The arena will be full of females, as usual for International Dairy Week, but for the first time the event will have a woman announcing all the events.
Communications specialist Amanda Glossop will be the arena voice introducing the competitors and describing the winners for the four-day event, starting in Tatura on Monday, January 15.
Amanda attended the first dairy week with her family who had a dairy stud at Numurkah.
“I was only four-and-a-half, but I still remember the cows, the people under the trees, and it was a stinking hot day,” Amanda said.
“Dairy week has been special place for me since I was a little girl.
“I grew up hearing (announcer) David Fechner on the microphone.”
Now she will be in the chair for Australia’s biggest dairy exhibition, with her voice carried internationally on the livestream.
She is immensely grateful for the opportunity and has been doing her homework and conditioning her voice in preparation.
“It’s a privilege for this moment to come around 34 years later.”
Amanda has her own ring experience, having exhibited a junior champion and winning a junior handler title in 2002.
Her practical experience will be put to good use on Sunday when she assists in running the youth challenge trials.
Sitting in the announcer’s chair will be a huge task, as she will have to monitor the arena, minute by minute, watch for signals from the judges and engage the audience with some informed background in the quieter moments, for up to nine hours each day.
Amanda was behind the microphone for two days at last year’s dairy week, and last year’s Bendigo Winter Fair, and assisted with the Shepparton Show.
After her initial stint she was delighted to have veteran livestock auctioneer, and dairy week co-founder Brian Leslie, congratulate her.
Amanda is learning more about the industry and the genetics of cow families, which will mesh well with her job in communications with Holsteins Australia.
Amanda, who is on the Power of Women Dairy Committee, understands that her new role will attract some attention and hopes it will encourage other women to step up.
“I understand that it is unique to see a woman in this kind of position, but I want to encourage other women to step out of their comfort zone,” she said.
“It’s going to be a very big week. I’ve been taking it very seriously. Exhibitors go to a fair bit of effort to get their cows into the show, so it’s reasonable to expect they will be introduced correctly.
“And you need to cover off the sponsors and other announcements at the right time.”
Dairy week coordinator Stacy Leppert said Amanda was trialled at last year’s dairy week for a few events and did so well, she was invited to return to host the whole program this year.