GEORGIA Howard, Gogango, said for her the ABBA Rockhampton Junior Beef Week is about more than just education – it’s a chance to stay involved in the industry.
Georgia, 13, is a Year 8 student at Rockhampton Grammar School, and she said she attends the event every year.
“It’s a really good three days,” she said.
“You learn a heap, and you get to catch up with a lot of mates you don’t get to see very often.
“The last night is always a good chance to dress up which you don’t get to do much.”
Georgia is part of the school’s show cattle team, and said she loves the industry because no two days are ever the same.
“I love the diversity of it,” she said.
“Like there’s certain breeds that are favourited between people to people, depending on the person, and just the way they act sometimes.
“Sometimes it can be a challenge, but sometimes it’s like ‘why I am I even doing this’.”
A lot of people like them because they’re pretty because of the colour, but for me it’s the cuts of meat that are on them, and just the breed itself.
- Georgia Howard, 13.
She said at home her family runs Santa Gertrudis, Droughtmaster, and Charbray crosses with some Angus and Brangus genetics – but her favourite breed was the Santas.
“A lot of people like them because they’re pretty because of the colour, but for me it’s the cuts of meat that are on them, and just the breed itself,” she said.
“There’s such diversity and range with so many cross breedings and purebreds.”
When she finishes school, Georgia said she would like to stay in the industry, but has a dream to become a mounted police officer as well.
“We ride a lot at home, and I think it would be a good job,” she said.
Georgia said on the first day of the Junior Beef Show, her highlight was the MSA sensory tasting session.
”I was just happy that I got to eat,” she laughed.
“It was nothing too different to what we eat normally - it’s steak, steak is steak, it’s still the best.”
Tomorrow morning the juniors will make the trip to Gracemere, where they will judge the commercial cattle.
The afternoon will be the stud cattle judging, and Thursday will see the stud cattle classes get underway.
The three day event will wrap up with a dinner and auction on Thursday.
The ABBA Rockhampton Junior Beef Week is run annually.