[PRESS RELEASE] Beef cattle paraders named for national finals

The best young beef cattle paraders in Australia have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia and will compete in the national finals in September.

The 2025 National Championships is being hosted by the SA Country Shows at the Royal Adelaide Show from 1-6 September 2025. The prestigious competition includes paraders of beef and dairy cattle, young judges of beef and dairy cattle, grain, Merino sheep and fleece, meat breeds sheep, and poultry, the Australian Young Farmers Challenge, and National Rural Ambassador Award.

The National Championships brings together the best of the best in rural talent, community spirit, and industry excellence. Young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 in each state will gather to compete in the annual competition. Qualification is via success in competitive regional and state competitions. The prestigious competition highlights the incredible reach and rewards of agricultural shows, from connecting communities to driving growth and celebrating success. The national championships are held in a different location each year.

Meet the seven finalists in the Beef Cattle Parading final:

NORTHERN TERRITORY | Zarah Miller Thompson, 18, Darwin

With dreams to work on a cattle station, Zarah Miller Thompson is getting plenty of practice in the show ring. 

"I've always had a passion for animals and my schooling got me into cattle. I've competed in the Freds Pass Rural Show, Royal Darwin Show, Katherine Show, and Melbourne Royal Show, but being given this opportunity is my best agricultural show moment so far."

WESTERN AUSTRALIA | Libby Morris, 19, Narrikup

Libby works on a family-run farm running cattle and sheep. Her parents have been breeding and showing Limousin cattle with their stud, Morrisvale Limousins, for over 26 years. 

"Showing has taught me many things, from the responsibility of caring for the welfare of our cattle to taking pride in their presentation. I also enjoy helping the next generation by volunteering at the WA Youth Cattle Camp and giving advice to young handlers at local shows. It's great to give back and see others grow in confidence and passion for the industry."

SOUTH AUSTRALIA | Olivia Baker, 18, Furner

At just 18-years-old, Olivia Baker has been showing all her life alongside her parents and younger brother. While there's been plenty of highlights, she says it's hard to beat taking out the Supreme Beef Exhibit at Melbourne Royal Show in 2023. The year 12 student at Scotch College Adelaide aspires to become a vet.

"I started competing at ag shows when I was eight as I loved taking every opportunity to learn and develop my skills. Being already at the show, showing my family's stud cattle, I was able to compete every year." 

QUEENSLAND | Kaitlyn Barber, 18, Brigooda

Year 12 student Kaitlyn Barber won the Champion Beef Parader title in Queensland at the Ekka (Royal Queensland Show) last year and credits her schooling with nurturing her passion for cattle and showing. 

"I started showing cattle with a small school I went to, Proston State School. They have a really good agricultural program which includes lots of show time. I started with them when I was 13 and have never looked back. I have been to many shows, including three Ekkas, and I will be doing the one coming up this year. I have a very strong passion for cattle and I wanted to get into showing cattle. I got this opportunity when I started high school back when I was 13. Everything I know was because of the two teachers I learnt from. My knowledge doesn't stop there, I am still continuing to learn and grow my skills."

NEW SOUTH WALES | Jack Smyth, 17, Canowindra

Jack Smyth is a young stock and station agent with MCC Chudleigh Dobell in Forbes, NSW.  

"I started competing in the paraders when I was 14 because I had friends doing it and it's something I love doing. I've been in agriculture my whole life with my family but I started by showing cows with my school and then worked for Goondoola Livestock and Kianma Poll Herefords. I'm looking forward to my first visit to Adelaide, catching up with people and having a good day in the ring."

TASMANIA | Charlton Skirving, 18, Sheffield

Charlton Skirving is a livestock agent with Elders and lives on a farm, combining his professional and rural roots. In the future, he hopes to build on his current role by developing his own client base. Outside of agriculture, he has a surprising passion for surfing.

"I started because I loved cows and it meant I got to spend more time with them. I enjoy the Sheffield Show because it's my local show and it has a great steer competition."

VICTORIA | Emily Hann, 16, Hamilton

A Year 11 student at The Hamilton and Alexandra College, Emily Hann attended her first junior beef show at the South Australian Junior Heifer Expo when she was eight-years-old. Since then she's competed at local agricultural shows all across Australia, including the Angus Youth National roundup, Melbourne Royal Show and Adelaide Royal Show - where she won the 2019 interbreed at Adelaide Royal with a heifer fully bred with Emily's family's stud's own genetics.

"I started competing because I enjoy showing livestock and my family sees it as a good marketing opportunity to present our cattle across Australia. I have competed and placed in both South Australian and Victorian State Championships, which has led to luckily receiving the Victoria State Beef Cattle Paraders title in 2024. I really appreciate the opportunity to represent Victoria and look forward to competing in Adelaide."

Jacqueline (Jac) Wilson-Smith, Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia - the peak body representing 572 agricultural shows that attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1 billion to the national economy - describes the competition as a celebration of emerging talent in livestock judging across the country.

"This is an incredibly prestigious event, and earning a spot in the nationals is highly sought after," Jac said.

"These young competitors represent the future of agricultural show competitions, which play a vital role in advancing Australia's food and fibre industries. The nationals offer an exciting chance for participants to grow both personally and professionally while testing their skills against the very best."

The Beef Cattle Parading final is sponsored by Vytelle, a global precision livestock company reshaping how cattle producers worldwide optimise their herds. Vytelle's Regional Director Australia/New Zealand, Andrew Donoghue, said the company is proud to support the event.

"Vytelle is focused on the future of beef and dairy sustainability and we're helping producers make faster, more accurate genetic progress. These young competitors represent the future of our industry - curious, capable and committed to driving innovation in the beef sector," he said.

The winner will receive a cane from sponsor, The Cattle Shop. Based in Goulburn, NSW the store supplies and stocks cattle grooming gear. Owner Daryl Holder has been involved in the cattle industry for more than 30 years.

"As a business who deals with these young people I want to give back in some way to them. All these young people give up so much to be part of an industry that Australia needs.  It is only a small part but hopefully goes a long way," Daryl said.

The Beef Cattle Parading final will be held at 9am on Thursday, September 4. More on the competition here.

For more information, please contact Katie Stanley, Executive Officer, Agricultural Shows Australia: execofficer@agshowsaustralia.org.au | 0402 127 001. Media are invited to attend the National Championships finals to capture the action and excitement.