[PRESS RELEASE] What makes a top dairy cow? Young judges to showcase talent at national competition

Australia's most promising young dairy cattle judges have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia as eligible to compete in the national finals of the prestigious annual competition to be judged next month.

The competition brings together the best young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 in each state to compete at the national finals. Qualification is via success in competitive regional and state competitions. One young judge from South Australia, Cody Jones, will be competing in an unprecedented four events; meat sheep breeds, Merino fleece, Merino sheep, and poultry.

The national championships are held in a different location each year. This year, the event is being hosted by Tasmanian Ag Shows and held at the Launceston Royal Show. The winner of each competition will also take home a pair of boots from Blundstone Australia.

QUEENSLAND

Britney Holt, 22, (pictured below) from Gympie will be representing Queensland in the young judges dairy cattle competition. 

"I grew up on a dairy farm and worked on my brother's farm for two years. I've been involved with young judges since 2017 and I really enjoy being able to put your opinions forward and learn from others. Gaining confidence in public speaking has been really good and I'm just hoping to achieve my best in Tasmania," Britney said. 

"Winning supreme champion with my own cow has definitely made my passion for judging stronger and drives my passion." 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Brittany Liebech, 23, will be representing South Australia in the young judges dairy cattle competition. 

"I've been on a dairy farm my whole life and I like the breeding aspect of the cows; trying to breed well, dabbling in different bulls, and trying to achieve the best. The national finals is a great chance to look at different cows to what we have on the mainland and learn what other judges look for in their ideal cow," she said. 

TASMANIA

William Dudfield, 25, (pictured below) from Somerset will be representing Tasmania in the young judges dairy cattle competition. 

"I've been showing since I was three years old and I've been a part of the paraders since I was nine. I really enjoy the competitive side of it and it's hard to go past coming second at nationals at the Sydney Royal Easter Show last year. I'm from a dairy farm and although I'm in civil construction now, it's something I'll always enjoy," he said. 

NEW SOUTH WALES

Macs Rubain, 18, (pictured below) from Camden South will be representing New South Wales in the young judges dairy cattle competition. 

"Participating in dairy judging has given me so many connections and instilled confidence in the agricultural industry. I'm really excited to compete again in Tasmania and see where judging takes me," he said. 

VICTORIA 

Georgia Sieben, 20, from Torrumbarry will be representing Victoria in the young judges dairy cattle competition. 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Jaxon Micallef, 18, from Harvey will be representing Western Australia in the young judges dairy cattle competition. 

THE COMPETITIONS

Overall there are nine categories for judging and parading each year under the Agricultural Shows Australia national competition program: beef cattle, dairy cattle, alpaca, poultry, Merino sheep, meat breed sheep and Merino fleece judging, as well as parading competitions in beef and dairy cattle.

The winner of the dairy cattle young judges will be determined by who most accurately placed the animals from first to fourth according to its form and characteristics. 

Dr. Rob Wilson is chairman of Agricultural Shows Australia, the peak body overseeing 572 agricultural shows in Australia which attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1billion to the national economy, and says the competition is designed to recognise the best new talent in livestock judging nationwide.

"It's an extremely prestigious event and positions at the nationals are keenly contested," Dr. Wilson explains.

"These young people are the future of agricultural show competitions which are crucial to the continual improvement of Australia's food and fibre. The national competition is a coveted opportunity to grow personally and professionally by practising skills against the cream of the crop." [END]

The National Dairy Cattle Young Judges Championship will be held at 2.30pm on Friday October 13. Find more about the competition here. Agricultural Shows Australia will issue a press release to announce the results as soon as they are announced. Media are welcome to attend the national finals.