As Henry Lawson once wrote, “the drought will go on drying while there’s anything to dry”. And it’s not just the land – the hopes and ambitions of country folk are often completely wrung dry by years of “blazing desolation”.

In these circumstances good news is always welcome and for the people of Grenfell in western NSW it came by the ‘cattle’ truckload when agriculture students from The Henry Lawson High School won several major prizes at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Principal Suzanne Williams said the school’s success was remarkable because it was the first year the school entered in a steer competition. Agricultural studies had all but been “put on hold” due to the drought.

“This is an area that has been in the depths of drought for more than five years. This [success] has come about because of the hard work of [agriculture teacher] Carolyn Baker, the enthusiasm of the students and a little bit of rain,” Mrs Williams said.

The students showed steers provided by the local Greenethorpe Galloway stud and won two second places, a fourth, a highly commended and the prestigious Eve Cullen Trophy, which recognises the highest scoring Belted Galloway or Galloway steer.

Year 10 student Stuart T (pictured) took out third prize in the state final of the junior grain judging competition.

“Anything positive to do with agriculture is really big news and it’s nice for this little community to have something upbeat happen,” Mrs Williams said.