The South East Cattle Handlers Committee beefed up the numbers of their annual cattle handling workshop by hosting 80 students from eight schools around the Limestone Coast region.
Students participated in a range of events including a working dogs and livestock demonstration by Peter Barr and Hiedi Cory, meat cuts with Nick Vandenberg and a hands-on cattle handling rotation in allocated groups.
Rods Livestock Nutrition and Mayura Station sponsored the event and awarded an exceptional student a scholarship to attend South Australia’s Junior Hiefer Expo in Adelaide.
South East Cattle Handlers Committee president Danielle Tulak said the two-day format was a new addition to the event which was held at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds.
“We have gone to a two-day format rather than a one day just so we can accommodate for more students,” she said.
“I think it is really good for kids that are new to cattle handling or to agriculture within their schools.
“We have got a couple new agriculture teachers in the region, so they have bought students along, so it is good learning for the staff and the students as well.
“I think we just get so many kids because it is such a laid-back easy format and it is good learning.”
Bordertown High School agriculture teacher Helen Altus said her group of students were a mix of abilities, with some being reasonably experienced handlers and others having never handled at all.
Bordertown High School year 10 students Jacqui Altus and Luke Graetz were no exception.
While Miss Altus had experience with cattle and attended to learn more, Mr Graetz was there to gain more confidence with livestock and enjoyed the ‘interesting’ working dog display.
Mrs Tulak said there was a lot of interest in the workshop which had a big emphasis on getting youth into the agriculture industry.
“A lot of the kids they are year eight, nine, tens so they are sort of getting started in their journey in the cattle industry or in the agriculture industry,” she said.
“A lot of these kids show steers within their schools to go to either Adelaide show, Melbourne show or here to the mount with their cattle.
“It is exposure so a lot of the people we have got either volunteering or lecturing they are connected in a whole host of ways … so they are really in agriculture, and they are really keen to connect with the kids and chat to them about what their job is.
“Some of these kids are only year eight or year nine so they are not looking in the immediate future, but it is keeping that on their radar as there is a huge avenue for work.”
