Focus on youth in agriculture at the Show

Young aspiring cattle handlers are fired up to hit the ring at this year’s Albany Agricultural Show.

Some are first-timers and others are almost “old” hands at cattle handling, but all seven have spent their school holidays learning to wrangle cattle.

Stud, cattle and dairy section committee organiser Sheena Smith said it was part of a push for the younger generation to be more involved with the agriculture industry.

“We wanted to get kids interested in agriculture,” she said.

“They are the future of the industry, so we have to encourage them wherever we can.”

Ms Smith, who breeds commercial heifers on her Narrikup property, said the youths spent a month learning how to handle calves and heifers from her herd in preparation for the upcoming show, where they will compete in the nippers category for any farm animal and open class commercial heifer category.

Ms Smith took on the cattle councillor role five years ago after her then seven-year-old son Robert expressed an interest in becoming a handler.

“We were watching the cattle handling one year and Robert said ‘I want to do that’,” she said.

Robert, now 13, will be returning for his sixth year running at this year’s show.

“I like doing it,” he said. “It keeps me out of sideshow alley.”

Joining Robert in the ring will be Coby Ravenhill, 4, leading a pet goat, Lucas and Georgina Ravenhill, both 7, leading Angus and Friesen calves and Ella Smith, 8, leading an Angus calf.

Ella said going around the ring “is lots of fun.”

“I’m not nervous or scared,” she said.

Rachel O’Dell, 15, Georgina Henderson, 15 and Rachel Williams, 18, will be leading heifers under two years of age.

Georgina said it’s her sixth year competing in the show.

“I enjoy the work you put into taming the cows and the trust you develop with them,” she said.

The show is on tomorrow and Saturday.