With the end of the school year approaching the Glen Innes High School students took advantage of the opportunity to show cattle for the first time this year at the Colin Say & Co Led Beef Extravaganza, taking out the Grand Champion Carcass award.
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The local students were thrilled and surprised to have won in their class against 28 other entries in the competition, which was held at Glen Innes on September 13 and 14.
"It's very competitive, a lot of work goes into getting them to look good on the day and make sure they are up to standard for showing," year 12 student Morgan-May Hay said.
The prize winning steer 'Blizzard' had a score of 92 out of 100.
For winning Grand Champion Carcass the students have been awarded $1000 prize money which they plan to put towards a portable clipping frame for shows.
"It is a part of the grooming process that allows the preparation of the cattle to be completed with greater ease," Glen Innes High School agriculture teacher Jody Lamph said.
A total of 145 entries competed across all classes with participants coming areas ranging from Dubbo all the way through the Upper Hunter to the Southern Downs in Queensland.
Shad Bailey from Colin Say & Co said it was wonderful to see the school come out on top in the competition in a great event for everyone in the rural community to enjoy.
"Some of the best professional show steer fitters (steer jocks) competed. For Glen Innes to come out on top throughout the whole competition is a testament to Jody, the students and the Winter family for the quality breeding," Mr Bailey said.
"To come out on top with all the bigger agricultural schools involved is a huge achievement for the school, and we thank them for supporting our program."
Ms Lamph said the school appreciated the work Colin Say & Co did to organise the show.
"We thank them for all their hard work in organising the event, and the sponsors of the Grand Champion Carcass, Ascot Charolais and Angus," Ms Lamph said.
Normally the local students would participate in three cattle shows a year, giving them an opportunity to practise their showing skills.
However as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, the beef extravaganza was the first show they've been able to take part in this year.
Although they have not had the opportunity to attend the same number of cattle shows in comparison to previous years, Ms Lamph said she could not be more proud of the students for their accomplishments this year.
"It's been really rewarding to watch the kids with the cattle, they are fantastic and we are really looking forward to getting back into it next year," she said.
The school has been an ongoing participant in the extravaganza for the past four years.