Page 99 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

The Hereford Year

Boehringer Ingelheim

World Hereford Conference

Young Breeders Competition Selection Weekend

WORDS / PHOTOGRAPHS REBECCA PATTERSON

PICTURED ABOVE: Group briefing at the start of the
Young Breeders weekend near Hamilton.

NINE KEEN APPLICANTS aged between 17 and 26 visited
Craigmore Stud, near Hamilton, in January to be tested on their
knowledge and vie for a treasured place in the NZHA Young
Breeders team for 2020.
The weekend began with a farm tour followed by a variety of
tests, both theory and practical, which included a carcass test,
general agriculture test, general knowledge, modules on animal
health and farm business, and cattle handling in the yards.
The following day applicants were asked to judge three
classes of Hereford cattle – two-year-old heifers, both prime
and registered, and a class of 18-month bulls. Each entrant
was interviewed by a panel of three people and gave a four-
minute impromptu speech on a topic they were passionate
about. Everyone in attendance (including the council members)
agreed the testing was at a high level. The applicants said they
enjoyed the weekend greatly, especially the opportunity to mix
with other like-minded Hereford youth.
The applicants were scored during the weekend and the
results given to the NZHA Council for the final decision on
selecting the team. While all applicants were of an extremely
high standard, the five selected to represent the NZ Hereford
Association in the Young Breeders Competition at the
Boehringer Ingelheim World Hereford Conference are: Sam
Tipping (Captain), Hannah Gibb, Niamh Barnett, Mark Murphy
and Lisa Bonenkamp.
Hereford Youth plan to support the five team members with
some more training over the next year, so if you see them out
and about at shows or field days, I’m sure they would appreciate
hearing your top tips.

ABOVE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Cara Doggett, Sam Tipping and Mark
Murphy complete an animal health test while Andrew Russo marks;
Callum Woodhouse, Niamh Barnett and Hannah Gibb.
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