The seven student members of the Cattle club at The Bindoon Catholic Agricultural College and their mentor, Kevin Marshall are riding high after multiple successes in the show ring throughout this year.
After fantastic results at the Perth Royal show, which saw the students shine in the parading and judging competitions, CAC cattle dominated at the recent Bindoon Agricultural show, taking out Supreme Champion British breed as well as Grand Champion steer in the Cattle auction, proving the consistency of their herd both on the hoof and the hook.
Although farm manager Kevin Marshall is happy to attribute the string of ribbons to his dedicated students who spend several hours each day taking care of the cattle at the college farm, it’s clear they owe much to his watchful tutelage and careful management.
A former shearer, Kevin taught at Morawa Agricultural College before taking up tenure at CAC in 1994, where he has run the 2000 hectare property as a fully operational mixed commercial farm, as well as taking year 11 and 12’s through their Cert 2 in Agricultural Studies, and running the cattle club.
Kevin believes in hands on learning and has no qualms about waking students in the dead of night to help pull a calf when necessary. “The kids would rather be in the mud, covered in blood, than anywhere else” he says.
His rules for belonging to the cattle club are both strict and fair, and he operates a zero tolerance regime, demanding a high level of respect and attention from students if they wish to remain a part. He has seen all types through his cow shed over the years, many finding their membership enough incentive to labour through their academic classes, for the reward of time with the animals.
And whilst the purpose of the club is to teach kids the skills of parading and judging cattle along with the everyday management of stud cattle such as correct feeding, calf marking, tattooing, halter breaking and more, the benefits of greater self esteem, confidence, discipline and trust are the real qualities Kevin is breeding.
Although he enjoys success in the ring, he says, “ It’s a combination of watching the students grow and develop and reach high goals that makes the job worthwhile.”
Kevin finishes up at CAC at the end of this year, as some of the farmland is due to be leased out from 2014.
The college plans to reduce their operation to a teaching farm, with smaller herds and will cease commercial production.
CAC principal Marie Barton said, “Kevin has worked hard to increase the productivity of the land and the overall quality of the farming operations. His integrity, skills and
work ethic will be sadly missed. Kevin and his family have been an integral part of the Catholic Agricultural College community for the past ten years and we wish them all the best in the future.”
