Young Tasmanian livestock handlers and judges impressing on the national stage

Three young Tasmanians have returned from the 41st South Australia Junior Heifer Expo with a wealth of experience and some great results.

Mitch Woodiwiss, 13, from Railton, Charlton Skirving, 19, from Sheffield and Tru Tulloch, 21, from Tomahawk, were involved in a series of workshops and competitions at one of the country’s premier youth livestock events held between July 13 and 16 at the Adelaide Showground.

Mitch, who was competing for the first time at the Expo, won Champion Sub-Intermediate Handler (12-14yrs) in a field of close to 50 entries.

Mitch spent time in the lead-up with the provider of his cattle, Chris and Anissa Thompson of Bayview Shorthorns and Angus on the York Peninsular.

The Thompsons had offered to support the Woodiwiss family, fellow Shorthorn breeders at Sunnyside Shorthorns, if they ever decided to compete interstate.

Arriving three days before the Expo, Mitch got to work getting familiar with his chosen cattle, washing them and getting them used to being led.

“They were already nice calm, quiet cattle so that really helped,” Mitch said.

“We had workshops and junior judging on Tuesday, more workshops and breed judging on the Wednesday and then Thursday was for junior handler classes.

“I feel like over the three days I really improved my skills,” he said.

Mitch was also runner-up in the Sub Intermediate Junior Judge competition.

The Expo introduced red meat judging for the first time – an area that looks set to grow in popularity with junior handlers.

Charlton Skirving, who travelled with Mitch, also did Tassie proud in the highly competitive senior section, placing fourth in Senior Handlers and winning the Senior Herdsperson Encouragement Award.

Leading one of the Bayview Angus steers, Charlton finished seventh overall in what was his second run in the Expo, having competed in 2021 during the height of the pandemic.

“This time I was very focused on the education aspect – the leadup for Herdsman required a lot of homework, including developing a business proposal around leasing a 1000-acre farm in SA and presenting profit and loss statements,” he said.

“I thoroughly enjoyed that part of it, along with the meat judging workshop.”

The Elders Livestock agent said it was also rewarding to buddy up with a junior competitor and his buddy went on to win junior herdsperson and handler classes.

Tru Tulloch, who grew up at Legerwood but now works as a livestock hand for Mandy Gunn at Peppertree Pastoral at Tomahawk, had been to the Expo twice before .

Leading a Limousin heifer named Saffire Gayle which finished fifth in the breed classes, Tru finished 17th overall and also loved taking part in the buddy program, describing her 10-year-old charge Lucinda Muenster rom Alice Springs as “awesome”.

“The meat judging was really interesting, and no one really did very well at it because it’s new, but there’s a lot to learn about picking out the best steak and being able to apply that back to your livestock production,” she said.

Tru, who won the Tasmanian Junior Beef Expo when she was 16, meat judging is something she hopes to see introduced in the state.

Charlton is now heading back to the mainland to take part in the National Championships of Agricultural Shows Australia’s Young Judges and Paraders.

Taking place during the Royal Queensland Show – colloquially known as the Ekka – between August 6 and 10, six Tasmanians will be competing in the national titles.

The Tasmanians heading to the competition are:

Beef Cattle Paraders – Ruby Rayner

Merino Fleece Young Judges – Megan Bird

Meat Breeds Sheep Young Judges and Merino Sheep Judges – Charlton Skirving

Dairy Cattle Young Judges – Hayden Archer

Dairy Cattle Paraders – Sarah Gardner

Beef Cattle Young Judges – Ashtyn Willey

This is the third time Charlton has taken part in the National Championships of Agricultural Shows Australia’s Young Judges and Paraders.

However, it is the first time he will be taking part in the sheep sections.

“To be honest, if you came to me 18 months ago and told me I was heading away to do this, I would probably say ‘I don’t think I’m the man for the job’,” he said.

“I hadn’t done much with sheep until I started working as a livestock agent at Elders.

“Through work, I tagged along to the Campbell Town Show and took part in the judging, and I was lucky enough to win the competition and book my ticket to the nationals.”

Ruby Rayner developed her interest while doing farm education at the Tasman District School.

“These competitions provide so many opportunities, and through people I have met on the show circuit I have been provided opportunities to show on the mainland and overseas.”