Team Canada, USA sweep the heats in World Angus Forum youth parade comp

It was North America all the way in the World Angus Forum Handlers Classes, with two heats going to young women from Canada, while team USA collected the broad ribbons in the other heats.

Hillary Sauder, Hodgeville, Saskatchewan, Canada, won the second heat while the runner up, Jonwyn Ayres, Powes, Oregon, USA.

The winner of the first heat, another Canadian, Julie Sharp, from Alberta, while Tucker Stagemeyer, from Nebraska, USA, was the winner of the fourth and final heat.

Ms Sauder and her mother run a purebred Black Angus operation of 100 head producing registered stock.

"A few years ago, we had a reduction sale where we had about 75 reds and 350 blacks, so we're now just reduced to 100 Black Angus breeders.

She has been involved with the Canadian Junior Angus Association for her entire life.

"I was the president of the association for three years and the Saskatchewan director for five years," she said.

"I've also been very involved in our Saskatchewan Junior Association, and hopefully jumping into our Saskatchewan Association Ward as I grow into my older years here."

Ms Sauder said the visit to Australia and the World Angus Forum was filled with highlights.

"It has been amazing, seeing the (Australian) industry, landscape, people and culture and how people do things differently," she said.

"It's been incredible seeing a show of this size and this extent is something new to me, and these facilities are just beautiful."

North American handlers triumph

Four young people from Canada and the United States have won the four heats of the junior handler event at Tamworth. Pictures by Simon Chamberlain.

The judge, Jazmine Green, Summit Livestock, Roslyn, had been in the winners' circle earlier in the forum, with heifers shown by Summit Livestock winning the pen of three and runner-up in the pen of three bulls.

"It's fantastic to be involved in the youth program like this, to see so many different young people from different countries come together, display their skills," Ms Green said.

"There are definitely some unique styles from the different countries that they showed in handling.

"It's good to have the opportunity to appreciate that, and it's great to see them out here making the most of the competition and really showing them their skill set.

"They're a fantastic group of young people. So I think our industry and the Angus breed worldwide is in very safe hands."

Competitors in the event included entrants from Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Czech Republic, the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Great Britain.