Young Lot Feeder of the Year Award winner Ben Emery (centre) with (L-R) ALFA President Bryce Camm, award judge Geoff Cornford, Grand Finalist Molly Sage, Grand Finalist Lucy Morris, award judge Scott Sloss.

INDUSTRY achievers who strive to ensure the Australian cattle feedlot industry remains at the forefront of best practice and innovation were celebrated at the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) SMARTBEEF 2019 event at Dalby, Queensland, last week.

A range of prestigious awards were presented as part of ALFA’s Recognition of Excellence Program at the grain fed beef industry’s premier technical conference.

Outstanding Services to Industry Award recipient Des Rinehart with wife Chris.

The Outstanding Services to Industry Award was presented by ALFA to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Grain Fed Program Manager, Des Rinehart. Mr Rinehart started his career in the feedlot industry in 1973 and for the past 20 years has led MLA’s feedlot research and development program.

The Young Lot Feeder of the Year, proudly sponsored by Performance Feeds, was awarded to Ben Emery of Rangers Valley Feedlot, New South Wales. The Award is designed to encourage emerging industry leaders to contribute their ideas and vision for lot feeding at the national level.

The Communicate Your Research Competition, proudly sponsored by Bovine Dynamics and Quirindi Feedlot Services, was won by Abigail Nortrup from the University of New England, NSW, for her research on “Effects of rumen modifiers on feedlot performance and carcase attributes.”

The Innovator of the Year Award, proudly sponsored by IAP, was awarded to Chris Rickert, Maydan Feedlot, Warwick, Queensland. The award recognised the Maydan Feedlot team’s design and development of an excavator attachment that allows drill stem posts to be driven accurately through concrete aprons and hard surfaces.

The Excellence In Feedlot Education Medal, proudly sponsored by Zoetis, was awarded to David Duncan, Teys Condamine Feedlot, Queensland. The Medal is designed to recognise individuals with a commitment to continual learning within the feedlot industry.

ALFA’s Recognition of Excellence Program is run annually and aims to attract, retain and grow a professional skilled workforce through the recognition of business and individual excellence. The program is open to ALFA Members and their employees who demonstrate excellence and alignment with the core values of each Industry Award or Scholarship.

ALFA President Bryce Camm said the recipients of this year’s awards are to be congratulated for their dedication to the sector.

“The people who work in the lot feeding industry are our most valuable asset and ALFA is proud to recognise and promote business and individual excellence through our industry awards,” Mr Camm said.