Ambassadors championing the red meat story

At this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, visitors to MLA’s Australian Good Meat stand will be able to meet Rebecca Andrews and Tahlijia Sheahan, two Red Meat Ambassadors helping tell the industry’s story from paddock to plate.

Rebecca Andrews

Rebecca didn’t grow up in agriculture but discovered a passion for the industry after transitioning into a station-hand role several years ago. Now, as an Enterprise Operations Manager, she works across animal welfare, biosecurity, ag-tech and long-term operational planning, helping ensure smooth operations while maintaining strong welfare and environmental outcomes.

Tahlijia Sheahan

Tahlijia brings a different supply chain perspective. As a compliance officer at Teys Australia’s Charlton feedlot, she focuses on safety, training and operational compliance. When not at the feedlot, she also teaches agriculture to secondary school students in Charlton, helping introduce the next generation to the wide range of careers available in the industry.

We caught up with Rebecca and Tahlijia to see what they’re most looking forward to at the upcoming show.

What are you hoping to share with visitors to the Australian Good Meat stand?

Rebecca:
I’m hoping to convey how much consideration, passion and care go into producing high-quality Australian red meat. There’s a lot of thought behind decisions producers make every day, whether about animal welfare, the environment or improving production systems.

Tahlijia:
I want to highlight how broad the agricultural and red meat industries really are. When people think of agriculture, they often only think of farmers, but there are many roles across the supply chain. If you’re interested in animals, technology, science or education, there are opportunities for you in this industry.

What industry tool or resource are you enjoying at the moment?

Rebecca:
The MLA Livestock Transport Hub is a great resource. It helps ensure everyone involved in livestock transport shares the same knowledge and expectations around animal welfare and handling standards. It’s really valuable when you have multiple contractors and team members working together.

Tahlijia:
I often use the Australian Good Meat website as a resource, particularly when I’m teaching agricultural students. It’s a great way to explain how the industry works and share reliable information. Feedlot Tech is another tool we use that helps demonstrate how feedlots operate.

What recent industry development has captured your interest?

Rebecca:
Virtual fencing is something I’m really interested in. It has exciting potential to improve grazing management and animal welfare outcomes while giving producers more flexibility in how they manage livestock.

Tahlijia:
I’m interested in how technology can support training and education in agriculture. Things like virtual reality, drones and even artificial intelligence could help demonstrate livestock handling or cattle movement in new ways and improve learning outcomes.

What’s your favourite red meat ‘green’ fact?

Rebecca:
One that stands out to me is the industry’s commitment to improving animal welfare. This includes the goal of achieving 100% adoption of effective pain relief for certain procedures in beef cattle by 2030. This aligns closely with my personal passion for animal care.

Tahlijia:
Australia has one of the world’s leading eating-quality grading programs for beef and sheepmeat (Meat Standards Australia). It’s something we should be really proud of because it helps ensure consumers consistently enjoy a great eating experience.

What are you most looking forward to at the show?

Rebecca:
I’m really excited to walk through the cattle pavilion and see the different breeds on display. Even though I work with cattle every day, it’s still fascinating to see the diversity and dedication producers bring to the show.

Tahlijia:
I’m looking forward to seeing the demonstrations and meeting people from all different backgrounds. It’ll be great to connect with other Ambassadors and chat with visitors about the industry.

For both Ambassadors, the opportunity to represent Australian red meat at the Sydney Royal Easter Show is something they take seriously.

As Tahlijia explains, “If you’re passionate about the industry, it’s a great opportunity to share your experiences and help people understand what goes into producing the food on their plate.”