IT WAS a 100th anniversary to savour at Kurrajong Park's annual ram sale on Monday.
The Kent family toasted to 100 years of operations on the Delungra property with the sale of 50 of their best Merino rams.
Conducted by Australian Wool Network (AWN), the sale achieved a clearance rate of 41 of the 50 rams offered.
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AWN auctioneer John Croake did not have to search far for a buyer, as neighbour, Ford End Pastoral, snapped up the top selling ram, RED 1149, for $2200.
The ram was the final lot of the sale, but Ford End Pastoral's John Taylor said it was worth the wait.
"We wanted a second ram to go with the one we have next door and their wool is very similar to our type of wool," Mr Taylor said.
"It was the second ram we bought today, but we have been buying from Kurrajong Park for the last 10 or 12 years.
"Our immediate plan for these rams will be to get them amongst the maiden ewes that we've been holding back to put new rams over.
"We've got 500 maiden ewes for them to go over so that's the plan for them in the short term."
Ranging from 12 to 24 months and between 89 and 121 kilograms, the 41 rams that were sold averaged $1163.
Despite Ford End taking home the day's highest priced ram, it was Chandler Creek Pastoral Company, Wollomombi, that was the most active of the 18 registered bidders, taking home eight rams.
Jim Martin, of Chandler Creek, said the rams would be vital in helping the operation on his property, Akoona, bounce back from drought.
"The drought has meant that we've had to replace a few and these ones will be joined in April," Mr Martin said.
"They'll go over large-bodied 18.5- to 19-micron ewes.
"We've been buying here since the 1980s and Kurrajong Park has a great track record, which really drew us in."
Kurrajong Park's Rodney Kent said he was delighted with Monday's results and the sale was a great way to mark a milestone year for his family.
"It was a really good sale, we had a lot of new clients show up which was pleasing," Mr Kent said.
"We're always really happy to see so many return buyers come and see us again, too.
"All told it was a really good sale, we had a good line up of sheep, a lot of good buyers and I was really happy with it.
"I couldn't think of a better way for our family to mark 100 years at Kurrajong Park, and to see all the effort that so many members of the family put into making today a success made it even better."
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Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
