TAFE NSW Agriculture Students Triumph At Sydney Royal Easter Show

Twenty Agriculture students from TAFE NSW Richmond celebrate their success in cattle competitions at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, placing in middleweight steer and the Simmental stud classes.

This achievement comes as the demand for skilled professionals in the agricultural sector is on the rise, with job growth expected to be 5.8 per cent over the next five years.

TAFE NSW teacher Gareth Hough said this was the first year they’d had a team purely made up of Certificate III in Agriculture students.

“Preparation for the Easter Show began late last year; it takes a lot of time and dedication to get the animals up to the required standard,” Mr Hough said.

Students were not only responsible for presenting the animals during the competition but were also involved in the breeding process as part of their studies.

Two of the ten animals entered by TAFE NSW were bred on-site, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of animal husbandry.

Participating in the Royal Easter Show allows students to meet people in the industry, including breeders, and see what’s currently happening,” Mr Hough said.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain experience and knowledge from people who have been working in agriculture for generations,” Mr Hough said.

The competition experience proved to be a valuable learning opportunity for students like Sarah Mallison, a 23-year-old from Baulkham Hills who is already working in the industry.

“I chose to study at TAFE NSW to gain more skills to benefit my career path,” Ms Mallison, a 23-year-old from Baulkham Hills is already working in the industry.

“As part of the Easter Show, I had the opportunity to enter the Open Paraders’ Competition and experience ad being part of steer auction,” she said.

Being involved in the Show allowed Sarah to network with industry professionals and gain practical skills.

Her dedication was evident as she was responsible for parading the steer that received a highly commended placing.

Fiona Archer echoed the sentiment that being involved in the Show was a highlight of her TAFE NSW studies.

Students play a crucial role in preparing the animals for competition, a process that demands dedication and early mornings.

“We’d get up between 4:30 and 5:00 am most mornings,” Ms Archer said.

“We’d take the animals out of the stables, clean up, prepare feeds and water, wash them, shampoo them, brush and blow dry them.”

This meticulous care extends to show-specific preparations like weighing the steers, clipping and preparing their coats.

Understanding the judging criteria is also important.

“For heifers, the judges are looking for confirmation, structure and the ability to reproduce,” Ms Archer said.

“For older cows with calves, milk production and how well they’ve raised the calf are important factors.

“Unfortunately, it’s all about producing good quality meat.”

IMAGE: Sarah Mallison is already working in the industry.

• Topics:

• TAFE
• Ag Shows
• Awards