[MEDIA ALERT] Victoria wins prestigious national Poultry Young Judges championships; Western Australia runner up

Agricultural Shows Australia held the prestigious national finals today of the Poultry Young Judges competition, hosted by South Australian Country Shows at the Royal Adelaide Show.

The finalists aged 15-25 travelled from South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, and were tested on their assessment of various breeds of poultry against that of championship judge Brian Bennett. There was just one point separating the competitors after three rounds of judging. 

"It is the highest quality of young judges I have ever seen at any young judging competition in Australia. We are seeing clearly the best of each state here today," Brian said.

Young poultry judge competitions are run at agricultural shows around Australia, with the best of the best making the national championships, and the results were livestreamed on the Agricultural Shows Australia Facebook page.

Champion Josh Hancock, 20, Merbein comes from four generations of agricultural show involvement. During the week he works in shed construction but come the weekend, he shows under the name 'Ducknuts Waterfowl' and is a provisional judge on the Victorian Poultry Judges list.  

"I started competing in the Young Judges in 2023 when I was asked by several highly respected people in the Victorian poultry world to have a go because they said I would gain a lot from the experience. Having shown birds for most of my life, it was the next step. From this, I have now done my judging assessment for waterfowl and gained confidence in public speaking," Josh said.

"It feels amazing to make my parents proud after all the effort that they have put into my showing. It is such an honour to be named the national champion of young judges in the poultry section."

Runner Up Thomas Spencer, 23, Muchea has been hooked on the show ring for 16 years, showing poultry and stud cattle at the Perth Royal Show and beyond. Running a Hereford stud and working with Nutrien Livestock in Goomalling, he loves the mix of competition, camaraderie, and the chance to test his skills.

"My grandmother, Maureen, was born into a show family. She was showing horses over 80 years ago at the Perth Royal Show, and other agricultural shows like the Moora Show, so I was lucky that this was a passion she shared with me. It helped make my passion for poultry and stud cattle a reality. I've attended the Moora Show every year since she encouraged me to attend 16 years ago," Thomas said.

"I have been lucky to compete in a number of young judging competitions and it has been an absolute pleasure being here today with all of the officials and competitors."

Third place was awarded to New South Wales competitor Bryson Lee, 16, Maclean. 

Bryson is a Year 11 student from Maclean High School with a love for agriculture shaped by life on his family's beef cattle property. From a young age he's been involved in showing poultry, riding horses, and competing in cattle events. A junior member of the Maclean Show Society and part of his school's successful cattle show team, Bryson has made his mark across local shows - especially in poultry judging. He won junior judging at the North Coast National two years running and was recently crowned Champion Junior Poultry Judge at the Sydney Royal. 

"I am the fourth generation involved in showing poultry in my family. My great grandfather, my grandfather and my father have all successfully shown and judged poultry their whole lives. My grandfather, Peter Lee, and my father, Ashley Lee, have both mentored me with my breeding and judging, and there are also many other poultry breeders that have helped me along the way."

Held in a different part of Australia each year, Jacqueline (Jac) Wilson-Smith, Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia said the national championships showcase agricultural excellence, boost the industry, and shine a light on outstanding achievements.

"These young competitors are the future of agricultural show competitions, which are so important to the growth of Australia's food and fibre industries. The nationals are a fantastic opportunity for them to develop their skills, gain valuable experience, and go head-to-head with the best in the country," she said. 

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Media contact: Katie Stanley, Executive Officer, Agricultural Shows Australia: execofficer@agshowsaustralia.org.au