Toogoolawah SHS Students Win 1st Place at the Ekka Interschool Judging Competition

Toogoolawah State High School is celebrating an outstanding achievement after students Clancie, Dusty, and James secured 1st Place in the prestigious Interschool Judging Competition at the 2025 Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).

Principal Ross Jardine said the win was a remarkable accomplishment for the school and a proud moment for the entire community.

“We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievement. The Ekka is Queensland’s most high-profile agricultural event, and to come away with first place against such strong competition is a credit to their skill, dedication, and passion for agriculture,” Mr Jardine said.

The Ekka attracts around 400,000 visitors each year, and its judging competitions are among the most competitive youth events on the calendar. In 2023, more than 100 school teams from across Queensland competed in interschool judging, many from specialist agricultural schools.

Clancie, Dusty and James are no strangers to the cattle yards. Each of them has spent countless hours outside of school, on their family properties and at cattle camps, developing the skills needed to handle, prepare and judge livestock at a professional level. From early mornings feeding and checking cattle, to halter training, grooming and perfecting their show presentation techniques, the trio have been living and breathing cattle work for months.

“Our students put in the hard work, showed resilience and backed themselves when it mattered,” Mr Jardine said. “They’ve done Toogoolawah SHS proud.”

Their preparation also included attending cattle camps and clinics across the region, where they learned from industry professionals and refined their judging skills, assessing structure, muscling, temperament, and breed characteristics and presenting their evaluations with confidence.

Agriculture Teacher, Angela Lynch, said the students’ achievements reflected their personal commitment and passion for the industry.

“While the school program provides opportunities for competition and support, the bulk of the hard work has been done by these students in their own time. The hours they’ve put in at home and at cattle camps are what has really set them apart,” she said.

The school’s agricultural program has been proud to provide a platform for students to showcase their abilities, with training facilities and coaching that complement the skills learned beyond the school gate.

For Clancie, Dusty and James, the Ekka was more than just a competition, it was the culmination of years of hands-on experience and a love of working with cattle, proving that success is built one early morning, one yard session and one cattle camp at a time.

Regional Director, Helen McCullough, sent a glowing email to the students stating,

"On behalf of the Darling Downs and South West Region, I would like to extend my congratulations to you, Clancie, Dusty and James, on achieving a first place in the Interschool Judging competition at the 2025 Ekka... It is wonderful to see the efforts and achievements of all involved highlighted in a positive way and is a credit to the values, hard work and commitment of you and your staff."

Fostering Agricultural Futures

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Toogoolawah SHS, with almost one in three senior students enrolled in agricultural subjects. The school is committed to building pathways into farming, agribusiness, and rural industries through hands-on learning, local partnerships, and participation in shows and competitions.

“Judging competitions aren’t just about livestock assessment,” Mr Jardine explained.“They build confidence, decision-making skills, public speaking ability, and real-world industry connections. These are the skills our young people need to become the next generation of leaders in agriculture.”

Connecting Students to Regional Industries

By competing at the Ekka, students see first-hand how tradition and innovation work together in modern farming. The competition gives them exposure to industry standards in livestock and produce judging, while also sparking conversations about food security, sustainability, and regional prosperity.

Many past winners of the Ekka’s youth judging events have gone on to become leading stock agents, beef industry specialists, and national competition representatives — a pathway Toogoolawah’s students are now well-placed to follow.

Awards Night