Months of hard-work came to fruition for Koonoomoo’s Bridie Chester at the Melbourne Royal Show, with the Year 12 student named Grand Champion Junior Parader.
The 18-year-old’s Limousin steer, from the Koonoomoo Cattle Co, also took out Grand Champion Export Steer.
“It was exciting and rewarding at the same time,” Ms Chester said.
“Our family has been doing it for 11 years so we’ve been waiting and waiting to win and we finally did it.”
It’s a competition all about commitment with Ms Chester having to keep close track of her animal’s weight and feed in the lead-up to the competition.
“It was my last year of doing it at school so it’s very exciting,” Ms Chester said.
“We do it as a family so my mum (Lyn) and dad (Daryl) help me out with it.”
The Grand Champion Junior Parader recognises an individual’s knowledge and cattle handling ability.
The victory in Melbourne means Ms Chester will have the opportunity to head to the national titles next year.
“I get to go represent the state so that’s pretty exciting,” she said.
“It should be good but it’s going to be very nerve-racking at the same time.”
Growing up surrounded by cattle due to her family breaking in cattle for local shows, Ms Chester has been entering junior judging competitions since she was eight.
Her passion for cattle started at the Cobram Show and fittingly she is set to compete as well as organise the beef cattle section at next week’s event.