Record entries for Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza

The 2018 Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza sponsored by Waverley Station was held during October at Scone and drew record support from 880 competitors ranging in age from primary school students right through to 18-year-olds.

That makes it the largest beef cattle youth event of its kind to be staged anywhere in Australia. And this is the thirteenth year the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza has been sponsored by Waverley Station.

Highlights of the three-day event were a beef industry educational program and the Waverley Station School Steer Challenge. With a number of schools choosing to bring big teams of students to learn and take part in the competitions, each age division had upwards of 100 participants, representing stiff competition.

A key feature for many of those attending was the meat judging section that took part at JBS Australia in Scone on October 26. Participants also could join in on the live junior judging competition where they were required to judge an interbreed heifer class, Shorthorn bull class and a kill steer class.

Winners from the Waverley Station® “School Steer Challenge”.

Left to right: Champion Steer entered by St Lawrence’s Primary School, Coonabarabran; Champion Primary Parade Steer entered by St Joseph’s Primary School, Denman; George Crouch, Managing Director of Waverley Station Pty Ltd; Beef Bonanza judge, Lauren Eather.