EKKA FINALS AT MALENY

from Edition 14 September 2021

FAREWELL TO FAB 5

FOR only the second time in the history of the Dairy – Young Judges and Paraders competition the state fi nals will this year be conducted by Queensland Ag Shows at the Maleny Showground on Saturday September 25.

The competition, for young people aged 15-25 years, provides signifi cant personal and professional development opportunities, including the opportunity to network, learn from industry professionals and practise public speaking skills.

Competitors learn how to improve their judging and parading skills and the competitions encourage them to continue their involvement in agricultural shows.

Queensland Ag Shows state coordinator of the Young Judges and Paraders competitions, Monica Skerman, said that as this year’s Ekka had been cancelled, it was great that the state fi nals of the dairy competition could be rescheduled to still go ahead.

“We are very pleased that Maleny Show Society agreed to host the fi nals at the showground. Maleny is well known for its long association with the dairy industry and our Maleny Show is still one of the most robust exhibitors of dairy cattle in the country,” Monica said.

The event will feature young competitors from fi ve Queensland sub chambers of Queensland Ag Shows, coming from as far as Malanda near Cairns and the Darling Downs.

Our local region – the Near North Coast sub chamber – will be represented by Sharnaye Wintzloff and Britney Holt. Clinton Keir, originally from Kenilworth and a former National Dairy Parader winner, will also be competing.

The winners of the state fi nals will be invited to represent Queensland at the 2022 national fi nals hosted by the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Due to the cancellation of the 2020 fi nals, the 2019 state winners Loka Manu and Thomas Wade from the Near North Coast sub chamber will also be travelling to the Sydney in April 2022 to compete in the national championships.

Dairy Young Paraders 2019 Runner Up Rebecca Daley of North Qld and Thomas Wade of Near North Coast 2019 Winner. Dairy Young Judges 2019 runner-up Jerry English from North Queensland, Monica Skerman from Queensland Ag Shows and Loka Manu, Near North Coast’s 2019 winner

Monica said this was her 15th year with this competition. “All I can say is that these young people represent the future for our dairy industry,” she said.

The state fi nals will run from 9.30am-3pm. It is a free ticketed event via Eventbrite. For more details or for tickets go to www.facebook.com/queenslandagshows

Refreshments and a barbeque lunch will be available.

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