Fraser Wythes Shines At Ekka

Canowindra’s Fraser Wythes, has secured the title of Grand Champion in the Schools’ Individual Judging Competition at the 150th Royal Queensland Show (EKKA).

The year 10 student at Scots All Saints College, Bathurst has been judging for his whole life and wants to pursue a career in the industry. When judging an animal he focusses on pulling the animal apart and putting it back together again.

“I based mine off where the heifers actually end up on the kill floor. That’s a big thing that I judge off with market animals, and also the structural soundness of them the amount of fat, muscle, the covering, the amount of meat volume they’re going to get off the carcase itself,” he said.

In addition to his win in the judging competition, Fraser placed third in his heat and in the top 10 out of 175 competitors in the School Paraders competition.

Fraser’s win helped secure the prestigious Most Successful School Award for Scots All Saints College at the event. Overall, the school had a very successful show, taking home nine ribbons across the events held on Monday, 3 August, and Tuesday, 4 August.

Scots All Saints College previously achieved the award in their first year attending, five years ago, and have strived to achieve it again ever since.

The school took a small ‘elite’ team of the their best performing students to compete at Ekka, consisting of six students across year 10 and 11, and eight head of cattle.

Scots All Saints College agriculture teacher, Libby Dawes said the ribbon made all the extra hours of dedication worthwhile and provided a tangible award for the school to strive for.

“It’s really good to see all the hard work the kids put in pay off, and what I love is that it’s not just one of these kids that have done well, they’ve all done well – it’s lovely to have that rewarded for them,” Ms Dawes said.