Representing New South Wales: Tayla Miller (24)
Tayla is the New South Wales state finalist at the 2021 Agricultural Shows Australia National Young Judges finals held at the Royal Queensland Show. Agricultural Shows of Australia sat down with the young high school agriculture teacher from Parkville.
My link to agriculture began at a young age were I grew up riding horses. My teen years seen a swap from horses to cattle, which all started during primary school showing cattle at my local show. During high school I began to fall in love with Agriculture and a passion for beef cattle. My passion grew as I competed at many cattle shows with my high school.
At the age of 15 I began showing my own cattle, which then led to me establishing my own stud ‘Blue Gene Cattle Co’, showing, preparing and breeding stud cattle and hoof & hook cattle. Once completing year 12 in 2014, I had a gap year where I travelled to many shows within NSW and interstate. I graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture for the University of New England in 2019. I was lucky enough to gain employment at our one of our local schools (Scone Grammar School) as the Agriculture teacher while I finish my Masters of Secondary Education.
I show both hoof and hook as well as stud cattle at all show levels. These include our local shows to Royal level and also interstate. I have also competed at many youth events.
In ten years time I wish to pass on my success from the show ring to my students which will lead to having established quality and competitive cattle show team for my school. I also hope to have extending on my own herd and be traveling to as many shows competing.
I entered my first paraders competition at the age of 8 as part of our primary school cattle show team. It was at my first event were I won Champion Parader, and that’s where my passion for leading cattle started. I competed at my first Sydney Royal Paraders at the age of 13, and have competed in the paraders competition every year I have been there. I love competing in the paraders competition as you always able to learn from each experience, whether you win a ribbon or not.
I have many people to thank for guiding me to discover my passion in Agriculture and more particularly with beef cattle. My schools teachers (Charles Mill and Lisa Bright), whom of which I am still in contact with regularly and I wish to make an impact on a students life, the same way they did on mine. Neville Barwick and Scott Taylor have guided me with my selection of cattle throughout the years, leading to many successful results and the establishment of my own herd. Lastly my family and some extremely close friends; Mt parents, my brother and the Frost Family. Without their continued support I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am forever grateful for these people.
Even though I have a huge passion for agriculture and am an agriculture teacher, I have a huge fear of holding
chickens.
Even though I am NSW girl through and through, the EKKA is my all time favourite show. I love the country vibe you get even though you are in the middle of the city. I also believe that it is the best of the best when competing.
It’s very rare that you attend a show where you don’t create a new memory that will last a lifetime. I have so many moments I could talk about however, the combination of success and family, comes from the 2021 Sydney Royal Show. There is no better feeling walking away with many Champion ribbons from and team and family effort, which for us was 2021. With focus on one part of a such successful show for our team was when my brother (Zac) lead our Champion Middle weight steer in the auction, while I was preparing our Simmental heifer for judging. On the way to the ring I met Zac, the biggest smile on his face with the steer walking beside him with the ribbon around his girth. We discussed the auction price which the steer had sold for while we had the biggest hug. Tears of happiness and joy. A moment I will cherish forever.
I don’t think there is a show were you don’t have a funny moment. A particularly funny moment that sticks with me is competing in the fancy dress competition at the Ekka when I was showing with my high school show team. We went as safari theme, we were all dressed up as different animals with mask and even our steer was dressed from head to hoof.
I wish all the competitors the very best for the competition.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks