[MEDIA RELEASE] National young beef paraders and judges steak their claim at the 2024 Melbourne Royal

The Beef Paraders and Young Judges Championships, sponsored by Cattle Australia, were hotly contested today at the Melbourne Royal Show, where Olivia Delaforce from QLD was crowned the champion parader, and Mitchell Taylor from NSW took the title of champion beef young judge. 

The competition brings together the best young paraders and judges, aged 15 to 25, from each state to compete at the national finals.

Qualification is through success in competitive regional and state competitions. 

The Young Beef Paraders competition, held at 1 pm today, saw Olivia Delaforce (21) from Mt Beppo, Queensland, take the top spot. Olivia assists in running her family's Santa Gertrudis Stud and works at a large-scale Speckle Park Stud in Oberon, NSW. Parading cattle since she was around eight years old, Olivia's experience and passion for the industry shone through her performance. Olivia was also crowned runner-up in the grains young judging competition earlier today.

Runner-up to Olivia was Zoe Skinner (19) from Woogenellup Western Australia, who's upbringing on a broadacre cropping and beef property saw her showing cattle from a young age. Third place was taken by Tasmania's Jack Febey (24) who started showing cattle for the Sheffield School Cattle Handling Team in 2012.

Other finalists included Miley O'Brien (15) from New South Wales, Lucy Newman (21) representing South Australia, James Barton (23) from Victoria, and Zarah Miller-Thompson (17) from Palmerston in the Northern Territory.

The Cattle Shop (www.thecattleshop.com.au), based in Goulburn NSW, were proud to present a cane to the national winner.

At 3pm, the Beef Young Judges competition, sponsored by Cattle Australia, crowned Mitchell Taylor, an 18-year-old from Quipolly, NSW, with the top prize. Mitchell, who is currently in his final year of school, has grown up around cattle and operates his own Poll Hereford and Shorthorn Stud. He has an impressive track record, having won numerous state-level competitions. It seems that success in agriculture runs in the family, as his sister, Emily Taylor, also achieved recognition earlier today by winning the national grains young judging competition.

Second to Mitchell was Indiana Smith (22) from Rivervale, Western Australia, who has been in the beef industry for over 12 years, despite starting with a city background. She now runs a small Simmental stud while studying veterinary medicine. 

In third place was Candina Crowden from Eaglehawk Neck in Tasmania, who owns OSLO Angus, which she started after winning a registered Angus heifer in 2020. A student of agricultural science, Candina has competed in various judging events and aims for a future career in animal nutrition.

Other finalists in the Beef Young Judges competition were James Barton (22) from Mount Martha in Victoria, Daniel Ford (20) from Canaga in Queensland, Chelsea Causer (25) from Sanderston in South Australia and Dakota Gough (22) from Katherine in the Northern Territory. 

Executive Officer of Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA), Katie Stanley, expressed immense pride in the calibre of young paraders and judges that were on display. 

"This prestigious competition showcased finalists who not only possess immense talent, but whose evident passion and dedication for the agricultural industry is truly admirable." 

"These young people are the future of agricultural show competitions and future industry leaders who have made themselves, their families and their communities very proud," she added. 

Champions Olivia Delaforce and Mitchell Taylor now join a prestigious list of young paraders and judges who have proven their abilities on the national stage. 

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About the Competition
The ASA Young Judges Championships host 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. For more information on the national competition program, visit: https://agshowsaustralia.org.au/youth-in-agriculture/national-championships/

Photo caption for young judges image: Brad Jenkins (CEO of Melbourne Royal), Mitchell Taylor (beef young judge winner) and sister Emily Taylor (grain young judge winner) with The Hon Julie Collins MP - Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Matthew Coleman (President and Chairman of Melbourne Royal).