By Lucy Waldron
Last week, three talented young students from Warwick – Georgia Mulcahy, Ben Carey and Dan Hughes – showcased their expertise in the Team Judging portion of EKKA Beef Week at the prestigious Royal Queensland Show (EKKA).
Armed with their Akubra hats and a wealth of knowledge, these students from SCOTS PGC College proved their mettle in the world of cattle judging.
The Team Judging competition involved assessing several cattle based on various criteria, including their form and function in relation to their breeding purpose.
While Team Judging is not an event that one specifically trains for, Georgia, Ben, and Dan honed their skills through participation in smaller shows and their four-year involvement in the SCOTS PGC College Cattle Show Team.
Georgia said everyone in the team has their own strengths, so they judge the cattle separately first before coming together to agree on an order to submit.
“This year, we judged the cattle in the correct order and Dan then followed up with an excellent speech which got us over the line,” she said.
Their hard work paid off as the students proudly claimed the Team Interschool Judging award.
“I think we all felt a sense of accomplishment and a feeling that our efforts had paid off. It was surreal to think that we were the best group of judges out of a big field of other schools,” Ben said.
Participating in the EKKA Show holds immense significance for these students, as it is Queensland’s largest annual event that unites the country and city communities in celebrating agriculture.
“The EKKA is the pinnacle event for us. It is something that we are consistently working towards and is like a grand finale for all of the smaller agricultural shows we’ve been to throughout the year,” Dan said.
Not only have these three students brought glory to SCOTS PGC College, but they have also shone a spotlight on their region. They are deeply grateful for the support they received from everyone involved in their journey to victory, acknowledging the tremendous effort that goes on behind the scenes.
This win is just the beginning for these high school students, as they aspire to pursue careers in the agricultural industry and continue judging at local shows. Their ultimate goal is to become chief judges, overseeing and leading such events. With their determination and talent, it seems that this dream is well within their reach.
