The WA Youth Cattle Handlers Camp (WAYCHC) took place recently at the Brunswick Junction Show Grounds, with 100 young minds ready to learn all they could about cattle handling and showing.
The WAYCHC has been run since 2005 by a voluntary committee of WA beef and dairy producers and service providers. The camp aims to provide the next generation of young people with an in-depth knowledge of cattle husbandry, whilst also keeping passion and enthusiasm for the show scene. With many guest speakers and camp attendees from all over the state, it also opens up networking opportunities and career pathways for youth in agriculture. The camp is open to ages 8 to 25 years, with only 100 places each year.
The camp takes place over three days and is split into beef and dairy, with each participant choosing which section they would like to participate in. Each attendee is given an animal for the duration of the camp that they will look after and also learn to show. Both sections are split into groups based on age and experience, and each group has a team of volunteers that work with the attendees over the course of the camp.
The first day of the camp is all about participants getting to meet their animals, learning how to safely tie knots, grooming and washing. It also involves caring for their animals by ensuring they have access to feed and water. This session includes demonstrations by the volunteers and invited guest judges, both beef and dairy, who generally travel over from the east coast for the duration of the camp and have a wealth of knowledge to share. The demonstrations are focused on leading animals in a show ring, clipping animals, and judging the structure of an animal.
Day two sees many of the participants having a go at leading their animals confidently, clipping and prepping animals for the show ring – even using special hair blowers! The focus also includes delving into the nitty gritty of the structure of an animal and understanding why conformation is important. There are multiple guest speakers over the course of the camp, discussing topics such as breeding, nutrition, animal health and more. In the evenings there are games and challenges designed to help the participants get to know one another and have fun.
The WAYCHC final day is show day, where participants get the chance to put what they have learnt over the previous two days into practice. They get to show their animal in a Handlers competition and also participate in a Junior Judging Competition. Both of these classes are judged by the camp’s guest judges, and the competitions are qualifying rounds for the WA State Finals that take place each year at the Perth Royal Show.
Milne Feeds Sales Manager, Jess Andony, has been involved in the WAYCHC for many years, attending herself when she was younger, then coming back as a camp volunteer and shortly after joining the working committee. This year Jess was once again involved as a camp helper in the dairy section.
Working with youth in agriculture is something the whole Milne Feeds team are passionate about and they relish the opportunity to get involved and help when they can. For Jess, this camp is an opportunity to give back. After all, the WAYCHC taught her a lot about showing livestock and that led to opportunities to judge regional shows, such as Albany, and paved the way to her qualifying for the National dairy judging and handlers competitions in Tasmania, Brisbane and Melbourne.
If you’d like to know more about the WAYCHC or how to get involved, please visit their website or Facebook page: https://wayouthcattlehandlerscamp.com.au/
