Finley High School students Maggie Bramley, Claire Ingram, Cheyenne Tucker, Erica Hammond and, standing, Chelsea Singleton and Erin Chesworth with Ulysses, their Supreme Champion Poll Dorset ram.
As the ribbons flowed into ‘Camp Finley’ at this year’s Melbourne Royal Show after most events, agriculture teacher Gary Webb said Finley High School’s mentoring among its students was what had led to success.
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“We have different students from each age group on an individual animal so that way it’s a part of the mentoring program,” Mr Webb said.
“You can only use one animal in three classes, so it works for us.
“If we have 10 animals that means we could have 30 students parading.”
The strategy paid off on Saturday, September 23 with two of the school’s Poll Dorset sheep winning Interbreed Ewe of the Show and Interbreed Ram of the Show, after having secured Supreme Poll Dorset Ram the day before.
Erica Hammond and Cheyenne Tucker led Finley High School's Poll Dorset ewe and ram to win the Interbreed of the Show for each of their categories. With them is South Australian judge Nick Lawrence.
One successful recipient of guidance at the school is Year 9 student Maggie Bramley, who Mr Webb believes will add value to the cattle industry.
“The skills that Maggie has now got means she can be a valued person in any stud, that they can trust her to do it all,” Mr Webb said.
“Why’s that? Because she has been trained herself. She also continues to put in the effort and time at school.”
Claire Ingram takes her mentoring role seriously, and was on the sidelines keeping a close eye on her protégé Maggie Bramley while she was competing in the show ring.
Year 11 student Claire Ingram is Maggie’s mentor and has her own aspirations beyond school that she believes will further inspire future students to enter agriculture industries.
“I want to be an ag teacher,” Claire said.
“I have grown up with the show and have always loved the show team.
“Not many people want to be ag teachers any more and I want to come back and continue the school’s legacy.
“I would hate it to go to waste.”
Claire led the Shorthorn cross steer Comet, which won Highest Placed School Steer or Heifer in its category.
“I am very grateful for our teachers,” she said.
“We would not have been able to make a name for ourselves without them.”
Maggie was also winner in the same category by leading Charolais-Speckle Park cross steer Jerry, which was donated to the school by one of its own showing rivals, Pine Lodge stud owner Jack Nelson.
The trophies beckon for Jerry, who was led by Maggie Bramley.
At 15 years old, Maggie is trailblazing with her career goals, having purchased three Speckle Park heifers this year and registered her own stud.
“Speckle Parks are a really good breed for meat, they have only been in Australia for 16 years and it would be good to get into the breed while it’s new,” Maggie said.
“They have got really good muscle with marbling and a good finish. They are also polled so they don’t have any horns.
“Some people think the Speckle Park are pretty crazy but with mine at home, I can walk up and pat them — they are really calm.”
Mr Webb said the product of Finley High School went further than kudos and ribbons.
“The students are our investment,” he said.
“To see students leave school and have the confidence to go into the industry and be fantastic workers and ambassadors of the school, that means the world to us.
