidence and the support from that network around me to open up my own pregnancy scanning business."

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Also coming home with a national title this year was Woods Point local Courtney Afford who won the 2021 National Dairy Paraders' Championship, after it was delayed by COVID-19.

Ms Afford said she had been showing dairy cows her whole life and built up her skills.

"It has given me confidence to speak on a microphone," she said.

"But it has also increased my knowledge of dairy cattle and opened opportunities to see what others in the same industry were doing.

"When you lead cows for other people, it is self promotion because people take notice of it and that was how I was asked to help out other people at shows.

"It helped me to build networks.

"Once you get your name out there, it's kind of organic growing from there."

She said working for other people helped her pick up lots of skills.

"People in the showing industry are always very helpful and great mentors," she said.

"Being able to bring my knowledge back to teach other kids is great.

"I found honing in on my skills at home with handling really helped me get to a national level.

"Even going out to the paddock and practicing judging at home - all that experience builds up."

She said the connections she had made were giving her once in a lifetime opportunities.

"The girl that got a runner up in my competition and myself are both going over to Belgium for the Young Breeders School, so that's pretty cool to get opportunities like that from building up my experiences in showing," she said.

Young judging and parading at this years Royal Adelaide Show: