Showing off their talents and skills at the 2010 Sydney Royal Agricultural Show were the talented team from Murrumburrah High School’s Farm Club.
With the Easter holidays as a back drop for the Easter show, seven students from MHS left for the big event on Saturday April 3 with eleven steers in tow.
The talented team comprised of Joe Fitzgerald (captain), Josh Carter (vice captain), Charlie Butt, William Fitzgerald, Alex Stewart, Jess Sargent and Cara Phillis with Jan Young as their supervisor while Bernie Minogue capably transported the steers for the team.
Weighing and scanning commenced on Monday with a pleasing set of results across the steers especially with the Victor Chang Charity Steer scanning 11mm rib / 11mm rump and a weight of 548kg.
‘Pulse’ as he has been nicknamed looked a picture in perfect health.
Charlie Butt attended the State Grain Judging Finals on Tuesday to be placed in the top 20 junior judges in the state ranging in ages from 15 to 25 years, a commendable effort from such a young student.
The schools own bred trade steer ‘Eric’ a Square Meater cross Angus steer of 11 months weighing 342kg scanning 8mm rib and 8mm rump was the first to enter the ring on the Wednesday. Unfortunately the judge had his mind set on animals weighing more than 400kg but comments were made as to his thickness and potential yield. ‘Eric’ was led by student Jess Sargent.
Each school is allowed to enter one school prepared and led steer for the School Steer Competition.
Murrumburrah High had a pleasing result with ‘Excalibur’ a school Square Meater steer weighing 405 kg scanning 7mm on the rib and 9mm on the rump, placing third in the middle weight section with Joe Fitzgerald leading this steer.
School paraders were the next event on the day with MHS’s own Joe Fitzgerald entering the ring. The judge found herself with a high standard of competition and could only fault Joe on the shine of his boots which ended up placing him second. We may have to educate the judge on the difference between matt finished Doggers and RM Williams boots.
State qualified paraders were to follow this competition with Charlie Butt taking a fourth place and Josh Carter taking third place. With three paraders and three ribbons, Harden Murrumburrah was definitely put on the map.
Thursday saw the pure bred steers enter the ring in various weight classes. Murrumburrah High School had their work cut out for them with nine steers to be prepared and ready to lead by 8am.
“With students starting work at 5am the steers were washed, blown dry, final trimmings completed and dressed in leather halters for the ring, an incredibly proud teacher watched the proceedings ‘without hiccups’ as the students entered every animal into the ring on time with perfect preparation,” Mrs Young said.
“Josh Carter has his own prepared steer enter first in the lightweight section along with a Tarcombe Hereford prepared by the school.
“Beggan Hill had a steer prepared and led by the school in the next heat of the lightweight divisions.”
Ribbons began to come again for MHS students, in the middleweight division with ‘Darkie’ a Square Meater steer bred by Thurloo Park Square Meater stud Cootamundra placing fifth and another steer, ‘Dunn’ bred by the same stud placing first in his heat.
The Bowman’s steer ‘Bowie’, was commented on as having a great length of body but just needing a couple more weeks of feeding to finish ideally. In the final of the middle weight section ‘Dunn’ just missed out on reserve champion.
The heavyweight section still saw MHS with three steers to enter the ring including the Victor Chang Charity steers and ‘Elmo’ a big Hereford steer with personality.
‘Pulse’ the Victor Chang Charity steer was awarded a highly commended behind four large Limousin steers.
With the auction underway students led the steers through the amphitheatre with a mixture of good and average results.
Alex Stewart provided top class entertainment with a remarkable back flip while still controlling his steer as another student’s steer created chaos in the ring.
Happily the Victor Chang Charity Steer raised $10,000 for the Institute with Victor Chang’s wife Ann Chang in attendance. The successful bidder was again Paul Ferry from Abington Station at Gundagai.
“With the steers finally loaded, five of us headed home leaving Josh Carter, Joe Fitzgerald and Charlie Butt to continue with stud cattle in the second week of the show,” Mrs Young said.
“Josh had his own two heifers entered in the Shorthorn Stud Section coming home with a third place for one heifer and just missing out on a place with his second heifer.”
A very proud teacher, Jan Young, said all students should be commended on their attitudes while they were display at the show.
“The manner of the students and promotion of our small town were constantly commented on,” she said.
“The cattle display put up by the students looked fantastic and highlighted Harden as a place to visit after the students explained where we are.
“Murrumburrah High School Farm Club would like to thank all our supporters throughout the year including the generous donation from the Harden Shire Council that made the trip possible for the self funded club, now for a break until September.”
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