What’s Happening?
Darling Downs producer Stockyard Beef has taken home one of Australia’s top food honours.
Stockyard Beef won Grand Champion Branded Beef of Show at the Royal Queensland Awards in Brisbane for its Stockyard Kiwami.
The win means Stockyard Kiwami has been named Australia’s best steak.
The award was part of the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland’s Royal Queensland Cheese and Dairy, Ice Cream, Gelato and Sorbet, and Branded Beef and Lamb Awards supported by King Street.
Chief Judge of the Royal Queensland Branded Beef and Lamb Awards Elaine Millar praised the winning wagyu entry.
“Another divine winning wagyu entry from Stockyard,” she said.
Ms Millar said the Stockyard Kiwami showed “textbook marbling, perfect lasting yet retained juiciness, melt in the mouth firm but silky tenderness and beautifully well-balanced complex flavours.”
Queensland also took home the Grand Champion Ice Cream, Gelato or Sorbet of Show.
Townsville business Zina’s Mangoes won the title for its French Vanilla gelato.
Why It Matters?
The result puts the Darling Downs at the centre of Australia’s premium beef sector.
For Toowoomba and nearby farming communities, it is a strong nod to the region’s food production skills.
Stockyard Beef’s win also shows how Queensland producers can lead in national competitions.
The awards recognise top food and drink products, along with the producers behind them.
They cover seven categories, distilled spirits, beer, wine, beef, lamb, dairy and ice cream.
By the Numbers
- 592 entries were judged across beef, lamb, cheese, dairy, ice cream, gelato and sorbet competitions.
- 30 per cent growth was recorded in ice cream entries compared with the 2025 competition.
- 99 days remain until the Royal Queensland Show, where some winning products will be shown on the Royal Queensland Cooking Stage.
Local Impact
The result strengthens the Darling Downs’ name as a serious beef-producing region.
Stockyard Beef did not only win the top branded beef award.
It also won Champion MSA Graded Branded Beef of Show for Stockyard Gold.
Stockyard Gold also received gold in Grain Fed Class 1.
Stockyard Kiwami received gold in the Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 7+ MSA and Non MSA.
That gives the Darling Downs producer a strong showing across the branded beef section.
Zoom In
Stockyard Kiwami was named Grand Champion Branded Beef of Show.
The winning product stood out for marbling, juiciness, tenderness and balanced flavour.
Stockyard Gold also added to the company’s results by winning Champion MSA Graded Branded Beef of Show.
In the broader beef results, Queensland producers were visible across several classes.
Diamantina Wagyu by Stanbroke won gold in the Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 6 or less.
Diamantina Black Onyx by Stanbroke won gold in the Open Class, excluding Wagyu.
Zoom Out
The awards also recognised major producers across Australia.
Midfield Meat International’s Union Station in Victoria won Grand Champion Branded Lamb of Show.
King Island Dairy from Victoria won Grand Champion Cheese or Dairy Product of Show for Roaring Forties Blue.
Chief Judge Russell Smith said the cheese ranked among leading blue cheeses.
“The Roaring Forties Blue has been famous for the past 20 to 30 years and it had all the fruity flavours you would expect in the cheese. It is one of the best Roaring Forties I have ever tasted,” he said.
Mr Smith also said the broader dairy field was strong.
“The standard of entries across the two dairy competitions was very high, with an outstanding showing in the flavoured milk classes. It was wonderful to see producers using real strawberry juice in their strawberry milk!” he said.
“The top cheese products were up there with the best cheeses in Australia and on average the quality in cheese and dairy was very high.”
Other major winners
- Grand Champion Branded Beef of Show, Stockyard Kiwami by Stockyard Beef
- Grand Champion Branded Lamb of Show, Union Station by Midfield Meat International
- Grand Champion Dairy Product of Show, Roaring Forties Blue by King Island Dairy
- Grand Champion Ice Cream, Gelato or Sorbet of Show, French Vanilla Gelato by Zina’s Mangoes
Other beef trophy winners
- Champion MSA Graded Branded Beef of Show, Stockyard Gold by Stockyard Beef
- Grain Fed Class 1 gold, Stockyard Gold by Stockyard Beef
- Grain Fed Class 1 silver, Sir Thomas by Mort and Co Ltd
- Grain Fed Class 1 bronze, Angus Reserve Black Angus Beef by NH Foods Australia
- Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 6 or less gold, Diamantina Wagyu SB6 by Stanbroke
- Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 6 or less silver, Tajima Australian Grainfed Wagyu by Andrews Meat Industries
- Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 6 or less bronze, Carrara Wagyu by Kilcoy Global Foods
- Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 7+ gold, Stockyard Kiwami by Stockyard Beef
- Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 7+ silver, W. Black by Andrews Meat Industries
- Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 7+ bronze, The Phoenix by Mort and Co Ltd
- Open Class gold, Diamantina Black Onyx SB7 by Stanbroke
- Open Class silver, JBS Australia Yardstick MB2+ by JBS Australia
- Open Class bronze, JBS Australia Riverina Angus MB2+ by JBS Australia
Other lamb trophy winners
- Branded Lamb 20 kilograms or less gold, Ambassador by Australian Lamb Company and Minerva Foods
- Branded Lamb 20 kilograms or less silver, Coles Finest Lamb by Coles
- Branded Lamb 20 kilograms or less bronze, Royal Trade by Royal Wholesale Meats
- Branded Lamb 20 kilograms or more gold, Union Station by Midfield Meat International
- Branded Lamb 20 kilograms or more silver, Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats
- Branded Lamb 20 kilograms or more bronze, Royal Trade by Royal Wholesale Meats
- Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb 24 kilograms or more gold, Sovereign by Australian Lamb Company and Minerva Foods
- Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb 24 kilograms or more silver, Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats
- Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb 24 kilograms or more bronze, 246 by Midfield Meat International
Other cheese, dairy and ice cream winners
- Champion Cow’s Milk Cheese of Show, Roaring Forties Blue by King Island Dairy
- Champion Non-Cow’s Milk Cheese of Show, Black Savourine by Yarra Valley Dairy
- Champion Dairy Dessert or Yoghurt of Show, Gourmet Apple and Cinnamon Yoghurt by Maleny Cheese
- Champion Butter, Milk or Cream of Show, Bulla Crème Fraiche 200ml by Bulla Dairy Foods
- Champion Buffalo, Goat, Sheep or Other Non-Cow’s Milk Product of Show, Fresh Camel Milk by Summer Land Camels
- Champion Queensland Cheese or Dairy Product of Show, Fresh Camel Milk by Summer Land Camels
- Champion Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry Ice Cream or Gelato of Show, French Vanilla Gelato by Zina’s Mangoes
- Champion Flavoured Ice Cream or Gelato of Show, Enchanted Orchard by Gelato Wonderland
- Champion Ice Cream or Gelato of Show, French Vanilla Gelato by Zina’s Mangoes
- Champion Sorbet of Show, Coconut Delight by Wicked Ice Cream
What To Look For Next?
Some of the award-winning products will be showcased at the Royal Queensland Show, also known as Ekka.
The Royal Queensland Cooking Stage will give visitors a closer look at some of this year’s top food winners.
Stockyard Beef’s national win gives the region another reason to back local producers.