Kirstin Nicholson, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Two of the region’s young farmers will represent Australia at the Young Breeders School in Battice, Belgium.

Kaitlyn Wishart and Georgia Sieben are part of the team of five that will represent Australia on the world dairy youth competition stage next month.

The team was announced by Melbourne Royal, Jersey Australia and Holstein Australia last week after a rigorous application and interview process. Team members come from five dairy regions and represent a number of dairy breeds.

Kaitlyn Wishart from Cohuna, Georgia Sieben from Torrumbarry, Nathan Hart from Stanhope, and Andrew Gray and Courtney Afford from South Australia make up the team.

The team reserve is Oakley Henry from Tinamba and the team will be led by Justin Johnston of Glomar Holsteins, Bundalaguah.

The Young Breeders School is an annual five-day event run by the Association Wallonne de l’Elevage.

It involves hands-on workshops, including bedding, showmanship and clipping, as well as classroom-based sessions such as marketing and herd promotion.

After three days of workshops and practice, participants put their skills to the test in stock judging, showmanship and calf classes.

“Being selected to represent Australia at the Young Breeders School is an honour,” said Kaitlyn Wishart.

“It will be an incredible learning and networking experience in which I aspire to further build my skills and knowledge regarding the showing, preparation and management of dairy cattle.”

An Australian team competed at the Young Breeders School for the first time in 2019, with all team members finishing in the top third of the results, three in the top 15.

Formerly called the European Young Breeders School, the event’s increasingly international nature has seen it rebranded as the Young Breeders School to reflect its global reach more accurately.

This will be the first time the school has taken place since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Team leader, Justin Johnston, said that part of the key selection criteria was that individuals were focused on a dairy career and were able to demonstrate leadership potential, and that this opportunity would nurture and develop that potential.

“The Young Breeders School is the international reference point for training and show preparation, with many countries entering teams year-on-year.

It will be a great learning experience for our team members, and a real opportunity to showcase the talent of Australian dairy youth on the world stage,” he said.

Georgia Sieben said, “Young Breeders School is a great opportunity for youth around the world, who are passionate about cows, to come together doing what they enjoy and to share knowledge on the dairy industry.

I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to represent Australia in Belgium.”

In addition to team partners Melbourne Royal, Jersey Australia and Holstein Australia, the team has been embraced by the Australian dairy industry with STG Australia, WFI, Genetics Australia, Bega, Coprice, Gardiner Dairy Foundation, Yarra Corporation and Ridley supporting this year.

Rohan Butler, Holstein Australia CEO, says, “This experience will enable the team members to hone their skills, already at a high level, and benchmark themselves against some of the best young competitors from Europe, the UK and Canada.

We see our 2022 team members as emerging leaders, so we, along with the other partners, will be working with them once they return from Europe to develop those skills further.”

Following the Young Breeders School from August 31 to September 4, the Australian team will travel through Holland on an educational tour visiting several farms, Alta Genetics and Lely in what is regarded as one of the world’s most productive dairy regions.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 21 July 2022.