Three Toogoolawah State High School students have proven that hard work beyond the classroom can lead to success on the state stage, with impressive results in the Interschool Judging Competition at this year’s Ekka.
Clancie, Dusty, and James are no strangers to the cattle yards. Each of them has spent countless hours outside of school, on their family properties and at cattle camps, developing the skills needed to handle, prepare and judge livestock at a professional level. From early mornings feeding and checking cattle, to halter training, grooming and perfecting their show presentation techniques, the trio have been living and breathing cattle work for months.
Their preparation also included attending cattle camps and clinics across the region, where they learned from industry professionals and refined their judging skills, assessing structure, muscling, temperament, and breed characteristics, and presenting their evaluations with confidence.
Agriculture Teacher, Angela Lynch, said the students’ achievements reflected their personal commitment and passion for the industry.
“While the school program provides opportunities for competition and support, the bulk of the hard work has been done by these students in their own time. The hours they’ve put in at home and at cattle camps are what has really set them apart,” she said.
The school’s agricultural program has been proud to provide a platform for students to showcase their abilities, with training facilities and coaching that complement the skills learned beyond the school gate.
For Clancie, Dusty and James, the Ekka was more than just a competition, it was the culmination of years of hands-on experience and a love of working with cattle, proving that success is built one early morning, one yard session and one cattle camp at a time.
