Young guns winning the game

There’s no shortage of talent or competition among the ranks of agriculture’s next generation – and NSW has its fair share of future leaders already making waves within the industry.

Plenty of this promising young talent was on display at the 2024 Young Judges Championships hosted by Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA) at the Melbourne Royal Show this spring, with three competitors from NSW taking out titles in the beef cattle, grain and meat sheep judging.

Quipolly’s Mitchell Taylor took out the honor of champion young beef judge at this year’s show following several wins at state-level judging competitions.  

Already operating his own poll hereford and shorthorn stud at just 18 years of age, ASA Executive Officer Katie Stanley said Mitchell’s commitment to the beef industry had made him a standout among judges in this year’s competition. 

Mitchell’s sister Emily also secured success in the 2024 Young Judges Championships, taking out the title of Champion Young Grains Judges at the show this year.  

Currently a second-year Bachelor of Rural Science student at the University of New England, 20-year-old Emily operates her own stud, Eclipse Poll Herefords, as well as serving as the chief beef cattle steward at the Quirindi Show.  

The Taylor family’s success at the championships was joined by that of Cobbitty’s Christine Sutton, who was sashed winner of the Meat Breed Sheep Young Judge Competition at the Melbourne Royal Show.  

At just 15 years of age, Christine was the youngest competitor in her category and takes the crown in her very first year of competing in the Young Judges Championships.  

NSW also saw a strong performance from its team in the Australian Young Farmer Challenge National Finals held alongside the Championships at the Melbourne Royal this year.  

Drawing in 20 competitors across five states, the relay-style event included a short quiz on agriculture-related topics as well as a practical challenge where participants navigated a course and completed a series of simulated on-farm tasks, such as weather patterning.  

This year, NSW’s team consisted of 24-year old Wingello farm manager, Chloe Sawell; 27-year-old Goulburn farmer, Cooper Mooney; 25-year-old businesswoman and Goulburn Young Woman of the Year 2023, Katie Beresford; and 25-year-old Merino wool grower and Elders Sales Support Officer, Claire Liversidge.  

While team Western Australia took the crown in this year’s Young Farmer Challenge, there’s no doubt Chloe, Cooper, Katie and Claire did NSW proud. 

Amid an incredibly impressive lineup of finalists and champions, NSW’s next generation has continued to shine on the national stage, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve at next year’s agricultural shows. Our industry is certainly in safe hands.