Narangba teenager wins prestigious state final for beef young judges
A young person from Brisbane's outer suburbs has been named the best stud beef young judge in the state.
The winner of the Queensland Agricultural Shows was announced at the Royal Queensland Show on Thursday, August 7, with Elders studstock agent Anthony Ball given the job of sorting through the 10 sub-chamber representatives.
Narangba-based livestock photographer Beau Magann, 19, won the prestigious state final from a field of 10, having bypassed the sub-chamber system to qualify by winning the RNA senior stud judging competition in 2024.
Since that Ekka event, Mr Magann has built a profile as a talented stud judge, with duties at the Millmerran Show in March and an appearance scheduled for the Beaudesert Show in September.
He said the Dakabin High School agriculture program taught him most of what he knew about stud cattle.
"It has been great to catch up with friends from all over southern Queensland and over the border at the Ekka," Mr Magann said.
"We did have some trade cattle at home growing up, but my teacher Fiona Lester helped turn livestock into a passion.
"I started a media, marketing and livestock photography business earlier this year and am working with a couple of studs.
"Working with cattle more has helped me to improve my judging.
"For me, judging is about making the right compromises between different attributes, like structure and body, and describing them authentically."
Mr Magann's next major event at the time of writing was the Biggenden youth cattle camp in October, where he would speak about judging.
The runner-up was Annaka Hanson representing the Burnett sub-chamber.
Mr Ball said there wasn't much that separated separated first and reserve in the Qld state final.
With half the entrants in the competition likely coming off a farm, he said it was great to see school ag programs making a difference.
RNA stud beef competition
In the RNA stud beef competition, the senior winner travelled a huge distance to be among the field of 107 senior entries.
It was Tasmania Angus producer Will Hadley's first time competing at the Ekka after he moved north from his hometown of Scottsdale, Tasmania, to Armidale, NSW for university in 2025.
"I'm happy with the win; it's nice to be rewarded after a few years of competition," Mr Hadley said.
"I go with what I know when judging cattle.
"I look for a structurally correct, functional animal with good muscle attributes and carcase quality."
The RNA senior winner opened his own Angus stud in Scottsdale at the age of 16 with the help of his parents, and worked in his local Elders branch for two years.
"I chose the University of New England for uni because they offered the course [animal science] that best suited me.
"I am loving it so far, between the program and making new friends.
"I showed my own cattle at the Sydney Royal this year... and plan to return to Tassie for the show season over summer."
Mr Hadley will contest the state title at next year's Ekka.
Eleven-year-old Thomas Orphant of Gympie secured his first place in the RNA junior competition two weeks after winning the Gympie Carcase Classic with his brother Riley.
Mr Orphant won champion young judge at the Gympie and Bundaberg shows in the lead-up to his victory.
"I was quite happy and amazed at the win today," Mr Orphant said.
"I practice a lot at home with my parents and brother with our Droughtmaster stud cattle.
"So I wasn't too nervous in front of the crowd.
"Structural correctness and masculinity are probably the traits that I most look for when judging stud cattle."
Key results
Queensland Agricultural Shows stud beef young judges:
- Champion: Beau Magann, representing the RNA
- Reserve: Annaka Hanson, representing the Burnett sub-chamber
RNA stud beef young judges - junio
- 1st : Thomas Orphant
- 2nd : Jaxon Dodson
- 3rd : Max Sedgeman
RNA stud beef young judges - senior
- 1st : Will Hadley
- 2nd : Lucy Selby
- 3rd : Isla Von Mengersen
