'All the hard work has paid off': Canowindra cattlemen's dual win at Hereford Expo
Second time's a charm for a young central western cattleman in the paraders classes at the 2025 Harris Farm Herefords Australia National Youth Expo, held in Canberra from Thursday, July 10 until July 13.
Rising above the other 137 competitors ranging from six years old to 25-years-old, Jack Smyth, Canowindra rose from the intermediate age group to claim the top gong.
The 17-year-old said it was a satisfying feeling to win the grand champion parade after multiple tries.
"I've been picked as the age champion for the last two years now and have not been able to get the win," he said.
"So now this year I have been able to get the win, so it's like all the hard work has paid off, it's been good."
Mr Smyth was named the intermediate champion parader also at the show held in Cootamundra last year under the eye of Kate Loudon, Dubbo.
This year when coming back to claim the top award under paraders judge Kate Schoen, Corowa, he competed against the pee wee champion Emma Godbolt, Wodonga, junior champion Lucy Godbolt, Wodonga, sub-intermediate champion Rory Hutchinson, Gilmandyke and senior champion parader William van Gend.
Mrs Schoen said throughout the age group champions, there were examples of professionalism, both in presenting their animals and themselves.
"I think the sign of a really good parader is one that does not need to use their stick very much," she said.
"And I think my champion here today is a really good example of that. I feel like I've barely seen him use his stick.
"He knows how to use the animal, looks right every time, and that's what got him into the champion today."
His paraders success hasn't always been within the youth shows, but Mr Smyth was also named the grand champion parader at this years Sydney Royal Easter Show.
However, it was not just the grand champion parader sash that Mr Smyth took home but also the grand champion herdsman.
Across the five age groups, the pee wee champion herdsman was Mitchell Redfern, Molong, while Kody Stevens, Orangeville, won the junior champion. Amelia Poulsen, Lynwood, Tasmania, won the sub-intermediate champion, while Sam Garven, Orange, took home the intermediate champion herdsman and Tabby Cross, Indigo Valley, Vic.
