9 APRIL 2024: Old fashioned hands-on coaching at our ACC Cannon Hill facility in recent weeks paid off for the The University of Queensland team with outstanding results at last week’s Australian ICMJ northern conference beef-judging competition at Rockhampton.
The team secured multiple wins at the first of two national events after undertaking a training program coached by Australian Meat Processor Corporation’s Bec Bennett and hosted by ACC long-serving staffer Group R&D Manager Paul Gibson.
Mr Gibson said: “Congratulations to the northern conference committee for delivering another great event and all participants who competed during the 2024 campaign starter.”
Among the top awards were: Champion individual – Nick Greenwood (UQ), Champion university team – UQ (Nick Greenwood, Ben Spackman, Jade Wilkinson and Gabriella Stokes).
It is the third successive year that the UQ team was crowned champion university team.
ICMJ provides an opportunity for young industry professionals and university students to put their beef carcase knowledge and assessment skills to the test.
Competitors judge across several classes including retail cut identification, overall questions, overall placings, commercial evaluation and beef judging.
The goal of the competition is to sharpen the skills on what drives carcase value which is a balance between the quantity of meat (yield) and the quality of the meat.
This year’s conference attracted more than 130 delegates from across the country including from six universities and 20 beef industry businesses.
It is one of two major events held annually by ICMJ, with the 2024 ICMJ National Conference scheduled to be held in Wagga Wagga from 2-6 July.
Winners from the two events have the opportunity to be selected for the team representing Australia in a US-based competition.
(Photos: Rebecca Bennett)
