Five Australian university students have been selected this week to form the 2012 national meat judging team to compete in the US in January.
The team, chosen from a field of ten finalists, consists of Isaac Allen, Vanessa Campbell and Jordan Hoban of Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga; Tim Ryan of the University of Melbourne; and Rozzie O’Reilly from the University of New England, Armidale.
This will be the first time the University of Melbourne has been represented in the Australian meat judging team throughout its 21-year history.
The top ten finalists spent an intense five-day session in Brisbane this week getting an insight into many facets of the meat and livestock industry exclusive to this elite group. Their south-east Queensland itinerary involved visits with Brisbane red meat retailers, and tours of processors Australian Country Choice, John Dee Warwick, JBS Dinmore and Swickers Kingaroy.
Australian team coach and general manager of Kerwee Lotfeeders, Brad Robinson, was also able to provide the students with an extensive insight into the operations of the 9200-head feedlot near Jondaryan on Queensland’s Darling Downs.
“The highlight of this week for me was getting to see some of those big meat processing plants. I am really looking forward to a future in the red meat industry,” said one of the team members, Isaac Allen.
The team selection was not an easy decision. Mr Robinson, a former Australian team-member in 2004, and Emma Hegarty from Queensland’s Department of Agriculture (DAFF), who will accompany the Australian team to the US, thought the calibre of the students this year was among the highest they had encountered.
“All of these students regardless of whether they made the Australian team or not, will make a positive impact on the meat industry,” Mr Robinson said.
The Australian team will depart in early January for a three-week industry tour of the US including competing in two American meat judging competitions. The Brisbane training week was sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia, which is also a major sponsor of the annual intercollegiate meat judging contest.
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