THE annual South Coast and Tablelands Holstein Association Spring Heifer Classic has passed a major milestone, celebrating its 20th year.
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Staged at the Berry Showground on Sunday (November 28) the event again attracted good numbers, even the wet weather of the past week could not dampen the enthusiasm of the young leaders.
After working his way through "a strong turn out" of animals and handlers, judge Daniel Bacon, from Tennyson in Victoria, said in his final address to the crowd, the future of dairying showing on the South Coast is "in good hands".
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The Spring Heifer Classic is for handlers 25 years and under and for heifers two years.
Again this year the popular event proved a hit with, from the youngest handlers, through to those with more experience at the upper end of the age groups, taking to the ring and putting their best foot forward.
The Classic was started by the Walsh family, of Waljasper Holsteins at Jaspers Brush, 20 years ago as a way of encouraging the next generation of young showmen and women to take to the ring.
"It's hard to believe we started 20 years ago," said Justin Walsh, who initially launched the event with his parents Col and Sue.
"It's pretty wild actually, kind of crazy, when you think about it. Some of us were still teenagers when it started and now we have our own children taking part in the event," he said.
It's pretty wild actually, kind of crazy, when you think about it. Some of us were still teenagers when it started and now we have our own children taking part in the event.
- Justin Walsh
"I honestly never expected the event to last this long. I thought it might run for a few years and then peter out.
"But it has been fantastic the way the local dairy fraternity and a number of local businesses have continued to support and sponsor the event."
He said the whole concept of the event is to encourage and foster the next generation of exhibitors.
"Our aim was to stage something for those young showers....somewhere they could possibly gain some experience which might lead them into becoming more involved and possibly even into exhibiting at our local shows and maybe even some of the bigger shows across the state," he said.
"I think initially making it 25 years as a cut off for handlers has been the secret to its success.
"It has worked, with our key objective of getting more younger people involved in the industry.
"If people wanted to show their animals off they had to go and find younger handlers.
"And that has probably seen people involved who might not have otherwise been part of the industry.
"And it has seen many go on to show at our local shows.
"It has also led to family and friends, who might have no connection with dairying, to come along to and support. Hopefully that also sparks an interest and they come and watch the annual shows as well."
And it proved to be a good day for the Walsh family, with nine-year-old Ella taking out junior and grand champion heifer with Waljasper Freddy Lola.
She took out Berry Rural Store grand champion over senior champion, Paul and Vicki Timbs' entry Mayfield Farm Tuxedo Showcase, exhibited by Georgia Herne.
Tuxedo claimed the senior title over reserve champion the Whatman Family entry Sunnyview Meridian Sasha shown by Luke Whatman, while the Crapp Family entry Wiley Ridge Unstoppable Alicia led by Elle Simms was highly commended.
Waljasper Freddy Lola claimed the junior crown ahead of the Whatman's family's Rivendell Final Noelene led by Luke Whatman and the Mayo Family's Regal Park Spicey shown by Georgia Herne.
Elly Simms claimed the champion paraders' award, while the most successful exhibitors on the day were Paul and Vicki Timbs, of Mayfield Farm.
Col Walsh thanked all the exhibitors and handlers who entered animals in the show, judge Daniel Bacon, and the number of local businesses and suppliers who again supported this year's event, in particular major backers, Alex and Jared Cochrane from Raine and Horne Nowra, and Jacqui Crapp, of Raine and Horne Berry.
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