GRANT High School’s prized Simmental bull has been sold to a Queensland cattle farmer for $6000 in an online auction held for the first time due to COVID-19.
The powerful young sire – Pakym – was advertised in the Simmental and Red Angus National Sale as the culmination of the school’s agricultural learning program.
It was a big coup for the 19 cattle club students who groundskeeper Grantley Muller said were heavily involved working with livestock at the school.
“The school had a stud for approximately six years and the students are very involved with the preparation, breaking, handling and showing of the livestock,” Mr Muller said.
“The significant thing is the fact this bull is going to Queensland because it will give the neighbours of this buyer an opportunity to look at what the school is breeding.”
Agricultural science teacher Scott Cram said the bull would now be transported by the Scott Group of Companies to Andrew, Cathie and Duncan Fernie in Clermont.
“It is a big thing for a little small school in South Australia to have a bull sold in the national sale for a start, but to be bought by a Queensland family is a great way to step into broadening our horizons in terms of selling our stock,” Mr Cram said.
“If COVID-19 is not hampering us next year we intend to take more animals up to Dubbo for the physical sale, because we have two lovely young bulls ready for next year.”
The bull had won champion junior bull at both the Penola Show and the Mil Lel show, a great reward for the work of the students from the cattle club.
Student Ella Simmonds said being a part of the club had helped build her confidence working with the animals.
“We went up to Melbourne show as a group and everyone got to have a go at leading up there, which helped with everyone’s confidence,” Ms Simmonds said.
“You learn how to deal with bigger animals.”
While it is a humble program at Grant High School, student Rachel Curtis said being able to attend the shows with their animals was a great experience.
“You see how other people present the animals and you learn how to present your animals better,” Ms Curtis said.
“It’s just good to be around experienced people, particularly to see what they do if the animal is playing up a bit, it is all a learning experience.”
