Bede Polding College wins 2018 UniSchools Steer Challenge

In what has been a stellar year, Bede Polding College has been named Champion School for the 2018 UniSchools Steer Challenge, which saw students raise a Poll Hereford steer for three months.

Bede Polding were also awarded Champion School across the 5 nominated categories of competition at this year’s Penrith Show and were awarded Champion School for the highest score in livestock showing.

This marks the end of the shows for 2018 in what has been a busy but rewarding year for the Agriculture Show Team.

This is the sixth time Bede Polding has won the UniSchools Steer Challenge competition since Western Sydney University began hosting it in 2001.

Twelve schools from around Western Sydney competed including McCarthy Catholic College, Colo High, Arndell Anglican College and Richmond TAFE.

Each school was given a steer to raise for 100 days, and the teams were judged on their ability to raise, grow and train their calves.

Adjunct Fellow with the university’s School of Science and Health, and organiser of the competition, Stephen Blunden, congratulated the hard work of the schools and all the teachers involved.

“There are unique challenges that go into raising a steer in suburban Sydney so it’s been a great effort from the students involved," said Mr Blunden.

As part of the competition, the skills students had learnt from raising their steer was put to the test at the 'Live day' competition at Hawkesbury Campus on Friday, September 7.

Steers were judged in several categories including steer weight gain, and best presented steer. Students were also judged in the categories of parading and herding.

Agriculture teams from local schools also went head-to-head again at the Penrith Show’s competition. This livestock-based contest saw students from schools prove their animal-handling skills and put on their best educational displays.

Visitors to the show would have been able to observe the students shoulder the responsibility for the frosty morning wash and polish of livestock ready for judging and have a yarn with the students about the animals under their care. A highlight was the grand parade, where students were ‘a buzz’ as they circled the complex with their animals and banners.

Educationally both competitions offers an authentic learning situation for pupils that can’t provide within a classroom.

Bede Polding received the following results:

The school would like to extend a huge thank you to all students and parents involved in the Agricultural Shows. We are extremely grateful for all your support and hard work.