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MATTHEW CHERRY WINS ILLINOIS TRIP

Matthew Cherry (pictured) a trainee territory sales manager with Elders at Dubbo, NSW, is the 2008 University of Illinois scholar. He competed against representatives from all states in the national final at Tamworth which involved assessing live cattle and carcases.

His employment history has covered being an AI technician, property overseer and a feedlot stockman prior to his current position with Elders.

Matthew’s family runs the Agvac Santa Gertrudis stud at Gunnedah where he has been involved in breeding decisions, AI programs, marketing and showing. He is a regular and successful competitor in junior judging competitions and competes in camp drafts when time permits.

Matthew is the 29th young Australian to win the Illinois Angus scholarship which commenced in 1980. The University of Illinois scholarship enables the recipient to study at the prestigious University of Illinois livestock faculty. The scholar is also able to train and compete with the livestock assessment team.

Read more about the University of Illinois Scholarship here...

STRONG ANGUS PRESENCE IN QUEENSLAND

By Kate Tickle & Jim Klarner

Over sixty competitors and seventy heifers converged on the Bell Showgrounds over the ANZAC long weekend, in the eastern Darling Downs of Queensland. After a 15 year absent the Queensland Angus Heifer Show made a strong comeback. With the competitors aging from 5 to 25, and the majority being from Queensland, the event drew competitors from NSW and even overseas.

Andrei Beskow, Brazil was introduced to Australian cattle showing, as part of his exchange scholarship offered by Angus Youth, while traveling around Australia visiting various Angus studs.

Over the two days participants enjoyed a combination of education and competition, with all experience levels catered too.

For many the heifer show was their first experience with showing cattle, and not just the competitors but most of Queensland Angus studs who have not shown before or regularly in past years, made heifers available especially for this event. This strong support from local breeders enabled the competitors an experience of looking after and preparing their own allocated heifer.

Educational session presented by prominent beef industry members covered areas including breaking in cattle, parading, cattle assessment and the finer points of selection. Participants then tired out this newly acquired knowledge in junior judging, parading and heifer classes.

Committee member, Rana Haager, Valorbrook Angus was pleased with the outcome of the show.
“We saw the need in Queensland to provide opportunities for young people in the beef industry as they have been lacking in past years”
With the success of this years show, hopefully it will be bigger and better, with more studs, schools and sponsors becoming involved.

SHELLEY PIPER OFF TO MICHIGAN

Shelley Piper (pictured) ‘Ridge Station’, Caroona, NSW, is the 2008 Semex Michigan State University scholar.

Shelley’s family runs a 500 cow breeding herd, an opportunity feedlot and the Trio Angus stud. She is due to complete her Bachelor of Rural Science at the University of New England this year.

In 2004 she was dux of the Calrossy Anglican Girls School and has since excelled at UNE being invited to join the Golden Key Society which involves the top 15% of UNE students.

Shelley was an Angus Landmark Ambassador in 2007 and in 2008 is a member of the Angus Youth committee and the coordinator of the 2008 Angus Landmark Ambassadors.

She has attended the Armidale Feeder Steer School and the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment course.

Shelley is the 23rd young Australian to study at the Michigan State University under the Angus Youth program.

Read more about the Semex Michigan State Scholarship here...

2008 Landfall Angus Youth Roundup

105 beef cattle enthusiast aged eight to 25 took-over the Bendigo showgrounds for three days for the Landfall Angus Youth National Roundup.

All states and New Zealand were represented at this 25th annual gathering of the Angus Youth movement rated by organizers as one of the best and most successful ever.

The two major judges were both former prominent Angus Youth members and Angus Michigan Youth scholars. The cattle were judged by Donna Robson (nee Knox) and the paraders by Hayley Robinson (nee Moreland). Donna is involved in cattle breeding and Hayley is completing her PhD on beef cattle supply change management at the University of Queensland.

While the young people participated in the traditional judging and parading competitions, the main emphasis was on providing a strong grounding on beef industry matters. The educational sections were tailored to suit the different age groups and included a dissection of an actual rumen.

Numerous industry authorities conducted sessions on animal structure, meat cuts, early weaning, beef industry profitability, NLIS, female importance in commercial herds, pasture management and livestock genetics.

Angus Youth members were given control of the planning and conduct of the event and this was a tremendous learning experience for these future industry leaders according to Roundup coordinator Clinton Rogers, Mortlake.

Major awards were:

• Landmark Angus Youth Ambassadors: Monique LeCerf, Vic, and from New South Wales Samuel Martin, Scott Vale, Glen Bulloch and Eliza Newcombe.

• PJ Cattle Co SA Heifer Expo Scholarship: Kate Boardman, Camden, NSW.

• Te Mania Heifer Most Potential: Glen Bulloch, Burrell Creek, NSW.

• New Zealand Trans Tasman Exchange: Jasmin Nixon, Roslyn, NSW.

The 2009 Landfall Angus Youth National Roundup will be held in Canberra from the 15th -19th. If you wish to know more please contact Angus Youth Coordinator, Jim Klarner on 02 6773 4608 or email.

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