Australia's sharpest young dairy cattle judges and most skilled young dairy cattle paraders will compete in national championships in April.
Run by Agricultural Shows of Australia, the finals of the annual contest bring together the best young judges and paraders, aged from 15 years old, from around the country.
Qualification is via success in competitive regional and state competitions, and the national championships are held in a different location each year.
This year the Sydney Royal Easter Show, in its bicentenary year, will host the 2022 championships and will include the 2021 finalists who were unable to compete at Ekka, the Royal Queensland Show, due to COVID-19 cancellations last year.
Rob Wilson is chair of Agricultural Shows of Australia, the peak body overseeing 572 agricultural shows that attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1 billion to the national economy.
He said the judges contest was designed to recognise the best new talent in dairy cattle judging nationwide, while the dairy cattle paraders contest was designed to determine who most effectively presents and parades an animal before a competition judge.
“It’s an extremely prestigious event and positions at the nationals are keenly contested,” Dr Wilson said.
“These young people are the future of agricultural show competitions, which are crucial to the continual improvement of Australia’s food and fibre.
“The national competition is a coveted opportunity to grow personally and professionally by practising skills against the cream of the crop.”
The finalists from each state are:
Western Australia
Nineteen-year-old Jai Thomas of Perth and 17-year-old Jaxon Micallef from Yarloop will represent Western Australia in the national dairy cattle parader competition.
Tanille Hughes, 18, of Harvey and Sam Cox, 16, from Stratham will represent the state in the judging competition.
Queensland
Jerry English, 20, from Malanda will represent the state in both competitions.
Thomas Wade, 21, of Mudjimba will represent Queensland in the national dairy cattle parader competition and 18-year-old Loka Manu of Kandanga will compete in the dairy cattle judges competition.
NSW
Katelyn Atkins, 16, of Tamworth will represent NSW in the national dairy cattle parader competition and 24-year-old Brittany Legge of West Nowra is the representative in the dairy cattle judges competition.
The 2022 finalists to compete in the nationals will be determined at the Sydney Royal Easter Show during the state championships.
South Australia
The Afford sisters — 22-year-old Courtney and 29-year-old Tegan — from Woods Point will represent South Australia in the national dairy cattle parader competition.
Bridgit Liebelt, 21, of Meadows is a finalist in the dairy cattle judges competition.
Jerry English, 20, from Malanda will represent the state in both competitions.
Tasmania
Kyle Barker, 23, of Flowerdale will represent Tasmania in both competitions.
William Dudfield, 19, from Somerset is a finalist in the dairy cattle judges competition and 22-year-old Jaxon Gillam from Burnie will represent the state in the national dairy cattle parader competition.
Victoria
Georgia Sieben, 18, of Torrumbarry and 16-year-old Abbie Hanks from Cobden will represent Victoria in the national dairy cattle parader competition.
Zoe Hayes of Girgarre and Imogen Steiner of Buln Buln are finalists in the the dairy cattle judges competition.