The 2026 Springsure Cattle Camp, held from 9–12 April, brought together 102 enthusiastic participants for four days of hands-on learning, teamwork, and rural skills development in a true camp environment.
Across the program, participants rotated through a wide range of educational sessions designed to build both practical capability and confidence in the cattle industry. These included learning how to judge prime and stud cattle, understanding sale yard operations, developing stockmanship skills, animal nutrition, stall preparation for stud cattle, leading cattle, tying knots, and even stepping into the role of an auctioneer to learn how to conduct a sale. Creativity and craft were also part of the experience, with participants making their own leather dog collars.
A strong competitive element also features throughout the camp, with participants given the opportunity to take part in stud cattle judging, prime cattle judging, and parader competitions, putting their newly developed skills into practice in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Older and returning participants were provided with additional opportunities to extend their learning off-site, visiting a local feedlot and nearby property to gain real-world insight into larger-scale operations and industry practices.
The camp structures the program so participants are grouped with peers of similar ages for tailored learning sessions, but also come together in mixed-age teams to support one another in daily responsibilities such as feeding cattle and learning to parade livestock. This balance encourages leadership, mentoring, and collaboration across all age groups.
More than just skills training, the camp continues to foster strong values of accountability, teamwork, and mateship. Each year, new participants join alongside returning campers who come back year after year, creating a strong sense of community and continuity that sits at the heart of the event.
