Emmaus students take on best in show

Emmaus College Jimboomba
Members of Emmaus College's show team and their prize-winning Droughtmasters
STUDENTS at Emmaus College, Jimboomba, have been making a name for themselves on the agriculture show circuit thanks to a partnership with Lake Moogerah Droughtmasters cattle stud.

Through the college’s Agriculture program, offered from Year 7 onwards, students are encouraged to get involved and learn the importance of agriculture while gaining in plant and animal production.

Agriculture teachers Will Goss and Jenn Bradley said at the heart of the program was the partnership with Lake Moogerah Droughtmasters.

Mr Goss said the mutually beneficial partnership, which had only been running for two years, involved a selection of heifers and bull calves being sent from the stud farm to the college for students to train, prepare and show.

Ms Bradley said last year was a great year for the team of 13 students and their six cattle.

“We competed in three shows at Boonah, Canungra and Beaudesert and achieved some very pleasing results,” she said.

“The cattle stood up against some of the best Droughtmasters in the region and the students competed against handlers who’ve been working with cattle since they were in nappies.”

Mr Goss said 2018 was definitely a positive year in the show ring.

He said the animals had arrived much earlier than previously from the stud farm and were in good condition.

“But they were paddock dwellers who were now destined for the show ring.”

Mr Goss said with patience, determination and persistence, each animal was halter trained and prepped for the first show of the season at Boonah where they performed above expectations for their first show.

“Our students handled the young cattle extremely well,” he said.

“Students Andrew Howard and Isaiah Hutchinson, it was their first-time showing cattle in the show ring,  and they placed 2nd and 3rd in the novice cattle handler’s competition.”

Following the Boonah Show, the cattle were rested and matured to allow them to peak for the next two shows.

Mr Goss said the Canungra and Beaudesert shows were only two weeks apart, but the commitment of the students was exceptional, and the results were outstanding.

He said the students had a cracking weekend at the Canungra show where they presented their cattle proudly and showed great sportsmanship.

The last show of the season was Beaudesert and a wet weekend.

Mr Goss said there was 47 Droughtmasters entered in the show with many of them Brisbane Ekka quality.

“Our little team led the cattle extremely well, again receiving high praise from many officials, and most of all from the owners of the cattle.”

Following the show, the cattle were led onto the truck and taken back to the farm to enjoy a well-earned rest without halters and shine spray.

Ms Bradley and Mr Goss said it was great to have so many staff and parents come to cheer the team and their cattle on at each show.

They also thanked Phil and Sue Gutzke from Lake Moogerah Droughtmasters who generously donated the use of their cattle to the college.

Ms Bradley said the efforts of the show team members also should be congratulated.

“They came to ‘show team’ every Thursday afternoon and used their own time on weekends, showing an outstanding amount of commitment,” she said.

“To turn cattle from paddock dwellers to show ring supermodels takes a fair bit of grit and patience.

“These kids had it in spades and really did a great job.

“We are all definitely looking forward to this year’s show circuit and to see our students mature in confidence and also have fun in what they are doing as a team,” she said.​​​​​

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