Development rewarded at youth camp

The 17-year-old from Palmerston North was presented with the Paramount Cup - awarded to the top all-rounder - at the conclusion of the Youth Camp, held in Wyndham from January 4-7. She was also presented with the title of top senior handler.

Holstein Friesian NZ field officer and youth camp co-ordinator Amelia Griffin said she was impressed with the level of growth and development Zara had demonstrated over the past three years she had attended Youth Camp.

"Over the last few years Zara has shown growth - not only within herself, but in her ability to work with others, particularly younger kids," Griffin said. "She is such an incredible young woman."

Each year Holstein Friesian NZ hosts the youth camp, which is designed to upskill young people aged 10-21 interested in showing and handling dairy cattle.

Held over four days, the camp allows young people to make friends, learn about animal behaviour and care and take part in a mini show and team building activities. Educational modules at the 2025 youth camp included showmanship and clipping modules, a reproduction module with Vytelle and a technology module with SmaXtec.

Each year, six awards are presented at the conclusion of the youth camp: top junior handler, top senior handler, the McDonald Family Trophy for best presented heifer, the Dennis Terry Memorial Trophy for most improved clipper, the best team award, and the Paramount Cup for best all-rounder.

This year, judge Clint Cummings presented the top junior handler to Elyse Horgan (13) of Palmerston North; the McDonald Family Trophy for best presented heifer to Lucy O'Reilly (15) of Tirau, and the Dennis Terry Memorial Trophy for most improved clipper to Nishaan Bindra (13) of Morrinsville. The best team title wne to the SmaXtec team.

Griffin said Zara not only stood to those running the camp, but to the judge as well.

"She is always eager to help, jumping in whenever she is needed to assist in leading and clipping," she says. "Her skill level has also grown; she asks questions whenever she needs to and takes everything we tell her on board."

Griffin said the heifer that was assigned to Zara at the beginning of the youth camp wasn't easy, and she experienced some setbacks along the course of the camp.

"But she managed to turn it all around. She not only placed first in her team for the best presented heifer, and third overall, but was presented with the title of top senior handler and top all rounder."

Griffin said the 2025 camp was a fantastic event.