Sam Parish’s hero is his grandfather Don Anderson.
And now Sam is following in his footsteps in showing great passion for breeding cattle.
Seventeen-year-old Sam has already started his own Angus and Poll Hereford stud, Mass Angus, Dubbo, and is making a big impact in the show ring.
But Sam said his passion for breeding and showing animals was inspired by his grandfather.
“He is a massive mentor for me,” he said.
Don Anderson, Inverary Pastoral Company, Queensland, is widely known for his outstanding ability to breed cattle, as well as his involvement in artificial insemination and embryo transfer technology.
He was an avid Poll Hereford, and then later Saler, breeder and was also a trusted judge in national cattle shows across the globe.
Sam says as well as his grandfather’s inspiration, cattle have always been a big part of his life.
“Since I could walk, I have always been running around with the bulls,” he said.
His parents David and Jackie have bred Poll Herefords and Gelbvieh cattle.
Sam has shown at the National All Breeds Junior Heifer Show for nine years, and has also impressed at Sydney Royal Show, where in 2016 he was named the RAS/ASC parader reserve champion.
Sam began his stud last year, but has worked for other studs for years, including BT Brahman stud, Brisbane, Hollywood stud, Peak Hill, and Days Whiteface and Allendale studs, Bordertown. He also prepares steers for studs, including feeding them, preparing them and showing them.
“I like to learn from studs. Every breeder has something they can teach you,” he said.
He is also very interested in fitting, which he learned from his father David.
Sam already has one Poll Hereford cow and calf, which were sourced from Ebbx Family Farms, and two Angus heifers for his stud.
One of his Angus heifers he picked out when she was only three months old.
“She was stunning,” he said.
She was Hollywood Miz Scarlett M18 from Hollywood stud, and she is already turning heads. At 19 months old, she was named supreme interbreed junior female at Melbourne Royal Show, and only just missed out on being supreme overall.
Sam came by his second Angus heifer by winning the Merridale most inspiring breeder award at the Angus Youth Roundup this year.
“It all happens very quickly. They tell you you are nominated, and then they interview you and then it is announced. I didn’t really realise I had won the heifer until she hit the ground at home,” he said.
He also won reserve champion parader in intermediate, reserve junior judge in intermediate, and reserve herdsman in intermediate, all at his very first time at Roundup.
Sam has his sights set on Sydney and Canberra shows this year, but will only show at Sydney next year due to the demands of his Higher School Certificate.
But he already has 2019 planned, where he will show his own team for the first time. He said his family is also looking for a property, so he is hoping he will have somewhere to expand his stud.
Sam also plans to do veterinary science at university.