Couple enjoy judging debut together at Roma Show

Just as Central Queensland flaunted their powerhouse judging couple at the Marlborough Show recently, the southern pairing of Bec Skene and Ben Passmore, Clifton was on debut together at the Roma Show.

Bec, whose family runs Meldon Park Simmentals at Cecil Plains, and Ben, from Benjarra Limousin Stud, Clifton, are no strangers to the cattle showing ring having met each other at the Ekka  

While it was the first time Bec has been an over-judge at a show after competing in junior judging growing up, Ben has been judging officially since he was 16. 

Ben’s experience in the show ring and passion for the Limousin breed has seen him recently shift focus in his operation from breeding stud animals to commercial steers.

His 100 commercial cows of British genetics are crossed with Limousin bulls in a bid to produce an ‘elite’ calf.

While they are still breeding Limousin stud bulls, Ben said they wanted to be able to produce high quality commercial cattle that they were advertising to their clients.

“We are commercially orientated and diversifying to the commercial side just to prove how the bulls that we are breeding are proven in the commercial industry as well,” he said.

“Our elite calves are generally sold privately...to steer jocks.”

Ben has been involved with Limousins for 10 years leading him to create his own stud which currently consists of about 50 breeders.

But commercial cattle isn’t the only thing he is diversifying into after forming a Simmental stud, Meldon Park RB, with Bec.

It seems there wasn’t much of a say in which breed they would be working with together.

“Simmies through and through here,” Bec said.

“We are up and comers.”