Pastoral pride on show as Kimberley Livestock Handling Cup returns to Sandfire for 2025

Northern WA’s pastoral industry is gearing up for the return of the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association Livestock Handling Cup, a one-of-a-kind event that brings together teams from across the region to showcase excellence in low and no-stress stock handling.

The two-day event kicks off at Sandfire Roadhouse on Thursday, September 11, with a full-day program of speakers and workshops including industry leaders from across Australia before the main soiree on September 12.

The Livestock Handling Cup will kick off that morning, with competing teams of three set to be judged across three key criteria — animal welfare, teamwork, and stockmanship — with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and positive industry practices.

KPCA chair Bron Christensen, who moved to Broome full-time in 2024, said the cup was more than just a competition — it was a platform to inspire connection, learning, and leadership within the pastoral community.

“The cup was initiated by pastoralists and industry, who wanted to have an event where they could showcase best-practice . . . and to use it as a learning tool for station staff,” she said.

“It has evolved into a two-day event, with a first-day workshop focused on information-sharing and the second day on practical skills with the competition . . . we get amazing feedback from participants, who also learn a lot from the judges.

“It is also a big social event. It enables station staff to come together . . . and it gives a great chance for the station staff to network with other station managers . . . it gives them a really great opportunity to find new mentors and talk to people in the industry.”

The launch of the KPCA’s Livestock Handling Cup in 2016 heralded a milestone for WA’s pastoral industry, which had never held an event of its kind and had a firm belief there needed to be a greater focus on low-stress stock handling.

The inaugural event was held at Yarrie Station in the Pilbara, before later being moved to Sandfire Roadhouse — between Broome and Port Hedland — in an effort to make it easier for teams from both the Kimberley and the Pilbara to compete.

Challenges focus on moving and drafting cattle, and guiding them through an obstacle course, with about 21 teams set to take part this year.

It was a team of three from Gina Rinehart’s Fossil Downs station that took out first place at last year’s event at Sandfire Roadhouse, with Emma Costello, Harry Miller and Harry Ryan lauded for their expertise.

Two teams from Liveringa Station scooped second and third place, including Angus Pearce, Georgia Vermey and Kimberly De Graaf; and Georgia Henderson, Isabella Allen and Shane Arnold respectively.

An enthusiastic team from Roebuck Station won the encouragement award, while the judge’s choice award went to Darcie Ingram from Kalyeeda Station.

The KPCA is a not-for-profit industry development and advocacy body that represents a diverse range of producers with, on a cumulative basis, significant pastoral landholdings across the Kimberley and Pilbara and into the Gascoyne region of WA.

The Livestock Handling Cup is part of a busy event season for the KPCA, which is also gearing up to host its annual conference in Broome from October 29-30.