Balloting out a great time

Cheyne Twist, Senior Marketing & Communications Officer

One of the unique details of Roundup is the event is open to everyone, from novice to experienced, and for those who may not have cattle for themselves.

To make this possible, the event relies on the support of ballot cattle suppliers to provide animals for participants who do not have access to their own animals. Ballot cattle sponsors come on board each year to provide animals, with many providing ballot animals many years after their own children have gone through the program, however, are still wanting to provide support and lending a hand to the continuation of the event. At the NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup, a major supplier of cattle was Natalie and Stuart Hann of Nampara Angus, who attended Roundup with four of their own children. Providing 13 head for event after an 11-hour trip from Lucindale, South Australia, Stuart was aware of the impact ballot cattle suppliers can have for young people in the industry that don’t have the same start as everyone else. “We didn’t have a stud when I was a kid, and I couldn’t have wanted anything else more. Through a long time and a lot of hard work we have gotten to 300 odd cows and now if a kid wants to go to a heifer show which I enjoyed so much, a place where I met my wife, I guess I can’t say no. “I guess it’s about providing that opportunity. We are not all good at sport, we are not all good at school and this is something that takes you away from all that and for most of the kids that we have got on board it’s addictive and we can’t get rid of them.” Reflecting on his history with the event and why he has come back on board as a ballot cattle supplier, Stuart says the benefit for him as a supplier is mutual. “As a kid I came to Roundup when it was at Hamilton 20 or 25 years ago. For us it’s a bit of promotion because if we can put a team together that’s relatively consistent it’s a good thing for Nampara, but it’s all about getting those kids on board and getting them in there and doing stuff. “These kids are finding they’re meeting kids from Victoria to Tamworth and sometimes further and that’s not something you can do at school and at sport.” Angus Australia Extension Manager Jake Phillips reflected on how important the opportunity can be for people who are not necessarily involved in the Angus breed and can take part in the Roundup event because of the generosity of supporters like the ballot cattle suppliers.