Young stockman has winning way

Jake Eden, of Balfour, feeds some of the autumn calves in the shed at his home last week. Photo / Nicole Sharp.

Balfour boy Jake Eden is mad  about calves.

The 8-year-old is already a name well known on the showing circuit, entering his Holstein Friesian calves at shows throughout the South Island.

He has some big trophies under his belt and has recently backed up his success of the past few seasons, winning the Arapeta Trophy for the junior member earning the most points in the All New Zealand Calf Class competition.

The trophy was presented to Jake as part of the Holstein Friesian Conference held in Cromwell earlier this month.

This was the second year in a row he had received the award.

Jake was also the winner of the Southland junior herdsperson and received the Craig Morton Memorial Trophy for the overall herdsperson for junior, intermediate and senior herdsperson.

Success is nothing  new  for Jake; he has been showing since he was 3 years old.
"I started because Dad [Stewart] did it," he said.

His showing skills had improved with time. He now did everything involved with the show, his mother Julia said.

From breaking in the calves and  clipping (under supervision) right through to washing and cleaning before a show, Jake did it all.

It was up to him how his cow looked in the ring, clean or not, Mrs Eden said.

Jake was  passionate about showing Holstein Friesians,  showing beef only once a year at the Wanaka show.

Asked how much he enjoyed showing, his reply was "not when it comes to them bucking a lot, but I do when they are being well behaved."

His twin sister Ebony also shows cattle in the beef section.

Winning the Arapeta Trophy for the second year in a row, Jake was pretty proud of his achievement, he said.

"I was pretty happy to win this year."

nicole.sharp@alliedpress.co.nz