About 75 agriculture students were given a chance to learn the basics of beef cattle preparation and showing at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds this week.
SE Cattle Handling Workshop spokesperson Danielle Tulak said the two day program which has been running for more than 30 years was a "good taster" to see if the students wanted to be part of the school's led steer teams.
It was also good timing with many of the schools receiving their led steers to put on feed during the school holidays for the Royal Adelaide and Melbourne Shows and Mount Gambier Show competitions.
"It might be another two months before they can lead a steer at school but this is a really good opportunity to get hands on and get started," she said.
The students from eight South East and western Victorian secondary schools participated in hands on sessions on structure, washing and blow drying, clipping and ringcraft.
A new session delivered by Lauren Harvey from Creek Livestock was animal behaviour and how to safely work animals through the yards, while Keith based stock agent Nick van den Berg explained junior judging and the art of comparison through fruit and eggs.
Committee member Nicole Muller explained some of finer points of show etiquette and Elders Mount Gambier's Ted Redemski spoke about nutrition.
Ms Tulak says the workshop is a great opportunity for participants to see the diverse range of careers on offer and network with some of these people.
"There are so many jobs, if we can tunnel some of them into it, " she said.
"It may be a long time before they are looking but it is at least giving them a taster and keeping them interested in ag."
The winner of the encouragement award will receive a scholarship sponsored by the Midfield Group to attend the SA Junior Heifer Expo at the Adelaide Showgrounds in July next year.
