Beef expo breeding new talent

BEGINNER cattle handler Maggie Ebdon of Orielton has taken out the most prestigious award at the 2025 Tasmanian Junior Beef Expo held at Deloraine Showgrounds last week.

Based on a wide variety of factors leading to the biggest personal and professional growth over the three days, Maggie was awarded Overall Champion Herdsman and presented with a cheque for $2500 to enhance her training in years to come.

The Tamanian Junior Beef Expo brought together the state’s best young cattle handlers plus a talented interstate cohort who were able to increase their knowledge, make new friends and have their newfound skills tested over three days.

Participants ranged in age from eight to 25 and took place in a variety of workshops, from learning about cattle genetics and breeding to show preparation to anatomy – where they got up close and personal with a cow’s stomach to see how they digest food and the impact of how cattle is fed.

King Island was well represented with Angus cattle breeder Andrew Raff, who has long demonstrated his passion for empowering youth in agriculture, among the judges.

Expo committee member Anita Poulsen put in the hard yards not only transporting two stud heifers bred by daughter Amelia to the event – but also filling the roles of prize coordinator and volunteer coordinator and helping organise participants.

Amelia, 14, and Holly Davis, 13, who took out Champion and Reserve Champion Junior Beef Judge at the King Island Show, were able to travel with her as part of their travel bursary prize.

At the Expo, Amelia had a brilliant run to finish fourth in Intermediate Herdsman and third in intermediate junior judging and Holly placed fifth in Intermediate Herdsman.

Of the nine Expos held at Deloraine Showgrounds King Island participants have been involved for seven years.

“They make wonderful friends and look forward to coming back each year, they get some competitive spirit, new skills and make wonderful industry connections,” Anita said.

“It’s lovely to see everyone helping each other and grow in confidence over the three days.”

Herdsman judge Sheryn Claridge, who is farm manager on the 8000-acre cropping and beef cattle property Ormley in the Fingal Valley, ranked competitors on their abilities and skills interacting with animals, each other, committee member and the judges as well as how they look after their animals.

Judged over the three days, it is the ultimate test of an all-rounder livestock handler and is about the personal growth of each person as much as their cattle handling skills.

“It’s about learning how to breed the cattle to make the best show cattle which in turn promotes what is bred on the farm,” she said.

“These kids are learning how to handle them and show them to the best of their ability, as well as finding out what elements need breeding into the animals to make them more desirable.

“A part of that is learning what to look for yourself which is covered by the junior judging workshops, as well as learning how to handle them and show off the animal’s best qualities.”

Sherryn said that with agriculture in schools and the size of agriculture shows dwindling over time, the Expo draws young people into the industry and gives them a way to get involved and then carry them all the way through to a career.

“Leading cattle took me all around Australia in my showing days and I’ve lived and worked in every state and territory,” she said.

“It’s led to me having the job I have now and knowing these kids have that same opportunity that they can’t get anywhere else really, means it’s important to keep pushing to keep these events going.

“It’s such an amazing thing to be a part of – it’s a confidence-builder, it promotes teamwork, and you’ve got your cow with you all the way and that become a special bond.”

Annalise Rayner of West Kentish was on her third Beef Expo experience in the Advanced section.

Having grown up on her parents Paul and Rosalie’s beef property she is now showing cattle for her cousin Chelsea Rayner who has a Simmental stud at Beaulah.

She said that the Beef Expo was beneficial on many levels.

“I enjoyed the scarecrow making exercise as a fun ice-breaker and the following Shark Tank exercise using products from the show shed which we had to convince others to invest in by making the best case,” she said.

“The farm tour at chicken and cropping farm Brookfield, Harford, was a great chance to explore something outside of cattle farming too.

“You can’t help but leave here without learning something and making some new friends.”

Full results:

Beachport liquid Minerals Advanced Herdsman

Champion Advanced Herdsman - 58 – Charlton Skirving

Reserve Advanced Herdsman - 64 – Bianca Purdue

3rd Place Advanced Herdsman - 68 – Chloe Temple 

4th Place Advanced Herdsman - 63 – Katie Sutcliffe

5th Place Advanced Herdsman - 65 – Ashtyn Willey

Zoetis Intermediate Herdsman

Champion Intermediate Herdsman - 41 – Bronte Howard 

Reserve Intermediate Herdsman - 43 – Isobel Talbot 

3rd Place Intermediate Herdsman - 38 – Miller Jones 

4th Place Intermediate Herdsman - 37 – Amelia Poulsen 

5th Place Intermediate Herdsman - 48 – Hayden Harper

Greenham Sub Intermediate Herdsman

Champion Sub-Intermediate Herdsman - 29 – Rorey Smith 

Reserve Sub Intermediate Herdsman - 23 – Mitch Woodiwiss 

3rd Place Sub Intermediate Herdsman - 21 – Henry Scott 

4th Place Sub Intermediate Herdsman - 22 – Reagan Braid 

5th Place Sub Intermediate Herdsman - 25 – Travis Braid

Durham Shorthorns Novice Herdsman 

Champion Novice Herdsman - 7 - Hedley Archer 

Reserve Champion Novice Herdsman - 9 – Amelia Cocker 

3rd Place Novice Herdsman - 6 – Tilly Murfett 

4th Place Novice Herdsman - 12 – Holley Sherriff 

5th Place Novice Herdsman - 13 – Holly Davis

Catie Loane Memorial Award - 60 – Lily Moore

John Wear Bursary - 46 – Molly Fletcher

National All Breed Junior Heifer Show Award - 56 - Amy Willey

Woodcock Coaches Encouragement Award 

Novice - 14 – Matilda Badcock 

Sub Intermediate - 20 – Willow Gilliland 

Intermediate - 40 – Beau Woodiwiss 

Advanced - 51 – Zach Charlton

Junior Judging

Advanced Champion - 56 – Amy Willey 

Reserve Advanced Champion - 58 – Charlton Skirving 

3rd Advanced - 64 – Bianca Purdue 

4th Advanced - 55 – Sienna Manning 

5th Advanced - 60 – Lily Moore 

Encouragement Award - 63 – Katie Sutcliffe

Representative at Tas State Junior Judging Final is 56 – Amy Willey

Junior Judging - Intermediate

Intermediate Champion - 43 – Isobel Talbot 

Reserve Intermediate Champion - 46 – Molly Fletcher 

3rd Intermediate - 37 – Amelia Poulsen 

4th Intermediate - 39 – Ruby Rayner 

5th Intermediate - 41 – Bronte Howard

Encouragement - 45 – Myles Gilliland

Junior Judging – Sub intermediate

Sub Intermediate Champion - 23 - Mitch Woodiwiss 

Reserve Sub Intermediate Champion - 21 – Henry Scott 

3rd Sub Intermediate - 29 – Rorey Smith 

4th Sub Intermediate - 32 - James Badcock 

5th Sub Intermediate - 34 – Jayme Dolega 

Encouragement Award - 28 - Mya Hadley

Junior Judging - Novice

Novice Champion - 7 – Hedley Archer 

Reserve Novice Champion - 19 – Maggie Ebdon 

3rd Novice - 18 – Addison Downham 

4th Novice - 6 – Tilly Murfett 

5th Novice - 27 – Marli Kean 

Encouragement Award - 0 – Joe Archer

Tasmanian Shorthorns Bursary - 56 – Amy Willey

Handling Encouragement Awards

Novice - 6 - Tilly Murfett 

Sub Intermediate - 34 – Jayme Dolega 

Intermediate - 43 – Isobel Talbot 

Advanced - 66 – Sophie Smith

Tasmanian State Representative - Junior Handler

- 58 Charlton Skirving

Grand Champion Handler - 50 Jayde Grylls

Advanced Handler

Champion Advanced Handler - 50 Jayde Grylls

Reserve Champion Advanced Handler - 49 Josh Hartup

3rd - 58 Charlton Skirving

Intermediate Handler

Champion Intermediate Handler - 38 Miller Jones

Reserve Champion Intermediate Handler - 39 Ruby Rayner

3rd - 40 Beau Woodiwiss

Sub-Intermediate Handler

Champion Sub-Intermediate Handler - 23 Mitch Woodiwiss

Reserve Champion Sub-Intermediate Handler - 29 Rorey Smith

3rd - 30 Indi Hutchison

Novice Handler

Champion Novice Handler - 9 - Amelia Cocker

Reserve Champion Novice Handler - 15 Chloe Harper

3rd - 1 Oakie Crowden

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Owned and Exhibited

Champion Owned and Exhibited - Charlton Skirving - MossBanks Murray Greys 

Reserve Champion Owned and Exhibited - Hedley Archer - Landfall Angus

3rd - Oakie Crowden - Cleghorn Herefords

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Champion Heifer Results

Grand Champion Heifer - Badger View Uptown Girl U006 (Miller Jones)

Reserve Grand Champion Heifer - Merridale Cydie (Ruby Rayner)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Senior Heifer results

Webb and Woodiwiss

Champion - Badger View Uptown Girl U006 (Miller Jones)

Reserve Champion - Badger View Unity U004 (Bella Mansell)

3rd - The Den Ornamental (Caitlyn Burns)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Intermediate Heifer results

Richmond Hill

Champion - Royston RR Fancy U63 (Zach Charlton)

Reserve Champion - Landfall Scotch Cap U309 (Grace Wheeler)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Intermediate Heifer results

Heat 2 – JBS

1st - Landfall Scotch Cap U309 (Grace Wheeler)

2nd - Landfall Archer U30 (Joe Archer)

3rd - Cloverside Nola U5 (Maggie Ebdon)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Intermediate Heifer results

Heat 1 – Huon Agricultural Society Inc.

1st - Royston RR Fancy U63 (Zach Charlton)

2nd - Kidman Downs Unique Keepsake (Annalise Rayner)

3rd - Three Shades U-Bonnie U01 (Sophie Smith)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Junior class results

Rural Youth 

Champion - Merridale Cydie (Ruby Rayner)

Reserve Champion - Kanangra U Got To Be Dreaming (Katie Sutcliffe)

Junior class results 

Heat 2 – Cripps Bakery

1st - Merridale Cydie (Ruby Rayner)

2nd - Three Shades Unchained Melody U06 (Mya Hadley)

3rd - Fire-Ro Park Brillo U27 (Jayde Grylls)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds

Junior class results

Heat 1 – Minister for Primary Industries and Water

1st - Kanangra U Got To Be Dreaming (Katie Sutcliffe)

2nd - Badger View Unique U011 (Sienna Manning)

3rd - The Den Merendee U410 (Henry Scott)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Calf class results

Tas. Women in Ag

Champion - The Den Margie Girl V21 (Ally Peter)

Reserve Champion - Badger View Victoria V001 (Bianca Purdue)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Calf class results

Heat 3 – Virbac

1st - Badger View Victoria V001 (Bianca Purdue)

2nd - Dunroan Loongana V18 (Lily Moore)

3rd - Dunroan Special Primrose V2 (Josh Hartup)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Calf class results

Heat 2 – Tas. Angus Breeders Group

1st - Royston Quantums Velvet V19 (Chloe Temple)

2nd - Badger View Valentine V002 (Connor Smith)

3rd - Kidman Downs Vanilla (Willow Gilliland)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Calf class results

Heat 1 – Rayner Transport

1st - The Den Margie Girl V21 (Ally Peter)

2nd - Kidman Downs Vienna (Ashtyn Willey)

3rd - The Den Merendee V23 (Jayme Dolega)

Bendigo & Rural Bank All-Breeds Commercial Cattle class results 

Champion Commercial exhibit - Royston Valentino V32 (Rorey Smith)

Reserve Champion exhibit - Kidman Downs Victoria's Secret (Myles Gilliland)

Highly Commended - Badger View Cookies & Cream (Amelie Woodhouse)