A SIMPLE handshake brought a tear to the eye of The Scots School agricultural co-ordinator Libby Dawes during the Sydney Royal Easter Show’s steer competition.
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The school is no stranger to the hoof and hook competition at the show, and this year they took their largest group of students and steers ever.
Mrs Dawes said while judging is fierce in a mix of inter-school and open classes, it was the students’ behaviour that impressed her the most.
Following the announcement of another win, The Scots School cattle handler Henry Quant reached out to shake hands with a fellow competitor.
“It brought a tear to my eye,” Mrs Dawes said. “The kids were amazing, they were just fantastic ... they had to work bloody hard.”
Among the school’s swag of awards was a champion heavyweight steer in the ‘hoof’ section, while the ‘hook’ categories scored another bundle of awards.
They were awarded champion school carcass, as well as wins in the heavyweight open class, and middleweight open and school carcasses.
Students also took home a gold medal in the middleweight school carcass, as well as three silver medals and five bronze medals.
“It just proves the right food and our program is working,” she said.
The school took 30 students and 17 steers to this year’s Sydney Royal, and used steers from six different breeders at the show, up from the usual two.
“It was nice to know we did it with different genetics,” Mrs Dawes said.
“We’ve got a lot of loyal breeders that stick with us year after year.”
Mrs Dawes said taking part in the school’s steer program, and competing at the show, gives the students a range of life skills.
“It gives them team leadership skills and confidence,” she said. “I’m so proud, the kids were absolutely fantastic.”
