The rise of drones and on-farm software mean it's never been easier to run an efficient operation but a loyal band show enthusiasts are keeping the tradition of sheep counting competitions alive.
Once upon a time property owners, stock agents and brave showgoers would take their position down a long race and quietly tally a mob from 50 to 150 sheep as they ran past.
There was no room for error - only those with the exact figure would remain standing.
The concept shot to popularity in the early 1990s with regional winners contesting a state and eventually a national title during the Macquarie Merino Field Days in Warren.
So prestigious was the title that the Australian champion landed a return ticket to South Africa to compete in the overseas event and $700 spending money.
It began to fizzle out in the mid 1990s before a national competition was resurrected in Hay in 2002.
It was around 2011 or 2012 when Phil Kennedy, a former winner himself, brought the event back to the Nyngan Show which remains one of the few towns still hosting the competition.
"We had some good prize money and we had a perpetual shield going so it was a good spectator sport," Mr Kennedy said.
"It is good bragging rights but that sort of baulks some people. You get the agents who have the final decision on sales and they are a bit reluctant, if they don't win it they won't be classed as highly.
"It's a pity to see it drop out because all you need is 200 or 300 sheep."
Techniques range between competitors but a popular option is the count two as one method.
It's been almost 30 years since Nyngan stock agent Don Lister claimed the inaugural Australian sheep counting championship in Warren, which landed him a trip to South Africa.
He survived eight run throughs and 48 competitors to land the top title.
Many in the district, including current Nyngan Show sheep counting competition steward Rob Kennedy, said Mr Lister had counted a lot of sheep in his time.
The 76-year-old said he just loved counting, whether it was sheep or cattle, and he followed his father's two as one tactic.
"It has always been a bit of a thing, particularly amongst agents, we are delivering sheep all the time and it's been a bit of a competition to try to count sheep accurately."
He said the most important thing was to stay calm.
"Anything form 50 to 150 will run through and they cut it off at different stages," he said.
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.
