Young Breed Leaders
Scholarship
The Australian Registered Cattle Breeder’s Association (ARCBA) is the peak industry association for the registered cattle breeding sector.
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The ARCBA Young Breed Leaders Scholarship Program will be customised to the needs of the winner and the breed they represent, but it is likely to include a visit to the breed office, visits/stays with leading breeders and study of successful supply chain management programs. Participation in an international Beef Conference is highly recommended. ARCBA in liaison with your breed society is able to make appropriate contacts and introductions.
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Annually, the Young Breed Leaders Scholarship Program awards the Arthur Rickards Scholarship, here are our recent recipients.
CURRENT WINNER
Jake Phillips has a deep passion for breeding the very best cattle he can.
In 2008 he purchased his first animal and has slowly grown this passion to include 21
registered females. The path to the current level of cow inventory has been difficult as a
first generation farmer and seedstock breeder. He has embraced the challenge and worked
tirelessly to get to this point. He and his wife breed Angus and Murray Grey cattle that are
well described through pedigree, data and genomics. Phillips Cattle company has a strong
breeding objective of producing cattle that increase the producers revenue (market
relevance), decrease the operational costs ( save on inputs), increase the enjoyment for the
owner (traits that reduce time inputs) and lead to a better life for the animal ( welfare and
sustainability). We enjoy donating steers to the local high school for student learning while
also retaining 3 to 4 bulls each year for private sale.
He has a pivotal role with Australia’s largest breed society as the extension manager. This
role leads the education and extension programs relative to breeding beef cattle .This
includes consultation with key stakeholders on performance recording and genotyping
usage and strategy and helping breeders identify their target market, production goals
and define their own breeding objective. This is conducted through a comprehensive
array of online and in field events and workshops. In parallel with this role he also manages
the comprehensive portfolio of scholarships, awards and bursaries that Angus Australia
offer industry for self and professional development.
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Through his late teenage years and into his early twenties he enjoyed many achievements in the beef cattle industry including the Senior Champion Herdsman from the SA Junior Heifer Expo, the SA Cattle Council of Australia Rising Champion, The TransTasman
Champion Young Beef Cattle Judge, The TransTasman Angus Exchange Recipient and the SA Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year finalist. Although some of these achievements are some time ago, my passion, desire and commitment has not faulted. He is fortunate
to now be able to mentor and pay back the fortune to other young people through many of these programs now in a more senior position.
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He has completed a Bachelor of Agriculture specialising in Animal Science through the University of Adelaide. He has also elected to further develop his skills by also becoming trained or accredited in Meat Science, MSA Grading, AUSMEAT Beef Specifications, Cert
4 Education & Training and Artificial Insemination in Beef Cattle. These have complemented his formal study and have allowed him to explore various careers in the beef industry.
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2017 WINNER
Brad Cavanagh is Owner/Manager of Hardhat Angus, which was established in 2000
with the purchase of three stud cows and two heifers. In 2017 Hardhat Angus will calve
180 stud cows including recipients. Hardhat Angus will sell 60 Bulls in 2017 by private
treaty, of which 80% with sell to repeat clients.
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Brad’s passion for agriculture began through showing cattle at school, which progressed
to working for numerous cattle studs at the major shows. He was awarded an Agricultural
Cadetship in 2002 with Twynam Agriculture Group which continued throughout the
duration of his study for a Bachelor of Rural Science degree through the University of
New England. He was employed as Overseer of Twynam’s stud Angus herd until 2009.
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Keen for exposure to international seedstock operations, Brad travelled to the USA and
was employed by Sinclair Cattle Company; a large stud Angus herd based in Pennsylvania.
This provided Brad with an education in alternate breeding methodology. At that time
Sinclair Cattle Company had the largest herd of linebred Angus cattle in the world.
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In 2011 Brad returned home to pursue his dream to create one of the leading Angus
herds in Australia. He is currently employed on a fulltime basis on his wife’s family property
in southern New South Wales, which farms 4,000 hectares and runs 30,000 merino and
crossbred sheep. His passion is for breeding Angus cattle and he is committed to making it a successful business enterprise.
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2002 Awarded an Agricultural Cadetship with Twynam Agriculture Group.
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2002 Placed 2nd at the New England Angus Breeders Cattle Assessment School, which qualified him to represent NSW in the Angus Australia National Judging Final.
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2003 Angus Youth Ambassador.
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2004 Angus Youth Ambassador.
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2004 Angus Youth Management Committee.
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2004 Present: Judged numerous local cattle shows.
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2006 Judged at National All Breeds Heifer Show in Dubbo, NSW.
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Bachelor of Rural Science from the University of New England