150 years of agricultural prosperity was celebrated at Grafton with the best showing of beef cattle in many years.
The valley event also saw a record number of Alpacas, an excellent display of horsemanship, and a 2016 show queen who shared the thrill with her mum - Ms Grafton 1982.
As a reflection of the best prices since grandad was in his prime two rings of quality cattle competed for supremacy: soft British and muscled European versus efficient sub-tropical indicus and their many crosses.
At the end of the day Emma Costello of Walcha did her family proud, including her 90 year old grandad Dr Bill Costello, the celebrated Grafton medico and founder of Nairn Park Angus, as she handled the family’s recent Sydney Royal purchase Dalwhinnie Karate Kid to success as Supreme Champion bull.
Lismore’s Jack Sivewright shrugged off disappointment over failing to place in the pavilion scone competition that morning to take Supreme Champion female.
His Santa Gertrudis entrant JGS Hazel, with calf Milo at foot, turned the heads of judges Rob Sinnamon, Yugilbar Station and Ben Hiscox, Bob Jamieson Agencies, Inverell.
Close on their heels were Bos indicus grand champion Brangus bull Weona Dallas, 34 months; and Bos taurus grand champion Charolais female Casino High Rosie formerly from Jeremy Cruickshank, Piora.
The largest led steer class in a very long time saw the Dockrill family of Clovass via Casino take grand champion with a Speckle Park cross Murray Grey called ‘Blue’ owned by the Harvey family of Stanthorpe. The win capped off an eventful day for James and Jane with the sudden birth of their daughter at Grafton Hospital very early that morning.
Iron Pot Pastoral at Kyogle claimed reserve led steer with a Limousin/ Murray Grey.
Casino and Kyogle High Schools competed for $1000 sponsorship from The Land in a special schools-only competition with Casino students going the extra mile to claim grand champion Bos taurus female with a Charolais, now part of the high school’s own stud.
The Lyle Family from Leeville did well to closely shadow the Costello family with their two-year old bull Prime Time Kirby leading long-serving Grafton cattle committee member Bill Attwater to comment that the Angus competition at this year’s show was the best he’s seen in 20 years.
