Capitalising on its success in the hoof and paraders’ competitions earlier in the show, the school’s agriculture team then went on to hook The Marcus Oldham College trophy for champion school carcase with an Alpine Angus steer.

The steer also won the Champion  Export Carcase and Grand Champion Carcase which rocketed Rutherglen High School into third place for most successful school or college exhibitor.

Delighted agriculture teacher Ron Webb said to win the hook competition in one of Victoria’s premier carcase competitions was a real feather in the small school’s cap.

An earlier standout for the team was taking out Champion Light Domestic Steer or Heifer (300-400kg) in the Hoof Competition for a steer bred by Leon Martin at Le Martres Beef. 

But it was an Alpine Angus steer that hung up well on the hook.

“It was a cracking animal,” said Mr Webb who has been the agriculture teacher at Rutherglen for the past eight years.

“It was structurally fantastic and you could see it would carry the carcase really well.”

While Mr Webb said he was proud of the efforts of the entire 22-student team, he made special mention of Jess Oats who led the charge to secure the steer from Alpine Angus owner Chris Oswin.

“It’s just fantastic that local studs give back to the industry and support the development of young people in agriculture,” Mr Webb said.

“Taking part in a quality competition like the Royal Melbourne Show Beef Carcase Competition provides valuable experience for our students.

“It is also a stepping stone towards them gaining employment in the industry.”

The success has been celebrated in the wider Rutherglen community; Mr Webb said people had come up to him in the local IGA to comment on the results.

It has also fostered immense pride among the students themselves.

“We have T-shirts made up and the kids even wear them around on weekends,” Mr Webb said.

The team had “tinkered” with the feeding regime and moved its cattle to smaller pens in the lead-up to this year’s competition.