Woogenellup 19-year-old Zoe Skinner represents WA in beef parading and grain judging national competition

A 19-year-old Woogenellup woman is out to prove she is top of the crop as she prepares to represent Western Australia in a grain judging and beef parading competition. Zoe Skinner is one of six finalists competing in the events at the Melbourne Royal Show on Wednesday. Ms Skinner, who grew up on a broadacre cropping and beef property, has plenty of experience in beef parading competition but said this was her first-time grain judging, competing in its inaugural event. “I’ve grown up showing cattle so I know how to present the animal to the best of its ability, how to keep it standing properly and handle it so it looks its best,” she said. “For the grain judging, I’ve known about it from childhood and from training with CBH but have never competed. “I am a bit nervous for both but for different reasons — I have a higher expectation of myself in the beef paraders because I have so much experience but I’m nervous for the grain judging because I’ve never done it before. “I didn’t have to win a state final to compete, I just put my hand up.” The grain judging competition involves competitors being given four samples of grain, placing them in order of quality, and then giving an oral presentation about their reasoning. The beef parading competition, which Ms Skinner has competed in since the age of nine, involves walking a randomly selected cow around the arena, with competitors judging their handling of the animal and personal presentation. Now working towards a degree in Agricultural Science at Murdoch University, Ms Skinner said agriculture was her passion and she was “honoured and grateful” to represent the state. “I couldn’t believe it when I first won (the state finals),” she said. “It’s what you dream to win growing up competing in these competitions. “Now doing the nationals, it’s so daunting but it’s a once in lifetime opportunity that I’m so happy to be a part of. “(Agriculture) has always been my passion and will probably always be my passion. “I’m definitely going to continue down this pathway in one way or another.” Run by Agricultural Shows Australia, the national competition offers 15 to 25-year-olds the chance to compete in nine categories: beef cattle, dairy cattle, grain, poultry, merino sheep, meat breed sheep and merino fleece judging, as well as parading competitions in beef and dairy cattle.