CAPTION: Callum Woodhouse at the recent 2017 Beef and Lamb Future Beef NZ Hoof and Hook competition PHOTO/SUPPLIED
By Beckie Wilson
Hailing from an Eketahuna sheep and beef farm, Callum Woodhouse has always had a passion for the land.
Now, after recently being named the 2017 Allflex Intermediate Beef Ambassador, his future pathway could not be stronger.
The deputy head boy at Rathkeale College entered the 2017 Beef and Lamb Future Beef NZ Hoof and Hook competition in Feilding as an intermediate novice.
He had never entered a competition of its kind before, and was the first recipient to ever win in their first year of competing at Future Beef competition.
“It was my first time showing cattle and there would have been about 30 odd others in the category,” he said.
The weekend was a jam-packed three days including educational modules covering DNA testing, electronic tags and meat scanning, followed by an afternoon of steer judging.
During the showing of the steers, from Maungaraki Cattle Co, he was also judged for his stockmanship skills.
Callum applied for the ambassador title separately, which included an essay, a questionnaire and an interview.
During the competition weekend, the judges for the ambassador title took into consideration his involvement in the modules and cattle showing skills.
“Well I just thought I’d give it a go, and it would be good experience – I’ve never done a formal interview before, and I wanted to support [the competition].”
He said he was keen to learn more about stud breeding and genetics.
As part of the ambassador package, Callum can travel anywhere in the country to learn more about his passion.
“I’ll go to an A and P show, maybe the Christchurch one and visit some stud farms down there.
“The farming is different there to North island with the different climate,” he said.
Callum plans to head to Lincoln University next year to study an Agricultural Science degree.
He also plans to enter future beef competitions, and maybe an A and P show too.
Callum also received the Kaitoa Herefords Most Outgoing Stockman award, 1st place immediate novice beef handler, and 3rd place intermediate beef module.
Last year he won the national TeenAg competition at the Young Farmer of the Year competition in Timaru.
He is also the chair of his schools TeenAg club, and participated in the 2016 Wairarapa District Young Farmer’s Regional final.
Other Wairarapa winners
Maungaraki Rising Star Award – Joshua White from Taratahi
Beef and Lamb NZ Future Beef handler – 2nd place junior Ella McWilliam
Beef and Lamb NZ Future Beef module – 1st place junior Ella McWilliam
Beef and Lamb NZ Future Beef stock judging – 1st place junior Ella McWilliam
Taratahi Wairarapa, Maungaraki Cattle Co, and McWilliam Stud Stock received a handful of awards each.
