Caroline Chisholm High School was named winner of the 2019 UniSchools Steer Challenge, in which 12 high schools each raised a steer over 100 days and were judged on their showmanship and performance of themselves and the cattle they were looking after.
This is first time in 19 years that an all-female team has won the competition, which is run by Western Sydney University Hawkesbury campus.
Local Hawkesbury schools were also recognised with medals in individual categories.
Bede Polding College won Students Choice (Display), and Champion Junior Teams, while Colo High School took away the Champion School - Combined Beef Appraisal Team award.
The team from WSU Hawkesbury took out the Champion School - Steer Weight Gain medal.
"UniSchools teams this year presented at an exceptional standard and I found the teams' abilities to work together, present their work in speeches and presentations and deliver a beautifully-finished and well-cared for steer at the end is a real credit to our local young people", said UniSchools Challenge Coordinator Adjunct Professor Stephen Blunden.
The schools celebrated the end of their time with UniSchools 2019 at an awards ceremony at the Hawkesbury campus followed by a bush dance and dinner at the historic Memorial Hall.
These achievements round out a unique agricultural and personal learning experience for the livestock teams involved in the competition, that have raised their steers and presented them for judging at the end of the competition.
Established in 2001, the program offers students an engaging and practical look at livestock production and potential career pathways across food and agricultural industries as a partnership between the University and local high schools.