After a tough year on the land, with many battling drought, bushfires, floods and, of course, COVID-19 restrictions, showing cattle and many agricultural events have certainly been curtailed.

But that didn't stop the youngsters from around the South Coast and further afield gathering at Berry Showground for what was a great day of showing.

And what better week to hold this year's event than after National Agriculture Day on Friday.

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If Sunday's turn out is anything to go by the next generation of farmers are already well and truly on their way.

Numbaa teenager Elly Simms had a day out to remember - not only taking out the overall parader's award, she also won Junior Champion and Grand Champion with her entry Rivendell Sentry Cleo.

Reserve Grand Champion was the Whatman family entry Strongbark Byway Candy, shown by Jade Whatman, which also claimed the Senior Champion crown.

For the second year in a row the Whatman family, of Mayberry Farm on the Highlands, claimed the most successful exhibitor award.

The Spring Heifer Classic is for handlers 25 years and under and for heifers two years, and this year featured a number of young handlers taking to the ring.

In fact the first class of the day, junior paraders for handlers under 10, had more than a dozen entries.

The event encourages young handlers to get more time in and experience the show ring and also highlights the current crop of heifers heading into the local show season early in the new year.

All COVID restrictions were followed during the event with a register of attendees also taken.

And there were plenty of parents present as well, the event also being a good chance for everyone to "get off the farm" and "enjoy some time away".

The Walsh family, Col, Sue and Justin, of the Waljasper stud at Jaspers Brush, established the Spring Heifer Classic as a way to promote and introduce the next generation to the show ring.

Remarkably, next year the event will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

"It was just something we started to get the next generation of handlers, then kids, involved," Mrs Walsh said.

"A place for them to show off their cattle and get some experience," Mr Walsh said.

"We never expected it to continue to grow year on year."

"Sure, like most things we have had some tough years but the kids keep turning up which is great and that's what it is all about," Mrs Walsh said.

And there certainly was a hive of activity at the Berry Showground as the next generation of cattle show men and women strutted their stuff.

Pat Buckley, from The Oaks in Camden, was this year's judge and he had some tough classes to adjudicate on including one of the junior classes which had more than 15 entries.

Again, a number of local businesses and suppliers backed this year's event, with Mr Walsh thanking major backers Alex and Jared Cochrane from Raine and Horne Nowra, and Jacqui Crapp, of Raine and Horne Berry.