THE COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a variety of day-to-day activities for Calrossy Anglican School's students.
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However, the coronavirus crisis has failed to deter the students from preparing the school's shorthorn stud, Kamilaroi Shorthorns, for this year's Shorthorn National Bull Sale.
Normally held in Dubbo, this year's sale will provide a new set of challenges for the school, as the sale will be held completely online.
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Calrossy's Tangara farm manager Geoff Nielsen said all vendors would face the dilemma of how best to show their stock ahead of the sale.
"Although we are looking at quite a departure from the usual Dubbo show and sale format, an on-line auction is nothing new as far as the beef industry is concerned," Mr Nielsen said.
"The shorthorn national live auction is,in any case, complemented by an online service that many buyers actually find preferable.
"Our challenge is to adjust to a fully on-line sale process, and the viewing days we have planned are in response to that."
To help showcase the stock to potential buyers, the school has joined forces with Nagol Park Shorthorns and Kingsley Vale Shorthorns to host two on-farm viewing days on May 22-23.
Despite the challenges of this year's sale, the stud forms a vital part of the school's agriculture program, which last year helped its students to a top-three finish in the HSC primary industries, and a second in the state for agriculture.
"We are delighted that so many of our students have been able to return to school at this time," Mr Nielsen said.
"The breeding, selection, feeding, preparation and marketing of these bulls is fully integrated into the primary industries and cattle team programs at Calrossy.
"We as Staff simply oversee their activities.
"It's great that the students are here to finish off the work and to see how it all plays out."
This year's online sale will be held on June 10.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
