From breeding to breaking: students involved in all elements of show team
For year nine students Harriett Webber and Lilly Scott from the Holy Trinity School at Inverell, NSW, the Royal Queensland Show was another step in a growing passion for the Limousin breed.
Both students have been showing cattle with their school for over three years, which was built around the Willow Glen stud owned and run by agriculture teacher Kathy Townsend and her family.
"She runs it all out of her home, and her family contributes significantly and allows the school to chip in," Ms Webber said.
"They help us out with getting here.
"When you go to the big shows, you learn a lot from just being here."
While many school cattle teams focus on handling and showing, Holy Trinity students are involved in the full production cycle.
One afternoon a week was dedicated to training, but the real learning started long before the halter went on.
"We break the cattle in - we obviously get some assistance from our teachers, but predominantly, we're pretty involved," Ms Scott said.
"First, we have a lead rope on them for roughly a week, then we slowly walk around them, get them used to it, and then we introduce the cane to them."
On the breeding side, the Willow Glen stud uses artificial insemination to lift herd quality and introduce top genetics.
"We do AI and go through a program with blueprint," Ms Webber said.
Ms Webber said they were fortunate to be included in the decision-making process of joining selections.
"What we've learnt is that it depends on what kind of calf they want out of that female, and considering what genetics that bull will bring," she said.
This year, Holy Trinity's nine students brought five Limousin exhibits to Brisbane - two bulls and three heifers - as well as entries in the breeders class, taking home three second-place ribbons from throughout the Limousin judging.
They also had two steers, which had already been judged earlier in the week.
The students' exposure to stud breeding of Limousin cattle has shaped their future career aspirations, with both willing to pursue a path in the seedstock industry after graduation.
