Introducing more junior judging competitions and engaging schools are goals to consider for next year's Wangaratta Show.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wangaratta Agricultural Society president Emma Williamson hoped to build on the numbers of younger handlers in the cattle yards on Saturday during the 155th show.
"These are the future of agriculture and it's fantastic to see that we've got so many young people showing," she said.
"I'd love to have a junior sheep judging competition and work with the schools.
"Even the schools that have got hens in their school yard, to get them to put in a school competition for eggs, just to get them involved."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Mrs Williamson said one of the show activities with milk from a dairy cow emphasised this need.
"We separated the milk and the cream, then made butter and kids have no idea what that is," she said.
"Kids think that milk comes from a carton, not from a cow, even our kids here and yet we're a rural community."
Friday's show program featured a motorcycle act, nine dogs in the dog high jump and evening fireworks.
"There were people just everywhere," Mrs Williamson said.
"It seemed to be a really good crowd and no problems."
Saturday's schedule focused more on agriculture, with livestock exhibits such as poultry, cattle, alpacas and sheep.
New exhibitors from Chiltern and the Warby Range led to 150 poultry entries, 40 more than last year.
Poultry judge Peter Hicks, of Walla, explained his reasoning to spectators as he examined each entry.
"I'm looking for a bird that's just got that bit extra, bit more style," he said.
"They've got to be technically correct, eye colour, type, bone structure."
Mrs Williamson said the show gave breeders the opportunity to come together and compare their stock against each other.
She thanked all the sponsors and committee members who made the event possible.
"One of the hard things is that the demographics are changing, agriculture is moving out further, so getting people involved is harder because they're further away," she said.
"A lot of people living in town don't necessarily want to be part of an agricultural show committee.
"I want to see agricultural shows around for a long time, and we need the community's support to continue to do that."
Breeding patience brings own reward
Ribbons won by a Benalla farmer's sheep at Wangaratta Show highlighted a long-term breeding goal.
Sandy Campbell, formerly of Byawatha, enjoyed success with his Border Leicester rams and ewes.
Mr Campbell, 79, said he had searched for 30 years for a particular style of ram.
"I knew in my mind what I wanted, but I hadn't found it," he said.
Eventually, a Temora stud yielded the right ram and after a couple of years of breeding, "I realised I had some special sheep".
"I recommenced showing," he said.
"I hadn't shown since about 1980, but I've come back in the last three or four years."
On Saturday, Mr Campbell's younger ram was named champion.
Twin lambs accompanied the ewe judging as their mother wanted them close by.
Mr Campbell said high fertility remained a feature of his flock.
"It just takes a lifetime of breeding to actually find that particular sheep that you really want," he said.