What a weekend at the Bendigo Showgrounds for the 142nd Australian Sheep and Wool Show.

I was working the Mobble stand, talking and listening to farmers about sheep prices, farm record-keeping and the hope for a wet spring.

With unseasonal sunny weather in Bendigo, it's no wonder the crowds were strong. 30,000 people were seen through the gates with 450 stalls selling anything from socks to tractors.

Very different to the chilly wet norm that Bendigo is known for this time of year.

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Drought failing to hold people back

Mudgee merino breeder Andrew Rayner had been hit hard by the drought, but still traveled to Bendigo for what was his 19th consecutive year. The fourth generation farmer claimed the ribbon for grand champion ultrafine ewe on Saturday.

Organiser of the yard dog championships, Rod Cavill, said there were more competitors this year, with entrants from all over the country.

The sheep dog trials had a Twenty20 feel, with states competing against one another for the title.

It was a fun event that encouraged large crowds to watch the dogs do their work.

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Farmers from everywhere

WA, NSW, Victorian, South Australian, Queensland and Tasmanian all had studs that shone brightly at times during the show.

An example of distance is Craig Dewer, who paid $10,000 to truck his sheep 3200km to Victoria. And he said it's worth every penny.

In the internet age, it’s easy for graziers to showcase their sheep’s best qualities. But there's nothing like checking out the animals you are looking to buy in person.

When selling sheep, “There’s nothing better than ‘eye to eye’ and a handshake,” Craig said.

Craig's from the property Broomehill, 320 kilometres south-east of Perth, a bloody long way to be carting sheep!

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Top rams going for top dollar

Victorian Merino stud Glenpaen was all victorious at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at the weekend, topping the ram sale yesterday.

The Miller family’s stud from Brimpaen in the Wimmera scored a rare grand champion double. With the ram selling for the equal top price of $26,000 on Sunday!

Glenpaen stud principal Rod Miller said “You can’t keep them all,” and that it was “about time we let a good one go [to lift the studs profile]".

It was great to see the top rams sell for top dollar, but the ram sales were not all roses.

In the later half of the sale there were a lot of 'pass ins' and a lack of excitement. One would presume this has been due to the effects of the drought and dwindling sheep numbers.

There's a lot of work to do before we will see Australia's flock numbers build back up to the glory days, but I'm filled with optimism.

The prices are strong.

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Signing off,

Jock Lawrence (Co-Founder & CEO)

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p.s. below I've listed the honor roll for the 2019 show

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HONOUR ROLL

MERINO

SUPREME AND GRAND CHAMPION EWE

Glenpaen, Brimpaen

GRAND CHAMPION RAM

Glenpaen

ULTRAFINE

Ram: Grathlyn, Mudgee, NSW

Ewe: Grathlyn

SUPERFINE

Ram: Trefusis, Ross, Tasmania

Ewe: Wurrook, Rokewood

FINE

Ram: Glenpaen

Ewe: Nerstane, Woolbrook, NSW

FINE/MEDIUM

Ram: Glenpaen

Ewe: Glenpaen

MEDIUM

Ram: North Ashrose,

Bundaleer, SA

Ewe: Coromandel, Gairdner, WA

STRONG

Ram: Kolindale, Kulin, WA

Ewe: Willandra, Jerilderie, NSW

VICTORIAN PAIR OF THE YEAR

Eilan Donan, Elphinstone

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INTERBREED

SUPREME LONG WOOL

Glenlee Park (Border Leicester)

SUPREME SHORT WOOL

Mallee Park (Poll Dorset)

SUPREME CLEAN SKIN

Ardene (Australian White)

SUPREME LONG WOOL GROUP

Bindaree (Border Leicester)

SUPREME SHORT WOOL GROUP

Hillden (Poll Dorset)

CHAMPION CLEAN SKIN GROUP

Ardene (Australian White)

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AUSTRALIAN WHITE

Ram: Ardene, Darlington

Ewe: Ardene

BLACK AND COLOURED

Ram: Werowna Park, Yass, NSW

Ewe: Werowna Park

BORDER LEICESTER

Ram: Bindaree, Merrygoen, NSW

Ewe: Glenlee Park, Glenlee

CHEVIOT

Ram: Chain Gate,

Wagga Wagga, NSW

Ewe: Chain Gate

CORRIEDALE

Ram: Gambier View, Derrinallum

Ewe: Sweetfield, Mount Moriac

DOHNE

Ram: Glen Holme,

Ewe: N/A

DORPER

Ram: Kaya, Narrogin, WA

Ewe: Dell African, Moama, NSW

DORSET DOWN

Ram: Woodhall, New Gisborne

Ewe: Woodhall

DORSET HORN

Ram: Redline,

West Wyalong, NSW

Ewe: N/A

ENGLISH LEICESTER

Ram: Koenarl, Timboon

Ewe: Koenarl

HAMPSHIRE DOWN

Ram: Aurora Park,

St Helens Plains

Ewe: Aurora Park

LINCOLN

Ram: Garvald, Byaduk

Ewe: Garvald

PERENDALE

Ram: Mount Monmot, Skipton

Ewe: Mount Monmot

POLL DORSET

Ram: Springwaters, Boorowa, NSW

Ewe: Mallee Park, Hopetoun

POLWARTH

Ram: Riverview, New Norfolk, Tasmania

Ewe: Taljar, King Island

ROMNEY

Ram: Tintern Grammar,

Ringwood East

Ewe: Tintern

SHROPSHIRE

Ram: Clarendon, Strathbogie

Ewe: Clarendon

SAMM

Ram: Lawral Park Prime,

Ungarra, SA

Ewe: Galaxy Park, Tintinara, SA

SOUTH SUFFOLK

Ram: Willow Drive, Grassmere

Ewe: Willow Drive

SOUTHDOWN

Ram: Yentrac, Burrumbeet

Ewe: N/A

SUFFOLK

Ram: Sayla Park, Kilmore

Ewe: Curlew Valley, Manoora

TEXEL

Ram: Mertex, Antwerp

Ewe: Mertex

WHITE DORPER

Ram: Kaya

Ewe: Dell African

WHITE SUFFOLK

Ram: Rene, Culcairn, NSW

Ewe: Mertex

WILTIPOLL

Ram: Reavesdale, Murringo, NSW

Ewe: Reavesdale

WILTSHIRE HORN

Ram: O’Loghlin, Deniliquin, NSW

Ewe: O’Loghlin

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