NATIONALYOUTHCAMP LEADSBIGYEARAHEAD
WelcometotheFebruary2026editionofSantaExpress–news,informationand updatesfromtheSantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia)Associationuploadedon thefirstMondayofeverymonth.
YouthCamp: Ourbiggest yet
BreedStandards: Assessmentheldat Eidsvold
Newroles: Officeteam refresh
Youthopportunities:Last chancetosubmit applications
YouthCamphits newheights
Mealnumberscomingoutofthekitchen duringthefourdaysofYouthCamptell thestorybest thisyear’scampwas thebiggestyet.
Nowwellintoitsfourthdecade,Youth Campagainattracted132registered students,onparwithlastyear.What made2026standout,however,wasthe growingnumberofparentsandfamily memberswhotravelledalongside participants Theirpresenceswelled numbersontheMorganParkgroundsat Warwicktorecordhighs,withupto360 mealsservedthreetimesaday.
Thankfully,cateringmanagersTonya CarewandGailMoxey—both experiencedpeoplefeeders werewell preparedforthechallenge Theprogram team,ledbyLachieMartinandSam Falls,alsoensuredactivitieswerewell resourcedandthoughtfullydiversifiedto catertoabroaderaudiencethanever before.
BoydCarr,Wandoan,experiencesYouthCamp forthefirsttimeunderthewatchfuleyeofGroup LeaderMasonNewton.Picture:PrueBygrave.
Alltheoldfavouritesforthe7–17yearoldswereback,complemented bynewlearningandknowledgesharing sessionsdesignedtoengagebeef enthusiastsofallages.This evolutionreflectsthecontinuinggrowth ofYouthCampasbothayouth developmentprogramanda communitygatheringpointforthe breed.
TheSantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia) Associationtakesenormousprideinthe designanddeliveryofthecamp,whichis madepossiblebyanexceptionalteam ofGroupLeaders.Fromorganisingthe program,animals,technologysessions andguestspeakers,tojudgingand runningthefullfourdayevent,thisteam onceagainsetthestandard.
ManygroupleadersareformerYouth Campstudentsthemselves,andtheir willingnesstoreturnandsharetheirskills withthenextgenerationisdeeply appreciated.Theyarejoinedeachyear bynewrecruitswhoexperiencethe magicofSantaCampfortheveryfirst time.
YouthCampAuction deliversforthefuture
Opportunitiesforyoungpeoplewithin thebreed andthebeefindustrymore broadly aresupportedthroughthe YouthCampauction,heldonthefinal nightofcamp,andlaterintheyearat theEkka.
Thankstostrongbiddingbothonsite andonlineviaAuctionsPlus,theSanta GertrudisAustraliaNationalYouthCamp semenauctionraised$30,720 Thesefundswillbedirectedtoward programssupportingtheprofessional developmentofyoungpeoplewithinthe breedin2026.
SincerethanksgotoColbyEdeofmajor sponsorNutrienAgSolutionsforcalling thebids,ablyassistedbyCamPhillips, andPaulHolmofAuctionsPlusfor managingonlinebidding.
AuctionHighlights
Lot1:AuctionsPlusvoucher(donated byAuctionsPlus)–AngusGrieve,ABL Exports–$500
Lot2:DangarfieldCurioC236(P)
semen–CaybSchwerin,Byac Santas–$250/straw
Lot3:RockinghamTheGoatT86(P)
semen–MichaelDoering,Walmona Stud–$175/straw
Lot4:CanowindraMagnumM5(P)
semen–LizAllen,ForestParkStud–$100/straw
Lot5:MurgonaLegend(PP)semen–GitshamFamily,RollingHillsStud–$800/straw
Lot6:BullamakinkaQueenslander Q80(PP)semen–LizAllen,Forest ParkStud–$800/straw
Lot7:YarrawongaSpartacusS316(P) semen–MichaelDoering,Walmona Stud–$425/straw
Lot8:Embryopackage(Vytelle& InsightRepro)–ThomasFogden, NangaringaStud–$2,000
Lot9:Handstitchedquilt–Gitsham Family,RollingHillsStud–$850
Lot10:Hatrack–BenAdams, DangarfieldStud–$550
Lots11&12:Cuberolls–$300and $420
Lot13:Meatpacks–$600total
ColbyEde,NutrienAgSolutions,callsthebidsat MorganPark.
Opportunityto providefeedback
YouthCampcontinuesto thrivethankstothe dedicationofvolunteers, thegenerosityofdonors andbidders,andthe enduringcommitmentof theSantaGertrudis communitytodeveloping thenextgeneration.
Whilethefutureoftheevent looksbright,theAssociation isalwayslookingto improve.
Asurveyformhasbeen issuedtoparents,student andgroupleadersfortheir feedback.Wehopetoshare someoftheseperspectives soon.
BreedStandardsDay returnsthismonth
TheAssociation’songoingcommitmentto maintainingandupholdingbreedstandards reachesakeymilestonethismonthwiththe hostingofBreedStandardsDayatEidsvoldStation, generouslyhostedbyRickandAliceGreenup.
Thismarksthesecondtimeintwoyearsthatthe exercisehasbeenconducted,adeliberate adjustmentfromtheusualcycletoavoidclashes withmajorevents,includingthe75thJubilee,Beef 2027,andtheWorldCongressscheduledfornext year.
FollowingBreedStandardsDayon19February, theprocesswillreturntoitsregularbiennialcycle. Asaresult,thenextopportunitytoformallyreview andrefinebreedstandardswillnotoccuruntil February2028.
Amulti-pagereport featuringallthehighlights, winnersandcolourofYouth Campwillbepublishedin theAprileditionofSanta Journal
ThedaybringstogetherCouncillorsand Classifiersinacollaborativeprocesstoassess animals,aligninterpretationofthebreed standard,andensureconsistencyofexpectations acrosstheAssociation.Thisprocessisdeeply valued,providingclarityonthetraitsbreeders shouldbestrivingfor,whilereaffirmingthose consideredoutsidethestandard.
Memberswillbeupdatedontheoutcomesofthe dayinduecourse.
TheClassifiersareon theirway–areyou ready?
Withclassificationseasonrampingup thismonth,nowisthetimetoconfirm whetheryouwillrequireaclassification visitin2026.
Theofficehasbeencontacting memberssincelatelastyearviaemail andSMStoconfirmintentions.Ifyou havenotresponded,youriskmissing outonaclassificationvisitthisyear.
Pleasedonotassumeavisitwill automaticallyoccurbecauseyouhave beenclassifiedeveryyear—weneedto hearfromyou.
Beforeclassificationcanproceed
Allcattlepresentedmust:
Befullyregisteredwithaccurate birthdaterecords.
Beclearlyidentifiedaccordingto SGB(A)Astandards(firebrand and/ortattoo eartagsaloneare notacceptable).
Befirebrandedon-sitebythe SGB(A)AFieldDirectoronceclassified.
Memberresponsibilitieson classificationday
Toensuretheprocessrunssmoothly, membersmust:
Havecattleyardedandreadyatthe agreedtime.
Provideafunctionalbranding furnaceandgasbottle.
Cancellationpolicy
Latecancellationswithoutnoticewillincur visitfees.Classifiersmaydeclinevisitsif animalsarenotprogenyregistered.
Additionalfees
SpecialVisitFee:$750pervisitfor extraclassificationsbeyondthe standardservice(unlessprior arrangementsaremadeforlarge herdsorcomplexoperations).
UnregisteredAnimalFee:$100per headforanimalsnotcalfrecordedat thetimeofclassification.
Forthefullfeescheduleoffees–including calfregistrations,classificationvisits,and commercialinspections–visit santagertrudis.com.auorcontactthe officeon(07)32162708.
Planahead
Classificationplaysavitalrolein maintainingbreedstandardsand safeguardingtheintegrityofSanta Gertrudiscattle.Yourtimelycooperation helpsusdeliverthisserviceefficientlyand supportsthereputationofthebreed.
KeyContacts
FieldDirectors(Classifiers):
RussellSmyth–0428684227| rsmyth@santagertrudis.com.au RussellYeates–0428161283| ryeates@santagertrudis.com.au
Registrations:CaritaHolden–sg@santagertrudiscomau
Forgeneralenquiries,contactBrad Cooper,GeneralManager,on0407590 930or gm@santagertrudis.com.au.
Strengtheningourteam fortheyearahead
Thestartofanewyearbringsrefreshed roledescriptionsandarenewedfocus onthegrowingresponsibilitiesofour officeteam,reflectingtheevolvingneed oftheAssociationanditsmembers.
CaritaHolden,whojoinedtheteamjus over12monthsagotoperformthe Registrarfunction,isnowformallytitled Registrar(DataManagement& AnalyticsLead),withincreased responsibilityfordatagovernanceand analyticsleadership.
Inthisrole,Caritaisresponsiblefor managingtheregistrationsystemand organisationaldatatoensureaccuracy integrityandreliabilityacrossoperation memberservicesanddecision‑making
WendyJames,whojoinedthebusiness inapart‑timecapacityinAprillastyear, hasnowtransitionedtoafulltimerole asMemberSupportCoordinator.
improvedinsight,servicedeliveryand performanceoutcomes.
Inthisposition,Wendyprovides administrativeandgovernancesupport acrossSGB(A)Aoperations,working closelywiththeGeneralManagerand Councilandenhancingthemember experiencethrougheventlogistics, merchandisecoordination,and responsivemembersupport
“Whileoursystemsandtechnology continuetoevolve,weremaina peoplefocusedorganisation,”Bradsaid.
“IcongratulatebothCaritaandWendy ontheirexpandedrolesandthankthem fortheprofessionalism,warmthand strongsenseofservicetheybringtothe Association.”
Remindersfromthe Registrar
Checkyoursires
Asprogenyregistrationsarecomingin, pleaseensureyoucheckyoursiresare HD50Ktestedforprogenytobe registeredbornonorafter1July2025.
Youcancheckthisonlineusingthe AnimalEnquiryavailableonourwebsite. IfthesireisHD50ktested,thelineDNA Profiledwillhave‘HD50K(theirDNA number)–(lab)’.Ifyoucannotseethis resultandyouhavealreadyordered testing,orifyouneedaDNAsubmission formtosubmityoursamples,pleaseget intouchwiththeoffice.
Reachyourbuyers faster
AdvertisingspaceinthenextSanta Journal,dueoutatthestartofApril,is nowselling.
Gettingyourbrandandmessageinfront oftheSantaJournalreadershipisafast andcosteffectivewaytoreachyour primetargetmarket discerningbeef producerswhovaluehighqualitySanta Gertrudiscattle.
Livestockdataanalyst,EmmaBlack,of BlackBoxCo,hasseenfirsthandthe valueofconnectingwiththisaudience.
“WesupportedtheSantaGertrudis feedlottrialin2025andfollowedupwith
Mysterypayments
Wehavepaymentsreceivedthat cannotbeallocatedtoanymember.
Pleasereachoutifyouhavemadea paymentbutarestillreceivinga statement.Pleasemakesureyouuse theMemberIDonyourinvoiceasthe referencewhenmakingpaymentto avoidtheseissues.
Thequickestwaytoreachmeisvia email:sg@santagertrudis.com.au Ifemailisnotpossible,pleasephonethe officeon0732162708.
-CaritaHolden,Registrar
advertisinginSantaJournalandSanta Express,”Emmasaid.
“Thevisibilitywe’vegainedhasallowed ustoconsistentlyconnectwithahighly professional,wellinformedbeef audience,andthatexposurehasdirectly translatedintoincreasedbusinessfor ourgrowingdataservice.”
Todiscussanadvertisingsolution tailoredtoyourbusiness,contactSheree Kershawon0447429693oremail media@santagertrudiscomau
BookingsforthenexteditionofSanta Journal featuringamultipagespecial reportonYouthCampandapreviewof theTheodoreFeatureBreedShow close20February.
Opportunitiesforyoung peoplestillopen
Thismonthwillseeapplicationsfortwo excitingprogramsdesignedtodevelop youngprofessionalsofthebeefindustry close.
ApplicationsfortheAustralian IntercollegiateMeatJudging(ICMJ) NorthernConference,tobeheldin Rockhamptonfrom8–11April2026,close onFriday,6February.Applicationsfor considerationfortheMarcusOldham RuralLeadershipScholarshipcloseon 20February.
TheICMJAssociationisanot-for-profit organisationwithaclearmission:to inspireanddevelopfutureprofessionals intheglobalredmeatindustry.
Establishedin2018,theNorthern Conferenceprovidesaneducational platformtailoredtonorthernbeef production,reducingtravelcostsfor studentsandyoungprofessionalswhile deliveringworld-classtraining.
Participantswillgain:
Enhancedknowledgeandskillsin meatqualityandcarcaseattributes Networkingopportunitieswith industryleadersandemployers Insightsintocareerpathways acrossthenorthernbeefsupply chain
TheprestigiousMarcusOldhamRural LeadershipProgram,heldatthecollege campusinGeelongfrom17–22May2026 -supportedbyNABAgribusiness–isan intensivefive-dayprogram.
ItisoneofAustralia’slongest-running ruralleadershipcourses,designedto buildskillsinleadership,representation, andtacklingkeyissuesinruralindustries andcommunities.
TheSantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia) Associationcommitsalmost$5000 towardsfundingonepersontoattend thecourse.
BothinitiativesreflectSGB(A)A’s commitmenttofosteringthenext generationofindustryprofessionalsand supportingeducationthatstrengthens thefutureoftheSantaGertrudisbreed andthebroaderbeefsector.
ToapplyfortheICMJNorthern Conferencegohere. ApplicationformsfortheMarcusOldham LeadershipProgramcanbefoundhere.
Eleni’sexperience biggerthanTexas
RJKlebergScholarshipholderandBreed AmbassadorEleniFogdenhaschecked infromTexas—andthetripisalready unforgettable.
“TendaysinandI’mhavingthebest timeever thepeople,thecattle,the hospitality(andeventhesnow),”she messagedon29January.
“FromtheFortWorthStockShow& Stockyards,tobeingicedinwiththe StraitfamilyatStraitRanchesand finishingwithabeautifulstaywiththe CatesfamilyfromIntheRed myheart issofull.
“I’mincrediblygratefultoeveryonewho hasopenedtheirgatesandhomesso far.Thistripisjustgettingstarted.”
What’snextonEleni’stour?
TexasStateUniversity ReeseRanchandHefteRanch FivedaysinNashville SevendaysatKingRanch(South Texas)
TexasA\&MUniversity,afeedlotvisit, WendtRanches,SanJoseCattle Company,andTransOvaGenetics WrappingupattheSanAntonio StockShow
AfullaccountofEleni’sjourneywill featureintheAprileditionofSanta Journal.
EleniFogdenonhertourtoTexas,US.
Opportunitieslikethisaremadepossible throughthegenerosityofourmembers andsponsors,particularlythosewho supportourYouthCampandEkka auctions,helpingdevelopthenext generationwithinourbreed.
EARLYNOTICE
Applicationsforthe2026RJ KlebergScholarshipopen2 April,coincidingwiththe SydneyRoyalEasterShow.
SantaGertrudisfeedlot trialupdate
TheSantaGertrudisFeedlotTrial scheduledfor2026hasbeenpostponed afterinsufficientcattlenumberswere securedintimeforinductionmidFebruary.
Whilethetimingofthenextfeedlottrial willshift,ourintenthasnot.
Wearelookingforwardtosharingmore oftheSantaGertrudisgrainfed performancestory,supportedbyrobust data,atanewtimetobescheduledto coincidewithour 75yearcelebrations in2027–ayearthatwillseetheSGB(A)A atBeef2027inRockhamptoninMayand thenplayhostinBrisbanetotheWorld SantaGertrudisinAugust
Thisdecisionhasbeenmadetoallowus tomarshalourresourcesandenergy towardamoresignificanteventwhen wewillcelebrate75yearsofSanta GertrudisinAustralia,amilestone worthyofastrong,data‑drivenand wellresourcedprogram.
Importantly,ourcommitmenttothe grainfedbeefsectorremains unwavering.SantaGertrudiscattle continuetobeusedextensivelyacross thegrainfedbeefsupplychainandare highlyvaluedfortheirweightgain efficiencyandhighcarcasemerit.These strengthsremaincentraltoourbreed story.
WealsoremainproudtobeanAssociate MemberoftheAustralianLotFeeders Associationandtocontinueoursupport andsponsorshipofkeycarcase competitions.
ThisincludestheCallideDawson CarcaseCompetition,whichwillhosta fielddayattheMouraSaleyardson March2,andwhichprovidesan importantplatformfordemonstrating carcaseoutcomesundercommercial conditions.
Finally,wesincerelythankourkey sponsorswhocontributedtothesuccess ofourinauguralfeedlottriallastyear We acknowledgeourfeedlotpartner,the BrownfamilyofPakaderingaFeedlot, Kingaroy,andourdatapartner,Black BoxCo,aswellasHourn&BishopQld. Theirsupportandcollaborationwere instrumentalindeliveringsuchastrong firsttrial.
Weappreciatetheunderstandingand ongoingsupportofourmembersand lookforwardtobuildingmomentum towardanexcitingandmeaningful 75yearcelebrationforSantaGertrudis inAustralia.
SantaGertrudisexportclasssteersatlastyear's feedlottrial
SantasreturntoRoyal Canberra
Asmallline-upofSanta Gertrudisstudcattleisset toreturntoRoyal CanberraShowon20
Februaryafteranabsence ofmorethansixyears.
Entriesclosedattheendof January.Moredetailstobe releasedsoon.
RoyalSydneydate confirmed
SantaGertrudisjudgingat RoyalSydneyhasbeen confirmedforThursday,2 April.Areminderto exhibitorsandmembers thattheAssociationwill holdamembermeetingin theafternoonafter judginghasconcluded. Venueandtimetobe confirmed.
Promoteyourstud, businessorevent
Nobodyeversoldasecretsoifyouhave somethingtopromotetotheSanta GertrudiscommunityacrossAustralia, thenwhynotadvertiseinSantaExpress orSantaJournal.
ThenextSantaExpresswillbeuploaded onMonday,March2.
Theordore FeatureShow
SantaGertrudiswillbethe featurebreedatTheodore Showthisyearfrom11-12 May.Theshowwillhave entriesforstudledand studunledbulls,and primecattlesections.The scheduleofclasseswillbe availablesoon.