What started out as an idea to showcase autumn calving cows, has turned into a premier event, with the National Herd Development Winter Fair celebrating its 10th year.
Organiser Clare Modra said the group had no idea how much the Winter Fair would grow when they first floated the idea, around a kitchen table all those years ago.
“We never planned for such a successful and ongoing event,” Clare said.
“It really started out as a show to cater for autumn cow calving cows and now it complements International Dairy Week and is very much programmed into the calendar of Holstein breeders across the country.”
This year’s event will be held from July 2 to July 4 at the Bendigo Exhibition Centre in central Victoria.
A change to the calendar will see the junior judging and showmanship classes hosted on the Tuesday, along with an educational seminar for the kids.
On Wednesday, the dry heifer classes will kick-off at 10am. A Power of Women in Dairy afternoon tea will be held at 3pm.
The in-milk classes will start 10am on Thursday.
Clare said they were expecting good numbers again this year.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm around the industry and it is great to have Australian-grown talent for our lead and associate judges this year.”
As always, Clare said the event would not be possible without the help of sponsors both big and small.
National Herd Development has continued on again as major sponsor, along with Apiam who have come on board to support the junior judging and showmanship classes, Bega the Youth Show and Elders the Red Show.
Lead judge Lachlan Fry has judged multiple cow breeds in every state in Australia and is looking forward to this year’s event. He was the Winter Fair associate judge in 2015 and is honoured to step up into the top role.
From Brunswick Junction in Western Australia, Lachlan runs a mixed Holstein/Jersey alongside his family.
Associate judge Courtney Afford, from Woods Point in South Australia, operates Billabong Farms along with her parents, and runs her own Holstein and Ayrshire stud called Billaview Genetics.
Courtney has shown cows her whole life and has had many successes over the years. She recently started judging shows around Australia and was associate judge for the Jersey Show at IDW in 2023.
She is excited to have been chosen as associate judge for this year’s Winter Fair and is looking forward to working with Lachlan.
And for Anthony Shelley’s daughter Layla, 14, the Winter Fair will see her showing for the first time a heifer given to her by the Dixon Family from Emu Banks Holstein.
“We are not a farming family, but I work in the genetic industry and Layla has loved cows ever since she was little,” Anthony said.
“She went away to a youth camp at Noorot back in January and came home with this heifer.
“She has been looking after it for six months and was keen to take her to the fair.”
Anthony said he loved the environment of the dairy industry and what it does for his daughter when she is around the cows.
“It’s such a positive environment and brings joy to Layla so of course I am going to support her,” he said.
Entries for the Winter Fair close on June 7.