Page 106 - Hereford Magazine 2021

Hereford stars in the making

The Young Breeder Competition had 36 talented competitors from seven countries.
Kate Taylor talked to two Australians, a Kiwi and a Dane about their WHC experience.

KIERIN MARTIN ALICIA TROVATELLO

Champion handler Kierin Martin describes his time in New Meeting so many people as passionate about Herefords as
Zealand at the World Hereford Conference as “nothing she is was one of the highlights of the WHC for Australian
short of amazing”. student Alicia Trovatello.
“To be able to compete on the world stage like that “It has been such a rewarding experience,” she said, while
among like-minded people was an incredible experience. waiting her turn to go into the show ring at the Wanaka Show.
The entire youth programme was well planned and I think “It’s great to be challenged and extended beyond your
I speak on behalf of all participants that it was one of the own knowledge. It has been great meeting like-minded
best events that any of us had been part of. Getting to people from all over the world ... and New Zealand’s a
know everyone was the most enjoyable aspect of the week beautiful place.”
for me and I would strongly advise anyone who has the Alicia’s family owns the Glendan Park Hereford Stud in a
opportunity to do something like this just to take it!” town called Kyneton, about an hour from Melbourne.
As well as his champion handler title, Kierin’s Australia “We were established in 1989 by my grandparents, who
Red team came runner-up in the overall competition. had a small commercial Hereford herd back in the 70s
He grew up on a broadacre farming and beef cattle and fell in love with them. We are now in Central Victoria
feedlot in western New South Wales and has been running about 180 stud breeders, selling 40 bulls a year
passionate about cattle and the red meat industry from a at our on-property bull sale. We take one or two bulls
young age. to the Wodonga National [Show and Sale] every year.
“I went to Farrer, an agricultural boarding school, We’re always looking for new genetics that complement
and it was there that I found an interest in the seed our herd. We have a focus on growth and carcass traits
stock industry, even founding my own stud, Kianma Poll without compromising the functionality of our cow herd.”
Herefords, in 2008. From there I’ve worked for various stud Alicia is a third-year agriculture student at the University
cattle operations and I’ve done everything possible to gain of Melbourne majoring in agricultural economics.
as much experience in breeding cattle as I could. “I’m in a few minds as to what the future holds, either
“In 2016, I was given an opportunity to purchase the something down the agri finance path or in marketing and
Rilo Park herd from the Motbey family, who have been communications. Both of them have a lot to offer the ag
huge supporters of me for a very long time and it’s mainly industry. I hope to continue to be part of the rural youth
thanks to them that I am where I am now.” movement in Australia.”
Kierin and his wife Nikki farm their own property in She attended the WHC as part of Australia White, one of
Forbes, NSW. two teams from Australia.
“We run about 35 purebred Hereford cows along with “We had to do an expression of interest last May
a small commercial backgrounding and lot-feeding [2019] and then send a letter outlining how we would
operation. In September 2021 we will be holding our benefit from the experience, along with our resume and
inaugural production sale. That has been a long-standing qualifications, and what we’ve done in the Hereford world
dream of mine to be able to get to a point where we feel and the wider beef industry. I was extremely fortunate to
we have a consistent type and line of cattle to offer to the be one of the eight selected and the whole experience has
purebred industry.” been phenomenal.”

104 HEREFORD MAGAZINE Year 2021