KEEPING the Laurie family tradition in beef cattle, 18 year-old Jack Laurie of Knowla Livestock Angus, Moppy on the Barrington Tops, impressed with his depth of knowledge and vocal description to become the NSW state finalist in the national beef cattle young judges competition.
He competed against 28 finalists in the Royal Agricultural Society/Agricultural Societies Council NSW contest overjudged by visiting international cattleman Richard Dixon of Dixon Farms Shorthorns, Vermilion, Alberta, Canada, who earlier officiated over the Limousin feature beef breed.
Jack Laurie is currently working as a station hand on one of the Australian Agricultural Companys Julia Creek stations, Queensland, and began his cattle judging and handling career when aged eight.
I had a heifer and entered paraders competitions and judging comps, he said.
His major success before the national win was in 2014 at the National; Allbreeds Heifer Show junior judging at Dubbo.
This year I won the National Angus Youth Round-up at Mt Gambier, South Australia.
He will now compete in national titles at Melbourne Royal Show in September.
Reserve champion was Chelsea Devenish. Brooklyn Park, Scone, a Year 10 student at New England Girls Grammar.
Her parents have a small holding breeding Limousin/Shorthorn cross cattle, but she also was awarded grand champion of the junior pig judging this week.