Lakeside Park and Honeyoaks clean up in NSW Sheep Show White Suffolk competition

A family effort helped propel Lakeside Park, Finley, to a champion ram ribbon, while Honeyoaks, Gulgong, took out the champion ewe in honour of a beloved family member.

Honeyoaks stud principal Brad Honeysett said the ewe, which was also named supreme exhibit, named Girlie in homage to his grandmother, had been earmarked for the show for some time because she had "been fantastic right from the word go".

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"All of the credit goes to our father who got all of our sheep prepared while my brother and I were away working, but he couldn't be here for this, so it was really pleasing to get the win for him," Mr Honeysett said.

"We're fourth-generation producers and the farm we are on now was the farm our grandmother ran, so to win here has a real sentimental feeling about it.

"We're not too sure what's next for this ewe, we might try and get some eggs out of her and keep her bloodline moving on and try and find a good enough ram to join to her now."

The family-minded approach also worked for Lakeside Park stud principal Phil Murrowood, who put his ram's success down to quality feed and a "good shearing job".

"This ram has got good bone structure, he's nice and wide and is overall, a good type," Mr Murrowood said.

"The sire of the ram has bred really well for us and I've got some good rams and ewes out of him in the past.

"This win was really exciting because I've got young children, so I've been getting them in the shed quite a bit so that they will hopefully one day do it with me.

"From here, we might go to the Australian Sheep Show in Bendigo and then a show and sale later in the year, those are the couple of things on our agenda for him."

Competition judge Brayden Gilmore, Baringa sheep studs, Oberon, said both winners were standouts.

"In regards to the ram, his correctness, his muscling right through his hindquarters and through his loin caught my eye on breed type," Mr Gilmore said.

"The ewe was a pretty similar story, although it was not as advanced as the ram was.

"However, as far as structural correctness and type goes, she is possibly one of the better ewes I have seen in the breed."

Despite Honeyoaks and Lakeside Park taking out two of the top honours, the competition's most successful exhibitor ribbon went to Rocdell White Suffolks at Bigga.

The Southern Tablelands outfit fell just short in both the ram and ewe categories, taking home a reserve champion ribbon in each.

The team also took out the Keith McIntosh Shield for group of three exhibits as well as the award for best White Suffolk head.

In total, there was 51 exhibits entered in the show, entered by a total a seven exhibitors.

Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Tamworth, Macarthur Anglican School, Cobbitty, Timor White Suffolk stud, Parkes, and Kinellar White Suffolk stud, Canowindra, were the other exhibitors.

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