Young Farmers Show Their Potential
In an exciting holiday break, Molly Henderson, Ivy Ferguson-Mayer, Isabella Green and Andrew Ward spent the majority of the first week at the Royal Melbourne Show, exhibiting cattle in a national beef competition that they had spent the past six months preparing. Their results, from a field of 240 young handlers, were simply astounding. Molly Henderson and Ivy Ferguson-Mayer placed second and fifth in their handlers classes, respectively. Andrew Ward exhibited the school Steer which took third place in the ‘on the hoof’ competition and Bella Green received a Team H Handlers medal.
The students (inaugural participants in the Team H sponsored program), lived at the showgrounds for five days, spending 14 hours a day caring for and presenting their cattle. Although they have benefited immensely from the opportunities in the Young Farmers program, the work required to secure these results was exhaustive.
Our students were up against others from Western NSW, Central Victoria and South Australia - the competitors included students from Agricultural Universities and TAFES. Our students have rapidly made a name for themselves. These students are now firmly fixed on a potential career in the exciting world of Agriculture. I would like to especially thank Valmai Hicks, Sally Wingett and Anne Collins who took it in turns to join me over the five days of the competition and provide the necessary supervision and exceptional support for our students.
On the final Saturday of the holidays, several of our Young Farmers and wonderful parent volunteers also attended the Seymour Goat Show. In a hotly contested competition against many other young handlers from across Victoria and NSW, Abbey Wheeler secured a first place in the handlers classes and Ebony Damen a second. Well done to Molly Henderson, who as well as spending a total of 11 days at the Royal Melbourne Show, still found the time and energy to support our Young Farmers in Seymour and secure a first place for herself in the senior handlers section as well.
Young Farmers is a program focussed on getting the most out of animals, the land and life by being the best you can be. Students interested in the program should contact myself or come down to the farm any Friday and find out about all the amazing opportunities that exist.
