Australia's 'biggest sheep show' lives up to its billing

Quality Wool's Peter Ryan, Simon Seppelt and Vallon Gibson at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, VIC.

Dubbed the 'biggest show of its type in the world', the Australian Sheep and Wool Show lived up to its billing as thousands flocked to Bendigo's Prince of Wales Showgrounds to see Quality Wool and others on display last weekend.

With a vintage 1880's wool press forming the centre point of site 278 and catching the eye of many a passerby looking to reminisce, the Quality Wool marquee situated in the centre of the showground's main thoroughfare was a hive of activity as gates opened on Friday morning.

With a mix of Victorian, New South Wales and South Australian wool representatives on hand, plenty of growers stopped by to introduce themselves and chat about the 'wool job', while the chilly Bendigo weather inspired plenty of show goers to buy some 100% Merino wool socks from the pop‑up Q shop.

Almost 100 entrants also cast their eye over wool samples as part of Quality's guess the micron, yield and VM competition, with the closest guess winning a 41‑piece Kincrome socket set.

Allan and Leanna Cook of Baddaginnie, Victoria were crowned the eventual competition winners, walking away with the main prize thanks to their very precise estimate of the characteristics of the wool sold at auction only the week before.

The three‑day event also presented an opportunity for the 'Q' team to support clients who travelled to either take part in the show's sheep competitions or check out the attractions, with Mulloorie Merino and Poll Merino Stud (Brinkworth/Tintinara, SA), Mallee Hill Stud (Ceduna, SA) and Darriwell Stud (Trundle, NSW) just a few of those present at Bendigo.

Mulloorie continued their strong year on the sheep show circuit, taking out the Champion Strong Wool Poll Merino ribbon on day one of competition.

This follows on from their success at March's SA Stud Merino Expo, where the same strong woolled two year‑old took out SA Ram of the Year.

Next up for Quality Wool is Sheepvention in Hamilton, Victoria on August 6th and 7th, with the 'Q' marquee to be located at site 51 of the Hamilton Showgrounds.

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