Korea has claimed top honours at the Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) competition for the first time in the program’s 27-year-history.
Wagga Wagga, NSW hosted the annual competition last week featuring 10 Australian Universities, and four international teams.
Overall the week-long competition which kicked off on Monday July 3, and finished up with an awards dinner on Saturday July 8, attracted 125 students and 35 coaches from across Australia, Japan, Bogor, America and Korea.
The Korean National team took out Runner Up in the Team Awards, trailing category winners, the University of Sydney, by just 10 points.
Texas A and M put in a standout effort to take out the Roy McDonald Shield for champion overall team, with their own Jenna Hunt also claiming the Founders Buckle for champion individual.
ICMJ President Dr Peter McGilchrist said the Korean team’s achievement was testament to their dedication to learning about Australian red meat production.
“Our program has absolutely achieved our goal of inspiring and developing future leaders of the global red meat industry,” he said.
“This year was a great cohort of students who posed the most thought-provoking questions we’ve ever had to our presenters, interacted heavily with companies at the careers expo and took full advantage of every opportunity.”
Dr McGilchrist also mentioned the success of ICMJ would not occur without the continued support of our major sponsors, including MLA, AMPC, APL, Teys Australia, NH Foods, JBS, AACo, Rivalea, GradLink and Coles.
The top 10 finalists and the Coach’s pick teams will go on to participate in an industry training week with Meat and Livestock Australia staff in Brisbane in August.
Charles Sturt University team member and top 10-finalist, Jane Nelson said the week “opened her eyes” to the possibilities within the Australian red meat industry.
“I learned so much more than I ever could have imagined,” the third year Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Veterinary Biology student said.
“The networking not only among industry professionals but also my peers was really beneficial.
“I’m looking forward to the [August] training week, especially to see how feedlots are managed in Queensland.”
Individual Overall – Founders Buckle sponsored by AMPC Australia was presented by David Lean to presented to Champion, Jenna Hunt, Texas A and M, College Station, Texas.
Runner Up was Maggie Madden, Texas A and M, College Station, Texas.
The Roy McDonald Shield for Champion team sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia was presented by Chris Mirrams to Texas A and M – Coach: Leslie Frenzel, Jenna Hunt, Maggie Madden, Dax Dittrich and Luke Fox.
Second – University of Melbourne
Third – Murdoch University, Perth.
Coach of the Champion Team, sponsored by MLA was presented to Dr. Leslie Frenzel by Chris Mirrams.
Tom Carr Award for Coaching Excellence was presented to Tamara Heir- Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
The Top 10 finalists: Bridie Luers, Murdoch University; Lachlan Woods, Charles Sturt University; Harriet Moss, Murdoch University; Jane Nelson, Charles Sturt University; Emily Lukas, University of Queensland; Emily Webb Ware, University of Melbourne; Nicola Culey, University of Sydney; Karl Sternberg, University of Sydney; Jake Bourlet, Charles Sturt University; and Rachel Cruickshank, Murdoch University.
The Coach’s XI: Lorenzo Crollini, University of Sydney; Elizabeth Kennedy, University of Melbourne; Paige Marsh, Tocal College; Henry Vaughan, Murdoch University; Johanna Tulloch, LaTrobe University; Annabelle Butler, University of Queensland; Isabelle Fenton, Marcus Oldham College; Michael Sauli, University of New England; Matthew Cadd, University of Adelaide; Ashleigh O’Leary, Charles Sturt University.
Following the industry training week in Brisbane five students from the top 10 finalists will be selected for a tour of the American meat industry in the New Year.
- For more information and a full list of winners visit http://icmj.com.au/