“AN amazing opportunity” is how Macey Mullin described her experience at the recent Tasmanian Junior Beef Expo (TJBE).
Macey Mullin, left, and Bass Strait Tooty Fruity and friend Chelsea Rayner. Picture: JAIKIRA GRUNDY PHOTOGRAPHY
Macey and Amelia Poulsen were both awarded a fully-paid trip to attend the 2024 TJBE after winning Champion and Reserve Champion in the cattle junior judging competition at the 2023 King Island show.
The girls thanked sponsors Raff Angus and The Aldridge Family, of Koreen Pastoral, for their generous sponsorship, and encouraged other King Island kids to give junior judging a go at the next Show.
The 8th annual Tasmanian Junior Beef Expo was held at the Deloraine showgrounds from February 23 to 25. The three-day youth camp is action packed, with participants completing various workshops including public speaking, EBVs and Genomics, biosecurity and hands-on activities, an onsite site carcass breakdown, cattle artificial insemination, flight zones, cattle fitting and grooming.
PICTURE: Anita Poulsen
As well as the workshops, there were group and individual competitions where participants had the chance to showcase their skills in cattle handling and judging. “We loved how we were always busy and there was so much to do,” Macey and Amelia said.
The pair trained and prepared two 18-month-old Hereford heifers from Amelia’s own stud Bass Strait Poll Herefords and the cattle were sent down to the mainland the week before the event. The girls worked hard over the Christmas school holidays to have the cattle ready for the big event.
“It was definitely worth all the effort that we put into the heifers,” Macey said. This was Macey’s first time attending the TJBE and she took out fifth place in the hotly contested sub-intermediate junior judging class and her heifer Bass Strait, Trend, won third place in Heat 6 of the Bendigo and Rural Bank Allbreeds competition.
“The people were so nice and friendly, and I made some new friends. I will definitely be back; I can’t wait to do it again next year!” she said.
This was Amelia’s sixth time attending the TJBE and she exhibited her own Bass Strait, Tooty Fruity, and was sashed Reserve Champion Herdsman for the sub-intermediate group.
The King Island girls Macey Mullin, left, and Amelia Poulsen catch up with Pearl Richards. PICTURE: Anita Poulsen
“The Expo just keeps getting better and better each year. I love catching up with all my friends and hanging out with my heifers. There are great prizes, and the food is fantastic,” Amelia said.
Many thanks should go to the incredible, hardworking committee, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who make the TJBE possible. For the chance to win a sponsored trip to the 2025 TJBE, entrants can try their hand at cattle junior judging in the cattle ring at 10am on Show Day.
For more information contact Anita Poulsen on 0499 686 942.