The strength and quality of the Australian beef industry was displayed at the Royal Queensland show yesterday with 48 top class exhibits entered in the junior led steer section.
West Moreton Anglican College, Ipswich, scooped the pool taking home ribbons for both the champion and reserve champion junior led steers.
Affectionately known as Lachy, the school’s champion Limousin steer weighed 482kg and was also the winner in his 446kg to 490kg weight range class.
Bred by Ray Zahnow, Fernvale Limousin stud, Fernvale, the 13-month-old steer had previously tasted grand champion success at the Marburg and Ipswich shows.
Judge Brad Hanson, Bullakeana Brangus, Moura, encouraged spectators to admire the champion steer.
“This steer has meat absolutely streaming out of him yielding right down through the twist, I couldn’t go past him- he’s a magnificent beast,” he said.
Mr Hanson described West Moreton Anglican College’s reserve champion steer in a similar positive light, again emphasizing superb yield across “all the right cuts.”
West Moreton Anglican College show team coordinator, Shannon Lynes, said a strict selection process applied to all show steers was the reason behind their consistent results.
“We have a lot of highly valued breeders supplying cattle and every beast is subject to tight criteria before we even begin breaking them in,” she said.
“We then spend serious time on breaking in, feeding and show preparation- I strongly believe the time we put in pays off here in the big arena.”
Ms Lynes said the school was celebrating its 23rd birthday this year and while the beef cattle program had existed from the start it had gone “from strength to strength” in recent years.
“We’ve brought 28 steers and 28 stud cattle to the Ekka this year compared to three steers in the first year,” she said.
“Not only that, the students are gaining life skills beyond animal husbandry- skills such as public speaking, work ethic, personal presentation and team building and the kids absolutely love it.”
Year 10 student Aislynne Boland said she was grateful for the opportunities cattle showing with West Moreton Anglican School had given her.
“It’s so cool to get out here and experience the atmosphere and be able to turn around and say I led a beast and won a ribbon at such a big event in the cattle industry,” she said.
“The school is lucky to have a 16 hectare farm where we gain experience and build our capabilities- we have everything we need and our teachers really know what they’re doing.”
Continuing their success, West Moreton Anglican College also received the Royal Queensland Show perpetual trophy sponsored by St Johns College, Dubbo, for the third year in a row.
Ms Lynes said winning both broad ribbons for the junior led steer competition was a thrill and one she hoped students would remember during the long hours in the lead up to future shows.
