Mackenzie Leeson will need to bone up on cold-climate cattle after winning the QCAS stud beef young judges competition at the Royal Queensland Show.
The young judge from Moura has scored a trip to represent Queensland in New Zealand after topping a competitive QCAS field of regional young judge winners.
Brendan Jones from the Central Highlands was the runner-up in the QCAS competition.
Ms Leeson also won the senior section in the RNA's stud beef young judge's competition.
Over judge Graham Brown, who judged the Bazadaise, Square Meaters and Fleckvieh stud cattle sections, said the calibre of the competitors was outstanding.
"I came up through this program when I was a young fellow. It's a great program and I commend all the kids for having a go," he said.
"They were outstanding. It's a hard competition because you've got to agree with the over judges."
Mr Brown said the judges were looking for accuracy and the ability to articulate why certain animals had scored well.
"The places where the better judges will pick up points are in the accuracy of observation and ability to describe why one animal was better than the other," he said.
Mr Brown was particularly impressed by Ms Leeson's judging efforts.
"Mackenzie's speaking ability - what she was talking about in her judging - was spot on," he said.
"She really compared the animals well. She picked up all the same reasons for placing the cattle that I did and she placed them the say way that I did."
Mr Brown said he was certain Mackenzie would do Queensland proud when competing in New Zealand.
"She might not be all that fluent with the hairy breeds of cattle over there, but she'll get up to speed and she'll do Queensland proud."
