Theodore Brangus breeder wins SA Junior Heifer Expo title in third attempt

Central Queensland young beef breeder Hayden Hanson has proven distance is no barrier to achieving your dreams.

The 21-year-old from Theodore travelled more than 1700kms to be at the SA Junior Heifer Expo and compete for the senior herdsperson title.

At the end of the four days he came away as the winner of the beef industry scholarship - just the second Queenslander to win the prestigious title.

"It is unreal, I have been working towards this for three years and showing since I was seven years of age, so it is 14 years in the making," he said.

His win reflected his all round abilities, winning his handlers class and the junior judging competition and also scoring highly in his marketing assignment and clipping.

Points are allocated for each of these areas, as well as stockmanship, personal presentation, interaction with their junior buddy and an interview.

Hayden's first time leading cattle was Junior Beef at Rockhampton, Qld as a little tacker and he says he absolutely loved it.

In fact, Hayden and his siblings' interest in showing was the catalyst to their parents Vicki and Brad starting up the Bullakeana Brangus stud in 1998, after previously selling all their show cows.

In 2012, they added an Ultrablack stud.

Hayden is heavily involved in the studs along with his three sisters: Annaka, who was also a competitor at the Expo, Bella, who has previously competed in SA, and Arianna.

The siblings have been long-time entrants at many youth shows across the country. Three years ago Hayden was the Qld state winner of the Young Judges competition.

"I love being able to display our cattle and others who will let me lead and present their cattle," he said.

Hayden recalls hearing about the SA Expo through Sarah Truran and Vaughan Campagnolo, Savannah studs, Myponga, after buying one of their bulls at Qld Beef Week.

"I was 17 at the time and they said I should come down and use one of their heifers to go to the Expo, but the first time I was ready to go COVID shut the borders so I had to wait the next year," he said.

"By then I had turned 18, so I went straight to the seniors with my older sister (Bella)."

In 2023, Hayden was awarded the Stanbroke award which provides work experience on one of their stations in the Qld Gulf Country.

After a year off in 2024, Hayden made a return at the Expo this year with an Angus heifer supplied by the Tiller family's Goolagong stud at Warnertown.

"It has been such a great week with a great group, especially our senior group leaders," he said.

Hayden - who has just started a business as a fencing contractor - has big plans to use his industry scholarship to visit both North and South American Brangus, Angus and Ultrablack studs.

"I am keen to see how their industry is different, what is new over there in their genetics and what everyone is using," he said.

Reserve champion herdsperson for the third time was Thomas Fogden, Boulview Charolais and Nangaringa Santa Gertrudis studs, Loxton.

He was only one and a half points behind Hayden.

Nutrien SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood said Nutrien were proud to have been a platinum sponsor of the event since its inception 40 years ago.

He said the calibre of the senior herdsperson contenders was a highlight every year and this year was no exception, with entrants from SA, Vic, NSW, Tas and Qld.

"These young people express a level of confidence and ability beyond their years, often juggling one or two part time jobs, whilst studying and working on a family farming enterprise or building their own herd on lease or agistment blocks," he said.

"The future of the Australian beef industry is in good hands."