Chané wins youth cattle judging competition
Moria Private School learners Chané Janse van Vuuren, Sienta-Mari van Rooyen and Benjamin Mostert were announced as the top three performers at the Bank Windhoek Feedmaster National Cattle Judging Competition that took place on 28 September in Windhoek.Van Vuuren, who took the third spot in 2022, is this year’s winner; Van Rooyen retained her second position, while Mostert who came in third, participated for the first time.
The trio said they were delighted to have participated in the competition which was hard work but also fun.
Hosted at the Windhoek Agricultural and Industrial Show, the Bank Windhoek Feedmaster National Cattle Judging Competition is an initiative that gives learners between grades 9 and 11 the necessary skills and knowledge to feed and judge stud animals on the farm and in show rings, focusing on the Simbrah and Simmentaler breeds.
This year, the competition included Braunvieh.
Programme leader Christo van Zyl said that 80 learners representing schools from across the country registered to participate in this year’s event. Eventually, 12 learners – six boys and six girls – made it to the final of the national youth judging competition during the Windhoek Show.
All candidates attended a prejudging course before the judging competition. The course focused mainly on the cattle's basic anatomy and composition. It also included the rules of show associations, the role of the show stewards, feed management of show animals, and the preparation and taming of animals for show purposes.
Van Zyl said he was impressed with how the learners keep up with the trade and as a result, the standard of the competition increases every year. “The passion and commitment from the learners make us want to do this continuously,” Van Zyl said. “We are proud of this competition and thank Bank Windhoek for their support in this worthy investment.”
Van Vuuren, who spoke on behalf of all the participants, said she was overwhelmed by the win and glad the hard work and effort paid off. She and the other winners who are passionate about agriculture, thanked Bank Windhoek for the opportunity and urged the Bank to continue supporting the agricultural youth competition.