Wednesday,
8 May 2024
Show exhibits fine breeding, terrific talent

OCTOBER 28 turned on the sunshine for the 76th annual Myrtleford Show, with fine agricultural exhibits on show across the reserve’s sheds and pavilions.

One of the prize exhibits at the cattle pavilion was Chloe Cook’s Country Road Daranga Astina cow taking out supreme dairy exhibit for the fourth time running, as well as winning champion cow.

Meanwhile the cow’s daughter, a two-year-old heifer, also won best udder.

“She's had seven calves and that's amazing for a cow to produce over that time and get keep getting in calf to produce that milk,” Ms Cook said.

She said she had been working with the cows for around two months, four days a week, to ensure they can handle the varied requirements of the show, like being walked and being around lots of people.

More prize exhibits were on show at the revamped poultry shed, with some stunning chickens, ducks and guinea fowl making a racket.

Greg Vonarx’s old English game male won champion bird, which poultry shed steward Breanna Carr said was down to the bird’s fitness.

“He's got good structural soundness that he'd be able to jump up and run around and do heaps of different activities,” she said.

A noisy black Orpington chicken won reserve champion as well as the new Ron Leary Memorial Award.

Ms Carr said the award, named after founding club member Ron Leary, is given to the best Orpington or Wyandotte chicken as they were Mr Leary's favourite breeds.

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She said the award winner had come from top Orpington bloodlines, partly explaining the majestic size of the bird.

“Sometimes you’ll see them a bit smaller, but this is how big and fluffy they should be,” she said.

Much of the shed has been replaced this year, partially thanks to a grant secured by the Myrtleford Show Society, meanwhile Alpine Poultry Club members had been working for months to build, repair and repaint the bird pens, said Ms Carr.

In the AW Richardson pavilion, a range of exhibits were on show, including farm produce, cut flowers, bonsai, and jams and preserves.

Myrtleford Show committee life member Alistair Browne was in the pavilion in the afternoon with family members, and said he was particularly impressed with the flowers.

“Beautiful flowers, and the roses are excellent,” he said.