Organizers this year remembered last year’s champions with wine bottles labelled accordingly. Photo: CrazyCow In Print.
A strong showing of some of Australia’s most competitive Holsteins are in the starting blocks for the Victorian Winter Fair.
The National Herd Development-sponsored event is being held at Bendigo on July 1 (heifers) and 2 (in-milk exhibits) EST.
Elmar Ice Jessica Grand Champion 2015 IDW Holstein Show
This year’s entries number 254 with 129 in-milk entries and 125 heifers. The show is in its second year and among the entries are the three senior Champions from International Dairy Week (IDW) in January (owned by the Elmar Holsteins – Hore family). Two of the other recent gun cows entered include the Champion and Supreme Dairy Cow from the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Mooramba Talent Randell, and the Reserve Senior Champion Holstein Sleepy Hollow Jasper Posey. They will be in the Woodlawn Holstein string, exhibited by the Flanagan family, from Finley, NSW.
“I think there’s a lot to like about the show,” Nick Flanagan said. “There’s the time of the year and the splitting of the age-groups of the heifers – but I think the biggest positive is that the organisers are trying their best to accommodate the needs of the exhibitors. That is a big bonus and the major reason that it will be well supported again this year.”
The show is quickly gaining a strong following, with many exhibitors travelling from around Australia.
Elm Banks Polly Wolly. 2014 Victorian Winter Show Grand Champion 2013 IDW’s Grand Champion
Sponsorship up
Stu confirmed sponsorship had lifted by six businesses this year, and that the prize money was again strong.
This year’s US judge Perry Phend was prepared to stand-in at short notice for his good friend, Mike Deaver, who judged. Mike had been unwell in the lead-up to the show. Organisers said they appreciated Perry’s support, and followed through by appointing him this year.
Perry has judged at many US national shows, in addition to Japan, Uruguay, Mexico and Canada. He was the 2003 Milking Shorthorn and the 2004 Ayrshire judge at the World Dairy Expo, at Madison. He has worked for many high profile herds, including Carrousel Farm, Lylehaven Holsteins, Rolling Lawns and Nabholz Farm. He was the 1999 Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award winner and he has worked with more than 100 animals that have been nominated for All-American awards.
Boxes all ticked
While other shows seem to be struggling to adjust to life in 2015, the Winter Fair continues to buck the trend.
“We have deliberately targeted world-class judges, and announced them early,” Stu says. “We have an outstanding venue and we have kept the costs low. That was always the thing from the very first day — to keep the costs down and the prize money up. Every bit of spare cash went back to the exhibitors. They are the guys that make the show. From a general breed publicity point of view, I think it ticks all the boxes.”
And, as other breeds look on, Stu says they remained committed to getting the Holstein show right. There are no current plans to include any other breeds.
