Rocky Junior Beef Show wraps up with students gaining valuable experience from industry experts

Put on by the Australian Brahman Breeders Association, the show exposed primary and secondary students to numerous activities linked to the cattle industry.

General manager of the Australian Brahman Breeders association, Anastasia Fanning, Rockhampton, said student's were able to gain experience from some of the top cattle industry bodies.

"It was an excellent success to see those students having the opportunity to get together and the people they're were learning from had great knowledge about the industry and what they were teaching them about, so for them to have access to them to that extent, most junior beefs you don't have that opportunity," Ms Fanning said.

"Certainly a different lay out, but the students that I spoke with really enjoyed it.

Chairman of the Junior Beef Show committee, Brett Coombe, Roxborough Brahmans, Moura, said the Junior Beef show was a great way for the young handlers from the bush to catch up with mates.

"This year because of Covid, most of the cattle hadn't been to a show before, so we were pretty lucky that Tom Acton let us use the facilities they have at Paradise Lagoons, because they great yard set up that you can have the cattle in the yards at all times," Mr Coombe said.

"For the kids it's during the school holidays and they wanted to do something and for me, the biggest loser from this pandemic was the kids, so we were pretty determined to put on an event because it's a great catch up for friends.

"When you live out in the bush, they do need a social life and this is part of the social things they do and I guess that's what the shows were for and there was no shows this year, so there were no fun with their mates."

The show is also the first for Monto State High School's cattle show team and their agriculture teacher, Toby Worley said this was the first event that the show team have attended since the start of the pandemic.

"They've enjoyed it, certainly interacting with other students that also share the same interest in the beef industry has certainly been valuable for our students," Mr Worley said.

"We normally do nine shows throughout the year, but unfortunately with the pandemic, this is the only event that our students have been able to participate in this year and attend during the school holidays.

"I think we'll make it on a yearly calendar as well.

"We've had some kids from town that don't have those cattle, so it allows them to learn a bit more of the finer aspects of the beef industry and what they should be looking for when selecting bulls and females to their own properties."