'Surreal' win for prized heifer at the 2025 National Hereford Youth Expo
2025 Harris Farm Herefords Australia National Heifer Expo
Pictures by Helen De Costa.
Completely "unexpected and surreal" were just some words by a young northern NSW Hereford breeder when asked about winning grand champion female at the 2025 Harris Farm Herefords Australia National Youth Expo, on Sunday, July 13, held in Canberra.
Out of 109 heifers exhibited throughout the competition, it was JTR Golden Vanity U034 was sashed the grand champion female under the eye of judge Matt Spry, Sprys Shorthorns and Angus, Wagga Wagga.
This wasn't the first time the young 23-month-old female had been in the spotlight at the Hereford Youth Expo, as Emily Taylor, Quipolly, was awarded Golden Vanity U034 (Goldie) as the most potential breeders awarded at the 2024 expo held in Cootamundra.
"It's a bit surreal that she did win it," Miss Taylor said.
" I knew she was a good heifer, and she's done well at the other shows we've gone to, but you know, to take out grand champion is a pretty big title at a Hereford Heifer show with 100 odd heifers there.
"As I said to a few people yesterday, I was up fitting the bulls, and mum called me and said ' you need to get down here, Goldies just won the whole show', which was really unbelievable."
Miss Taylor said the driving reason she bought the prized heifer back to the show was to forfill a promise she made 12 months ago.
"We were really only taking her down there because in my interview last year with Jemma and Tim, I said that's one thing I want to make sure I do well and that's keep her name out there and get her around the show circuit," she said.
"Otherwise, we would have left her at home in production, but it was the main fact that she'll come back the following year, and I just wanted to honour that and bring her back for a second year.
It's not every day that someone wins a heifer, and the following year they come back and win the whole show with that heifer.
"I think it's pretty special that she was the potential breeder award last year, and I think it just goes to show a lot of other youth members what that award can do for people as an award."
Judge Matt Spry, Spry's Shorthorns and Angus, Wagga Wagga said the female was beautifully bodied.
"I love the spring of rib in the female," he said.
"You wouldn't get a much better front end on that female, she's really well laid in through her shoulder and head.
"I love her hip to pin set up, I love her angles and her depth of body."
The Harvie OVHF Medcalfe 55J daughter competed against the junior champion female Kylo Pauliene V115, exhibited by Tom Alcock, Cooma and the intermediate female EJS Herefords Lilly V4382, exhibited by Emma Godblot, Wodonga, Vic.
But Goldie's success didn't stop there while being sashed champion owned animal, while Miss Taylor's bull Eclipse Vice President V004 also won champion bred and owned bull for the show.
The champion Bull was awarded to Kianma Viva La Vida, led by Hillary Cooper, New Zealand, while the champion commercial exhibit was awarded to Kianma Victoria's Secret, exhibited by Jack Smyth, Canowindra.
Grand champion junior judge was awarded the Stirling Wheatley, Moore Creek, while Jack Smyth, Canowindra, was named grand champion herdsman and grand champion parader.
Best presented throughout the show was also awarded to Mr Smyth as well as Lochie McLaughlan, Glenormiston North, Vic.
St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, won the school steer donated by Truro Whiteface, Bellata, while Camac Wilson and Edie Nivison were awarded the most improved novice.
O'Connell's Will van Gend, won the Kianma Poll Herefords travel scholarship, with Aleacea Nixon, Dulacca, Qld, won the Herefords Australia Travel Scholarship.
The most potential breeders award was Allenae Nancy V003, a 12-month-old Allenae Tango daughter, donated by Renee and John Keith, Allenae Angus and Poll Herefords, Goulburn, was awarded to Tabby Cross, Indigo Valley, Vic.
