Hear from Jacob Merrick on His Experience at The SAJHE

I had the privilege of attending the SA Junior Heifer Expo, and what an incredible week it turned out to be! The expo was truly an eye-opener, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. The event was both enjoyable and educational, with engaging practical tasks and exciting competitions, such as handler classes and junior judging.

Among all the activities, my favourite part of the week was the handler’s class.

Additionally, during the educational sessions, I found the demonstration with Breedn’ Betsy, particularly fascinating. We learned about preg-testing cows, gained insight into their reproductive systems, and even acquired practical knowledge on loading an AI gun and inseminating cows.

Two other talks that stood out to me were on show prep and clipping. These topics greatly contributed to my progress in the showing career, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the valuable information and skills I gained.

The entire week was filled with numerous enjoyable experiences, and I had the pleasure of meeting new people and forming strong friendships.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have achieved the following accolades:

• 1st place in handles heat 6
• Champion sub-intermediate herdsperson
• 1st in the marketing award.

The positive outcome has left me feeling immensely grateful, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the possibility of attending the SA Junior Heifer Expo again next year!