WHEN the Moreton Border News first met Haylee Armstrong, she was 14 and building a herd of Highland stud cattle.

Now at 16, she’s as determined as ever to be a grazier.

Her most recent success was winning third place at the Brisbane Ekka in the biggest Highland breed class, the Junior Heifer.

Haylee showed her mum’s Highland heifer, Hazel Grace of Vagabond.

Her mum, Jules Armstrong, has the Vagabond Highland stud. Haylee has the Rosewood Coos’ Highland stud.

Jules has two daughters and both work on the family’s 120-hectare property at Calvert.

Haylee’s grandfather ran cattle on the property she lives on.

She’s a fourth generation grazier and her mum is happy her daughter’s hard work is paying off.

Jules said Haylee spent months leading up to the Ekka doing halter training and prepping Hazel Grace.

“She then spent a week at the show taking full responsibility for her care and sleeping on the roof of the pavilion at night,” she said.

“She washed, blow dried and sculptured [Hazel Grace’s] hair and polished her horns before presenting her in the main arena at the Ekka.

“In the mornings, when the showground was quiet, they went on adventures to the Ferris Wheel and sideshow alley.”

Jules said her daughter had a special connection with the animal.

“When a fellow handler was injured just prior to showing, Haylee stepped up and led the breeder’s Highland cow for him,” she said.

“That animal went on to win Champion Highland Cow.”

Haylee has seven head in her stud herd.

Jules said her daughter planned to be a vet or a firefighter when she finished Year 12 at Rosewood High School.

“Her favourite part of working with Highlands is mentoring young people on how to show and care for them,” she said.

“People are calling her a cattle whisperer because of her ability to quieten and halter train Highlands.”