It has been more than 40 years since beef cattle were last displayed at the Yankalilla Show, but they will make a return this year, thanks to a school student.
Sixteen-year-old Katie Bell, Aldinga Beach, has instigated the return of both beef and dairy cattle to the show, with dairy cattle last seen in 2009.
Katie said she decided to join the Yankalilla Show committee this year, as she had always loved cattle, competed in the SA Junior Heifer Expo, and regularly ventured out to her grandad's dairy farm.
In preparation for the show on Saturday, September 30, she has organised the cattle section and has thrived under the pressure.
"I've had to organise judges, stewards, emcees, ribbons and I've had to organise how many ribbons are needed," she said.
"I've loved the challenge, as it's been massive convening the two sections, as well as sections that haven't been here.
"I'm organised, so I think having that quality, has definitely helped organise everything."
While she completes her show responsibilities, Katie has also had to complete her Year 11 studies, at Urrbrae Agricultural High School, which had been a challenge, she said.
"There's been a few late nights to get homework done," she said.
"I'm also staying on grounds at the (Royal) Adelaide Show (next month) and helping out a breeder.
"I'm going to be missing a lot of time off school, so it's definitely been a challenge to juggle, but I haven't fallen behind."
Since Year 9, Katie has known she wants to pursue a future in the agriculture industry.
"I'm thinking of doing a (vocational training) course and becoming a livestock healthcare manager," she said.
"I've known I want to be in the cattle industry - and preferably dairy cattle - for quite a long time."
Despite initially planning on just displaying beef cattle, Katie said it quickly transpired dairy cattle would also be displayed.
"I've had more of a response in the dairy side from a lot of studs in the southern area than beef," she said.
Yankalilla Rapid Bay and Myponga Horticultural Agricultural Society president Dalton Dupuy said Katie had added to the quality of the committee.
"She's brought youthful energy, clarity and enthusiasm and she's been a bonus for the committee and bodes well for the future," he said.
Dalton has been the president of the show committee since 2020 and said he was approached to take on the role, due his history with livestock.
"I was a stockman in Queensland in 1972 and 1973 and I grew up in the rodeo as a team roper and a bull rider," he said.
After being a general member last year, Andrew Norton has also decided to become the convenor of the sheep section this year, which has led to some welcome developments for the sheep section.
"We had to build it up for a good sheep section for the Fleurieu," he said.
"I've added a class for a pair of flock rams that we've got good sponsorship for.
"The sheep have to be from a registered stud and have the right health protocols."
Andrew said he had a long history with sheep, as he used to own a 150-hectare farm at Cudal, NSW, where he ran sheep and cattle, while he now owned a 20-hectare hobby farm where him and his wife Janet run a small flock of White Suffolks.
"I started with a Suffolk stud in 1976 with my father-in-law," he said.
"When the reserved price came on, we found flock ram sales dropped dramatically.
"We moved to White Suffolks and they kept us going until 2019."
Andrew said he was confident he could successfully fulfill the role of convenor, as he had been a steward at the Sydney Royal, judged sheep displays and held on-farm sheep sales.
Andrew said there would be Suffolks, Dorsets, Corriedales, Polwarths, Border Leicesters and maybe Texels at the show, while he encouraged other breeders to bring their sheep.
With the return of the cattle display and expansion of the sheep section, Andrew said he hoped the show would become more agricultural and horticulturally centered.
The sheep display will run on September 30 from 9am to approximately 3pm, where Andrew encouraged people to discuss the sheep with judge Ian Turner.
