The atmosphere was as bright as Cressbrook, stud principal Lach Fulloon's shirt at the annual Merino sale on Friday at Armidale.
The conversation starter shirt, was a gift from Lach's children at Christmas, specifically for the ram sale and he didn't let them down.
Speaking at the start of the sale Mr Fulloon was proud of the offering of rams, with four of the highest ranked sale rams in the New England offered at Cressbrook.
The sale started with a bang with 50 rams selling under the hammer from 69 on offer for a clearance of 72 per cent.
Repeat and loyal clients pushed the sale average to $1532, well up on last year, with the seventh ram of the sale securing top price of $3400.
The top price ram was secured by Roy Robertson, Robertson Grazing, Wollomombi, who is the third generation to continue buying from Cressbrook.
The 2018 drop ram sired by CP307204, was in the top five pc for yearling fibre diameter and the top 10 pc for Yearling clean fleece weight, fibre production and Merino production.
Mr Robertson runs a flock build entirely on Cressbrook genetics, he pays close attention to structure, Clean fleece weight and worm egg count, with a goal to have his entire flock at -25.
Mr Robertson purchased three more rams for an average of $3100 and was quite taken with lot 18 as well as his top price ram.
Volume buyer was Jamie Swales, Woodlands, Kingstown who purchased 12 rams to complete his draft.
The sale was conducted by Landmark with John Settree as auctioneer.
Read the full report in next weeks edition of The Land.