“When I got to year seven or eight I started to pick up more ribbons and I thought that was cool.”
Through her calf club showing and visits to neighbour Karen Woolley’s for swimming lessons she was made an offer she couldn’t refuse three years ago – a Salers calf of her own to show.
“I just fell in love with the breed,” she said.
That calf, Shimmer, was just five days old when Michaela first saw her in the paddock as one of Karen’s herd of 40 purebred Salers.
She has shown cattle all her life and thought that Michaela would have what it took in the show ring, so she let her show an older cow, Pippa, now five, at 12 A&P shows from Waikato to Whangarei.
Michaela did her proud. Despite being “very nervous” she got second place at her very first show in Waikato and won many of the other shows where she competed that year, finishing up third-equal.
For the junior handler award entrants must show animals in at least three events but can go to a total of 12. This year in this category where entrants must be from 13 to 18 years old she came second overall.
The highlight was taking out the Supreme Award at the Royal Easter Show in Auckland. In the coming show season, to improve her chances of taking out the top award, Michaela will be attending shows as far north of the Bay of Islands.
“And I’m hoping to go to some in Hawke’s Bay.”
Michaela hopes to train and work as a veterinary nurse in a large animal practice.
Michaela admits she still gets nervous before every show but is working on overcoming that through positive thinking. But sometimes the best-laid plans don’t pan out.
“At the first show last year one of Karen’s bull calves broke out of the trailer,” she said.
“We had to shut all the gates as his mum wasn’t calling him. But then he came belting at her and we were able to get a neck collar and halter on.”
For extra protection they will sometimes use a second halter on animals as a result.
Much of Michaela’s social life also revolves around the shows she attends.
“My two best friends show cattle as well,” she said.
She’s shown cattle with Cara Doggett for many years. Cara’s moved from Wellsford to Whangarei where she has her own Shorthorn stud, alongside her parents’ Brahman stud, the only registered one in the country.
And Jen Thomas, whose parents farm just 10 minutes drive away, shows Jerseys.
“So I see my friends at school then I’m always meeting up every weekend with these friends.”
