CENTRAL & WESTERN SUB BRANCH CALF SHOW

At 5.00pm, on Saturday 3rd February, as the sun began to dip after yet another hot and dry summer’s day, the Central and Western Sub Branch’s calf show got underway at ‘Maryland’, the property of Annette Thomson and home of the Maryland Holstein stud.

Noel Snowden, a well respected judge and principal of the Kamilaroi stud, travelled up from Mittagong to adjudicate. For the rest of the evening he diligently worked through the 25 heifers paraded by 5 exhibitors to present his champions to the gallery of eager spectators and breeders.

The All Australian Youth Class was won by Hy Qual Dividend Gretchen, the entry of SM & BJ Whatman and paraded by Riley Whatman.

The Whatmans, first time exhibitors, travelled the four hundred or so kilometres from Gooloogong to compete at the show. Riley and dad Shane took home a blue ribbon in the All Australian and Reserve Junior Champion with Dividend Gretchen and have vowed to come back again in March to compete at the Camden Show.

Brett and Melinda Hayter had a busy day of it, first delivering their team to the showground, washing and clipping, then going home to milk before dressing up for a big night out at the Camden Showgirl Ball. Luckily daughter Amy was on hand to parade the team, picking up a blue ribbon in the under six months class with Werombi Vale Breeze Mellow.

Another first time exhibitor was the Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute. Having won the free membership in the Semex HFAA On Farm Competition they took no time in registering a handful of heifers and turning them out for the Calf Show. EMAI has a young team of enthusiastic people running the dairy and working with the cattle, and although they had to settle for seconds and thirds this time, it won’t be long before they are in among the broad ribbons.

There is no ‘home ground’ advantage at a calf show where only quality counts, but the heifers Craig Ford had selected from Maryland were up to the task, competing well in all classes. In all they took four of the eight blue ribbons on offer and the broad ribbon for the Senior Champion Heifer with Maryland Cousteau Leita.

With only a small herd to pick from, BF & BW Partnership’s ‘Highyield’ stud once again punched well above its weight, taking home two blue ribbons with Highyield Miss Sambarb and Highyield Allen Belle. Miss Sambarb, an under 12 month old, went on to be sashed Supreme Heifer of the Show while Allen Belle took out the Reserve Senior Champion.

This is the third year running that ‘Highyield’ has won the Supreme Heifer Ribbon. Last year they did it with Highyield W Bree and before that with Highyield Stouder Betty. All three heifers come from the same family line that goes back to Deepfields Barbie VG89. In case you can’t recall ever seeing Barbie, she’s the one running along the beach in the Jalna yoghurt advertisement on television.

Official Results

HELD AT MARYLAND, THE NORTHERN RD, BRINGELLY
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3RD 2007
COMMENCING 5.00 PM

JUDGE: Mr Noel Snowden

YOUTH CLASSES:

OPEN CLASSES

JUNIOR CHAMPION - Highyield Miss Sambarb, BF & BW Partnership

RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION - Hy Qual Dividend Gretchen, SM & BJ Whatman

HONOURABLE MENTION - Maryland Luigi Lisa, Maryland Farming Company

SENIOR CHAMPION HEIFER - Maryland Cousteau Leita, Maryland Farming Company

RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION - Highyield Allen Belle, BF & BW Partnership

HONOURABLE MENTION - Maryland Policy Dainty, Maryland Farming Company

SUPREME CHAMPION HEIFER - Highyield Miss Sambarb, BF & BW Partnership