The chance of rain had plenty smiling at the Uralla Showgrounds on Saturday where some of the best ram genetics were on display as part of the New England Merino field day.
A total of 21 studs displayed at this year's event with 10 of them opting to showcase together at the Uralla Showgrounds and the remainder opening their farm gates.
Commercial breeders and seedstock producers were in attendance, taking the opportunity to peruse some of the district's genetic offering ahead of ram sales kicking off later this month.
Event secretary Janet Carter said the event had been a lot more positive than the committee had first thought.
"There were people from Tasmania and some from Victoria and throughout NSW," she said.
"Our guest speaker Tim Marwedel spoke very positively of the wool market and it's future."
Normally a two-day event held biennially, this year the committee made the decision to condense the program due to the ongoing dry.
In 2020 the Pittman family from Glenburnie Merinos and Poll Merinos and David Menzies and Helen Hine of Castlebrook Poll Merinos were new exhibitors while founding member studs, Lorelmo and Mirani, returned.
Mr Menzies and his family run a 700 head flock and established their own Poll Merino stud this year after having dual purpose sheep for the last five years.
They had young autumn-drop ewes and 12-month-old rams on display at the Uralla Showgrounds.
"We got involved as it is a way to get better promotion of the stud," he said.
The field day included a meet and greet in the evening with a presentation from guest speaker Tim Marwedel.
Read more in next week's The Land.