The Angus Youth international scholarship program is designed to provide young beef enthusiasts with exciting opportunities to increase their beef industry skills overseas. The enthusiastic reports from scholarship winners are evidence of the program's success.

Kate Tickle, the 2007 Angus Youth New Zealand exchangee, recently reported that, although her trip to NZ was only halfway through, it had already been ‘amazing'.

“It's really been a great opportunity to broaden my horizons, have my eyes opened to the beef industry on an international level, appreciate the strengths of the industry in Australia and also realise were there may be room for change or improvement for the future” she said.

Kate, originally from Dungog, NSW, is the current chairperson of Angus Youth's Queensland committee. In her report, Kate said she had already visited several Angus studs, including Turihaua in Gisborne, where she stayed with Angela and Hamish Williams. According to Kate this 5000 acre coastal property is magnificent country, and features nine acres of gardens and over 700 roses.

Her stay at Turihaua coincided with Gisborne Angus Bull Sale Week, and Kate reported she went to four bull sales in three days and lent a hand at the Turihaua sale making sandwiches and handing out supplementary sale sheets.

Another activity was attending a meeting of Future Beef, a newly developed all breeds youth organisation.

According to Kate, a ‘massive highlight' of her trip was the people she was meeting.

“These wonderful, down to earth Angus breeders just love to talk cattle with me…I've gotten to know some great people.”

Her New Zealand trip is part of what has been a busy year for Kate. Earlier in the year she was a finalist in the 2007 Sydney Royal Showgirl competition, representing Maitland.

2007 New Zealand Exchangee Kate Tickles Photo Gallery