At just 17-years-old Emma Franz was quick to rise to the challenge and become a top class cattle judge capable of rivalling her mentors.
The Gympie Carcase Classic attracted high calibre entries from various parts of Queensland and northern New South Wales, yet Miss Franz was undeterred by prestige and went on to take out the champion junior live judging competition and claim her position as the reserve champion in the open section.
Miss Franz’s knowledge of the beef realm is deep-rooted with memories extending back to her early years in the paddock with her grandfather.
The Franz family run a 600 head Santa Simmental breeding herd at Yurimbar, Manumbar, with the primary aim of selling feeder steers into a private feedlot at Millmerran.
Miss Franz said her parents had been involved in carcase competitions and judging for 20 years and credited much of her knowledge and experience to them.
“Dad has won plenty of assessment competitions over the years but I think I’ve got the better of him- he thinks he’ll have to retire now,” she said.
“People say I have a good eye for cattle but I think that’s thanks to Dad and Grandad.”
Miss Franz’s mother Sheryl said as a little girl Emma spent hours sitting on the quad bike with her grandfather who was originally a dairy farmer and applied dairying techniques in his beef operation.
“Emma’s grandad would rotational graze his breeders on lucerne and sit and watch them as they fed,” Mrs Franz said.
“They would sit and talk for hours about the cows and the ins and outs of breeding good cattle.”
Miss Franz had been an associate judge alongside her father, Leon Franz, at the Toogoolawah prime cattle show but she said she never copied her father.
“We walk around and assess the cattle together and compare notes but I always trust my own judgement and if Dad places the cattle differently I stick to my guns,” she said.
“He told me he’d have to start copying me instead.”
The Franz family entered four head in the Gympie competition and Miss Franz said she enjoyed watching the animals progress.
“It’s nice to see them go through the weaner, feeder and finished stages and monitor their performance,” she said.
“While they didn’t win we were pleased with the way ours went- they finished well and had good weight gain.”
Miss Franz said her upbringing and experiences led to her goals of pursuing a career in the beef industry.
“While I’ve won carcase judging competitions a few times now it’s never easy and I enjoy testing myself and seeing what I can do,” she said.
“It’s the freedom of the rural lifestyle that I love and the importance of the job we’re doing.
“I love calving time in particular and seeing those calves grow and become an in-demand product.”