Suntop Shorthorn stud takes major step forward as Jim creates pathway

Young Shorthorn breeder Jim White started his Suntop stud at the age of eight, buying his first heifer from the National Shorthorn Show and Sale in Dubbo in 2010.

Fifteen years on, he has offered his own genetics at the National Sale for the first time.

Mr White was the recipient of the Tony Fountain Memorial Trophy Encouragement Award, given to a next-generation breeder who has shown dedication and commitment to the Shorthorn breed.

He selected the stud name from his locality, just outside Wellington, and decided on Shorthorns because of a long family history with the breed, with his parents running commercial Shorthorns.

In the years since then, he has been buying females, with a heavy influence from Royalla, Marellan and Marrington studs.

These days he runs about 40 stud cows, with his partner Grace Neeves.

His passion for the breed extends even further, working at Royalla Shorthorns at Yeoval, as well as - alongside his family - running a range of owned and leased land at Suntop with sheep, cattle and fodder cropping.

Mr White said he had a love of the beef industry bred into him, but he also had a passion for breeding cattle for others to breed from.

"It's producing livestock that other people can use to improve their herds," he said.

This year, he was a first-time exhibitor and vendor at the Shorthorn National, with two bulls entered.

This was the first time Suntop genetics had been publicly offered anywhere.

One of those bulls - Suntop Up N Go U15 - came third in his class, one that also included the reserve junior champion bull and the bull that went on to sell at the top price of $40,000 during the sale.

Up N Go later sold for $6000.

Mr White said their goal was to continue to grow the herd, with a focus on quality more than quantity, and sell some more Shorthorn bulls.

He is also an active promoter of the breed, as the president of the Australian Shorthorn Youth Group.

Mr White had been showing cattle for a number of years when he was asked to join the committee four years ago.

Three years ago, he took on the presidency, while Ms Neeves has been vice president for the past two years.

"We're trying to promote the breed and Shorthorns as a whole," he said.

"But we also want to educate the youth about the beef industry ... and, whether beef or lamb, trying to educate kids on the opportunity in the red meat sector."

Mr White said he was grateful to receive the award and encouragement from the industry.

"But it wouldn't be possible without Grace," he said.