A FORMER Brisbane girl turned cattle lover has been named the champion school led steer parader at the Royal Queensland Show today.
Sixteen-year-old Murgon High School student Stephaine Flint claimed the coveted title ahead of 260 fellow competitors who paraded before judges David Bolton, Shepparton, Victoria, and Kim Groner, Meandarra.
It was quite the fairytale story for Ms Flint who spent the first 12 years of her life living in Brisbane and only started parading cattle three years ago.
Ms Flint quickly fell in love with the country lifestyle when her parents moved to Proston to relive their dreams on the land and managed a property.
The youngster now studies, works for Springvale Red Angus and Brangus and has a job at a butcher shop.
Ms Flint’s rise to the top spot wasn’t easy, battling against young gun Thomas Duddy, Anglican Church Grammar School, Brisbane (11 years to 13 years) and Emma Steele, NEGS, Armidale.
“I’m pretty overwhelmed actually,” Ms Flint said after her win.
“He is a pretty relaxed steer himself so all I had to do really was keep him relaxed.”
While all three finalists were commended on their high standards, Ms Flint showed her expertise when easily standing her steer with her halter when their canes were taken away.
Judge David Bolton said the final decision came down to balance.
“This young lady who is on this Limousin steer, like I said earlier, he is not the world’s greatest animal as in built wise and that’s obviously why he is a steer,” he said.
“But she does a fantastic job getting him balanced, getting him comfortable, getting his head where it needs to be.
“She is spotless from top to tail, that’s from the feet on that animal right through to her.”
According to Ms Flint’s supporters, her success is a credit to her own hard work.
Springvale Red Angus and Brangus representative Katrina Hayward said Ms Flint had always been naturally gifted.
“But always been a kid that has sat by the ring, watched what’s going on, taken it all in when others are over it and couldn’t be bothered,” she said.
“That’s really helped her. She has looked at what other people are doing well and emulated it.”
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
