THE Queensland Ag Shows 2018 stud bull young judge competition almost became an Origin repeat, when a New South Wales youngster got awarded the runner-up in the Queensland finals.
Taking out the titles was John Delaforce, Toogoolawah, who was over the moon with his State titles win.
“It has been pretty good, it was a bit of fun and I came out with a good win,” he said.
At 18 years old, John’s Ekka win was not his only exciting one of the year, after he graced the front page of the Queensland Country Life in May when he took out the over 18 years section of the prime cattle judging at Beef 2018.
He said Beef was a great experience as well, with 20 head of cattle to look after alongside the prime judging competition.
But for the Ekka, he said he wasn’t expecting to walk away with the win.
“It’s a pretty hard class, each competitor out there I’ve come up against before and I’ve won and lost to them at different shows, we all see each other and we’re all in the same playing field so it’s a tough thing to do,” he said.
“It’s the luck of the day, I think.”
But it was runner-up Tayla Dawson, from Casino, who had everyone talking after she first took out the RNA senior competition before going on to receive the runner-up placing in the Queensland Ag Shows State final.
Tayla, 15, said the morning was “pretty hectic but a lot of fun”.
“It’s been a good experience, I don’t often get this opportunity and I’ve very overwhelmed that I did well,” she said.
After growing up on a property 10km from Casino, she said she started judging about two years ago, but not very competitively.
“I only really started getting into it in the last few months down in New South Wales,” she said.