With over 100 students taking part and the youngest competitor just five or six, Colin Say and Co's lead cattle extravaganza was part of building the future of agriculture, they said.
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Organiser Shad Bailey said the event is in just its third year and they're already seeing amazing quality cattle, and competitors from around NSW and Queensland.
"It's all about participation and having fun and enjoying it," he said.
"That's what it's all about; I think it was great really."
Students competed in three age classes - under 13, under 16 and older than 16.
"That's one of the big things that us at Colin Say and company believe in is giving opportunity to our younger generation in the beef industry," he said.
"And the opportunities they get now compared to what we had when we went through school is obviously completely different - second to none."
The competition, which involved junior judging, a hoof and hook show and junior paraders also involved an inter-school competition.
Glen Innes high school, perhaps exploiting a home ground advantage, won champion team.
Glen Innes high school student Alexandra Wright won the younger division, with out of towner Charlie Dudgeon winning best junior judge.
Grand Champion exhibit was Swimcreek Show steer and the Merriwa-based Porter Family.
Grand Champion carcass was from Toowoomba, care of Travis Luscombe the winner of a number of awards at the Brisbane Exhibition show.
The winning school also won prize money.
Shad Bailey said it was a particular honour to watch kids grow in skill and age from year to year through the comp.
"We're very close to a lot of these schools now," he said.
"We work very closely with all our schools and teachers. they're wonderful, their programs are excellent."
Colin Say and Co don't want their extravaganza to be the biggest in the country, but they do see growth potential in the concept.
"We'd like to obviously continue to grow it next year.
"They're now competing for some $10,000 or $11,000 in prize money
"So it's up there to some of the higher competition money for the type of show it is."
He said he hopes the town of Glen Innes will get more heavily involved in the event, potentially including other events organised around it.
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Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
