Agricultural
24 August, 2022
Giant win for Oakey students at the Ekka
Oakey State High School agriculture students won big time at this year’s Ekka, taking away fourteen awards across the beef cattle judging, merino wool judging and dairy goats judging categories.
Students spent three days at the Ekka this year, with the first day seeing both a senior and junior students place in the top 10 for beef cattle judging and earning themselves a highly commended.
The school’s Agriculture Head of Department Debbie Goudie said this was a tremendous effort considering the students were up against about 120 other competitors.
Both Maddison Russell (junior) and Taylah McHugh (senior) were selected to speak in front of judges and competitors - something that only students in the top 10 are eligible to do.
On their second day, students brought along two of their angora goats despite there not being an angora goat team category this year.
However, students used this as an opportunity to display their goats in Brisbane and speak to guests and attendees about them throughout the day.
During a last minute decision, students entered the merino wool judging category and scored big!
Ms Goudie said this is a category they have never entered before or even trained for.
Yet, in the Junior Fleece section Justine Wieck placed 2nd, Dominic Densley placed 3rd and both Ryan Densley and Brianna Keen landed a highly commended.
In the Senior Fleece section, Alicia Wieck came in 2nd and Leland Pukallas came away with a highly commended.
On their last day, students competed in the dairy goat young judges
category.
Dominic Densley came in 1st place for juniors, along with Brianna Keen and Ryan Densley receiving a highly commended.
In the senior section of the dairy goat young judges, Oakey students scored the three top spots with Josh Cullen coming 1st, Alicia Wieck 2nd and Grea Young 3rd.
“We never thought we would achieve this much,” Ms Goudie said.
“This year has exceeded all of our expectations.
“I’m so proud of the students, especially in the merino wool judging because this was the first year we have ever entered that category and the students had to learn the skills and technique last minute!”
