The Padthaway teen with a bright future in the beef industry

At just 14 years of age, Bryce Rothe from Padthaway is already a veteran of the SA Junior Heifer Expo - not having missed one since he reached the minimum age (eight).

The event at the Adelaide Showgrounds is the highlight of his year, learning more about the beef industry and catching up with his friends.

"Showing cattle is my passion along with footy and farming - I love it," he said.

"You learn a lot of stuff and meet so many people - all my mates I have met them down here."

The teenager has been involved in his family's Tolhverrae Simmental stud for many years, along with his two siblings Matilda and Xavier.

A couple of years ago, Bryce started his own stud Bulloak Blacks, which he is really proud of.

His foundation female was one of his parents' Darryn and Samantha's best cows.

"She was such a great cow and so quiet so Dad said I could buy her, but I had to pay him back with the calf which I did," he said.

Bulloak Blacks now comprises five stud females.

"We have put some embryos in too so it is going really well," he said.

Bryce says his favourite memory at the Expo was the first year he competed when he won his class with a heifer called Pumpkin.

This year he also had plenty of success, including runner-up from all the sub-intermediate entrants in the herdsperson award. This is judged on presentation, ringcraft, how clean the entrant's stalls are, junior judging and industry knowledge.

Boosting his score, Bryce was the winner of the marketing section where each entrant was asked to make a short video thanking one of the Expo's sponsors.

He exhibited a heifer from his family's Tolhverrae stud at this year's Expo, but in coming years Bryce hopes to be able to show one with his own prefix.

He also wants to exhibit his own cattle at the Royal Adelaide and Melbourne Shows. And one thing is sure- he sees his future in agriculture.

"I want to keep showing cattle for the rest of my life and be a farmer and have a big enough land to run a good number of head (of cattle)," he said.