AT 90 years of age it's fair to say Somerton's Bruce Cooper is somewhat of a living legend at the Tamworth sheep sales.
Mr Cooper has been selling at the complex since the 1940s after taking over his family's soldier settlement property, Warminster, at just 18 when his father passed away.
While he used to run 1000 ewes, Mr Cooper has slowly began reducing his flock of Border Leicester Merino ewes, which he crosses with White Suffolk rams, and sells 20 prime lambs each Monday.
He drafts, loads and carts the sheep himself and is always on hand to watch them go under the hammer.
Last week his lambs made $170 while Monday's sale saw a slight drop to $150 for his winter drop lambs which were shorn in November.
Much like selling sheep, he said the secret to staying fit and healthy at an older age came down to luck.
"You've got to have something to get out of bed for," he said.
"I just always liked working with sheep."
Mr Cooper admits he does plan to get rid of some more ewes and won't replace them, moving closer towards retirement.
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
