Southland teen Myah Dean is looking forward to gaining further cattle showing experience as the winner of the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ Black & White Youth NZ Show Trip.
“It will be great to see how the bigger shows work behind the scenes,” she says. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Myah, who lives in Tuturau, Southland, will attend the 2025 Oxford A&P Show, to be held in North Canterbury on March 29.
She will be hosted by local Holstein Friesian breeders Peter and Rhonda Sherriff (Sherraine Holsteins) and will spend three days assisting with show preparation and attending the show.
Each year, Holstein Friesian NZ presents one HFNZ Black & White Youth member with the opportunity to gain experience at larger shows and grow their knowledge.
“This exchange is targeted at the 14-17 age group to provide opportunity for this age group to travel away within New Zealand and assist breeders with show cattle, allowing them to develop their skills,” Holstein Friesian NZ General Manager Cherilyn Watson said.
Myah’s father Logan grew up on a dairy farm, but Myah did not; instead, she became interested in showing cattle through a family friend. She regularly helps them at local shows, going to their property up to a month beforehand to start breaking in calves and clipping cows. Myah’s nan, Cindy, is a big part of her showing support crew.
“Showing has been a passion of mine for the last four-five years,” Myah says. “I just love cows.”
Myah has attended two World Wide Sires National All Dairy Breeds Youth Camps – the 2023 camp in Rangiora, and the 2025 Southland camp which was a very fortunate “two minutes” from her home.
The Year 12 Menzies College student hopes to follow her dream of becoming a vet.
“I hope I can keep showing cattle after I finish school,” she says. “I’d like to come home from university in the holidays and continue to show cattle.”
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