Once again, Weston Agricultural College carried away many of the major prizes when showing their sheep, beef and dairy animals at the annual Royal Agricultural Show in Pietermaritzburg.
Weston received the Meadow Feeds Natal Floating Trophy for the Best Cattle Group on Show and was placed second in the Centenary Trophy Competition for the school with the most points on the show. The boys carried off a number of prizes in the first four places, with some individual boys being top performers in the different sections. In the sheep section, three juniors showed their promising skill and knowledge by winning first second or third position in their competitions. Jared Pepworth obtain first places in the Junior Knowledge section and the Junior Showmanship (Wool), and third place in Junior Sheep Preparation. Cameron Karg, who is the fourth generation of the Karg family to attend Weston, obtained the first place in Junior Preparation, second in Junior Knowledge and a third in Junior Showmanship (Wool). A fierce competitor to his peers was Fisokuhle Hadebe, who obtained two second places in Junior Preparation and Junior Showmanship (Wool) and a third in Junior Preparation. In the senior Sheep section Lwanda Mdonswa won both the Senior Preparation and Senior Showmanship (Wool), Edward Cadle obtained a second and third respectively in these sections, with Luke Killen being awarded the second in the showmanship class. In the Beef Section, Caleb Shaw won the Junior Beef Showmanship and was placed fourth in the Junior Knowledge Section.
In the senior Beef Section, two Weston boys did exceptionally well. Devin Bonner and Gus Ardendorff tied for first place in the Senior Knowledge and for the Rev J Scott Memorial Trophy for overall knowledge. Bonner had exceptional success in many of the senior sections. He obtained firsts in Senior Washing and Preparation, Senior Beef (Heat 1) Showmanship, Best Beef Animal on Show, Senior Stockman (Combined marks: Wash and Preparation, knowledge and Showmanship) and the George Poole Shield. He also received a second place for the Best Animal on Show and Best Senior Showman.
Ardendorff was placed fourth in Senior Beef (Heat one) Showmanship and a second in Senior Stockman. Fellow Grade 11, Nico BarkHuizen achieved seconds in Senior Beef (Heat two) Showmanship and thirds in the Best Senior Showman and Best Beef Animal on Show. Mfezeko Mini won the Senior Beef (Heat two) Showmanship and was second in the Best Beef Animal on Show. In the Senior Dairy Showmanship Luke Gillet, Stewart Boland and Gareth Montile were placed second, third and fourth respectively.
All Grade 11 boys take part in showing the schools’ beef animals. Each boy is responsible for a specific steer. Over a period, they receive instruction on all aspects of showing their animals and caring for them. Many boys develop a very close relationship with their animal.