The prestigious National Beef Cattle Young Paraders Championship took place on Saturday, October 14, with Victorian competitor Carlie Mackelmann from Congupna emerging as the winner. She secured the top spot ahead of Tasmania’s Charlton Skirving, who claimed the runner-up position, and South Australia’s Lydia Sanders, who secured third place.
“I’ve been working towards this since I was young. I had no expectations when coming to nationals, but winning means a lot,” said Ms. Mackelmann. She shared her journey, saying, “I didn’t grow up in a stud family; I started when I was 11 at the local shows, helping out. Each year, as I gained experience, I just kept practicing at home with my own cattle.”
“When I started my own stud, I worked hard to get to the level of competing at the royal shows. I would like to continue in the stud beef industry and maybe look at the genetics side of cattle. Winning this competition has allowed me to get my name out there, and I look forward to continuing in the industry.”
Lydia Sanders, who secured third place, learned the craft from her family. “My parents always showed their stud cattle growing up, so I was only eight when I competed at the Heifer Expo for the first time,” she shared. “I just love being a part of the industry, the people, and the opportunities they give you.”
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