Australian Feedlot of the Year and Young Lot Feeder of the Year announced at BeefEx 2026
MEDIA RELEASE
The first full conference day of BeefEx 2026 has drawn to a close on the Gold Coast, with the Coopers Animal Health BeefEx Gala Dinner bringing together delegates from across the grain fed beef supply chain to celebrate the achievements of the past two years and recognise the individuals and operations leading the industry forward helping to shape the industry's future.
The biennial event, hosted by the Australian Lot Feeders' Association (ALFA), featured a full program of sessions covering the economics of grain fed beef, Australia's food supply chain resilience, and trade and geopolitics, with senior representatives from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), ALFA and JBS. The morning program also included the presentation of the Zoetis Excellence in Feedlot Education Medal ahead of lunch, which was awarded to Chloe Gordon from Australian Country Choice.
The afternoon focused on growth and innovation in feedlot design and technology, setting the scene for an evening dedicated to celebrating the people and businesses at the heart of the sector.
Held in the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Gala Dinner is the centrepiece of the BeefEx social calendar, and this year's event was made possible thanks to the ongoing support of naming sponsor Coopers Animal Health. The evening was guided by master of ceremonies Rupert McCall, whose ode to pen riders set the tone at the conference's opening that morning.
Delegates were treated to a return performance from acclaimed opera singer Nina Korbe, who first captivated the BeefEx audience with her performance at the opening ceremony of BeefEx 2024. Ms Korbe's return to the BeefEx stage was one of the highlights of the evening, delivering a powerful and moving set that provided a memorable close to a day of big-picture thinking with a moment of celebration and reflection.
The evening's proceedings then built toward the presentation of two further prestigious accolades: the Australian Feedlot of the Year and the ALFA Young Lot Feeder of the Year.
The Australian Feedlot of the Year award recognises the operation that best demonstrates excellence across animal welfare, environmental stewardship, innovation and business performance, and sets a benchmark for the wider industry. The MLA sponsored award is contested across feedlot capacity categories: under 3,000 head, 3,000–8,000 head, and more than 15,000 head.
This year's Australian Feedlot of the Year winners are:
Under 3,000 head: Waggaba Feedlot
3,000-8,000 head: Cadelga Feedlot
Over 15,000 head: Sapphire Feedlot
The ALFA Young Lot Feeder of the Year award celebrates the next generation of talent coming through the grain fed beef sector, recognising a young professional who has demonstrated exceptional skill, leadership and commitment to the industry's future. ALFA thanks Performance Feeds for its ongoing support as sponsor of this prestigious award.
This year's ALFA Young Lot Feeder of the Year was awarded to Zac McGee from Mort & Co's Grassdale Feedlot.
ALFA President Grant Garey congratulated both winners, along with all of this year's finalists.
"These awards are about celebrating the very best of what our industry has to offer, from the operations setting the benchmark for animal welfare and innovation, right through to the young people who are going to lead this sector for decades to come," Mr Garey said.
"Every finalist tonight should be incredibly proud of what they've achieved, and our winners represent the passion, hard work and forward thinking that make grain fed beef in Australia world-class."
With day one now behind them, delegates return this morning for the final day of BeefEx 2026, closing out three days of learning, innovation and networking for Australia's grain fed beef industry.
BeefEx is Australia's flagship grain fed beef industry event, run by the Australian Lot Feeders' Association. Held every two years, the conference brings together the entire grain fed supply chain, from lot feeders and service providers to processors, exporters, researchers and government, for three days of learning, innovation and networking.
BeefEx 2026 runs from 22-24 September at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, with Meat & Livestock Australia as major conference partner. For more information, visit www.beefex.com.au.
ENDS.
Media Enquiries:
Grant Garey
ALFA President
(02) 9290 3700
Niamh Bartley
ALFA Marketing & Communications
0417 610 150
