Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association

                                                      

 

                          REX SODERLUND

 

 

Where did you go to university/college?

East Sydney Technical College, Darlinghurst

 

What course did you do?

Retail Butchery

 

When did you finish?

October 1990

 

When did you undertake the ICMJ program?

1990

What did the program involve then?

Judging primal butts, rump and loins, primal export ribs, carcasses and retail A, B and C and oral presentations

 

Where was it held?

Glenmore Meats, Glebe

What were your ICMJ successes and further involvement?

Buckle for the overall individual winner, member of the winning team, winner of yield and domestic carcase classes. My teacher and I won a trip to Colorado to observe the way the ICMJ was run in USA.

 

How did the ICMJ program guide or assist you in your chosen career path and what did you get out of being involved?

It gave me confidence and being involved let me meet different people and learn a lot about the industry.

 

Do you work in the meat and livestock industry today? Yes

 

Who with, in what role and where?

I have recently bought a butchery, called Koonawarra Meats

 

What was your career path after ICMJ?

I applied for the manager’s position of Lakeline Butchery at Kanahooka (south of Wollongong), NSW after working in the shop for 12 months.

 

What do you enjoy most about working in the meat and livestock sector?

Meeting new people, not only customers but other clients including chefs and other retail/hospitality employees.

 

What advice would you give to graduates?

To work hard and not to limit yourself just to retail but to explore other areas within the meat and livestock sector.

                                                      

 

                          MARK SANSOM

 

 

Mark Sansom competed in the 1998 intercollegiate meat judging competition representing Orange Agricultural College where he was studying an Advanced diploma of Farm Management. Mark represented Australia in the USA on the Australian ICMJ team  in 1999 where they came an amazing 3rd overall at the National Western meat judging competition.

 

 

How did you prepare for the ICMJ competition?

·        Visited 2 x plants for carcase grading purposes

·        Retail cuts at college

 

What were the highlights of the USA trip (if applicable)?

·        All of it!

·        Getting red carpet treatment into a foreign meat industry which is a world leader was an enormous opportunity.

·        Being able to learn about one of our major competitors and major customers was invaluable.

 

What are you currently doing?

·        Sales Analyst for G. & K. O’Connor Pty Ltd, Pakenham, Victoria (a beef export abattoir).

·        The role is somewhat varied but includes sales & marketing, production & sales analysis, logistics, and production coordination.

 

Brief overview of your career path post-ICMJ?

·        Spent the remainder of the year of the USA tour in North America working on various ranches/farms.

·        Returned to family farm for approx. 5 yrs. Coached C.B. Alexander College (Tocal) meat judging team for a portion of this time.

·        Short stint with Polkinghorne’s (an MSA focused vertically integrated beef company).

·        With current employer (O’Connor) for almost 4 yrs. Completing a Master of Agribusiness part-time.

 

What benefit did the ICMJ experience have for you?

·        Wider exposure to the industry

·        Recognition within the industry

·        Contacts within the industry

·        Much more diverse knowledge about the industry

             

What advice could you give current ICMJ members?

·        Be involved!

·        Winning is secondary – it is the learning process which is important. Knowledge and enthusiasm are more important than fame.