YEAR 9 Calrossy Anglican School student Grace Inder, Rockwell, Merriwa, has won the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza (UHBB) virtual junior judging competition sponsored by Achmea Farm Insurance.
Up against over 130 competitors representing schools from across NSW, Miss Inder scored an credible 239 points from a possible 250.
Participants were required to judge three classes of cattle including stud bulls, stud females and a trade cattle class, and provide a two minute video outlining their reasons. Stud animals were provided by the UHBB event partner, Waverley Station Angus.
"My oral was on the heifer class which I found the hardest to judge - they were the tightest in quality, but I got the video first go," she said.
From a family farm that runs around 200 Charolais Angus cross cows and a 600 head feedlot, Miss Inder enjoys public speaking and judging stock, and believes it is a good skill to have.
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In the future she is looking at getting a certificate three in early childhood and going up to Queensland or the Northern Territory and becoming a nanny or governance for a few years before coming home and finding a pre-school to work at.
Miss Inder receives a scholarship to participate in the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course, donated by the Hunter Valley Angus Breeder's Association.
She is also looking forward to trying her hand at meat judging in the coming years as she is now old enough.
Sibling rivalry was strong throughout the playing field, with Grace Inder's sister Sophie Inder, taking out first place in the year 11 and 12 category.
Continuing this trend, siblings Libby and Ted Nolan of Coolah Central School were equal first in the primary age group.
Equal winners of the year 7 to 8 section were Lachlan Haynes and Angus Pursehouse, both of Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes.
Highest point scoring school team went to St Joseph's High School Aberdeen.
The most number of participants came from St Lawrence's Primary School, Coonabarabran, for the small school section and Kempsey High School for the larger schools.
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Over judges of the competition included Erica Halliday of Ben Nevis Angus, Walcha, Local Land Services (LLS) beef cattle officer Brett Littler, Mudgee, and Brad Cavanagh, of Hardhat Angus, Harden.
UHBB president Charles Mill was thankful to everyone that got behind the virtual competition and educational webinar series that is still available for viewing through the UHBB website.
Hundreds of agriculture students from all over the state logged onto a live Q&A session with industry experts and a live meat judging demonstration.
The live meat judging demonstration was conducted by the University of New England (UNE) and the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association, with Dr Peter McGilchrist and Dr Jarrod Lees, UNE, and Demi Lollback, Meat and Livestock Australia running a comprehensive presentation on evaluating beef primal cuts.
"Despite the unprecedented challenges this year, we received strong support from the schools, students, teachers and sponsors," Mr Mill said.
"It is always wonderful to witness so much support from students and teachers passionate about agriculture.
"If they were able to learn something new online this year then we have achieved one of the main objectives of Beef Bonanza and that is to provide young people with educational and networking opportunities."
