Twenty hours of travel including twelve by cattle truck to attend two calf shows over two consecutive weekends, while a lot of driving for an almost 74 year old, proved successful for Jock Johnston of F S Johnston & Sons' Jondene stud.

In the annual SEQICC and WBBICC calf shows, 39 and 51 head respectively, the Jondene stud reigned supreme.  Unfortunately for Jock it meant a lot of travel due to his worker being ill and his two nephews, Wade and Steve, playing cricket.

Saturday, March 2 saw Jock with 24 heifers on board from the Jondene, Riverwood and Den Dia Studs, head off after milking at his Imbil property for Beaudesert, a three hour journey.  After a quick unload, cuppa and change of vehicles with sister Betty, he was back on the road again to get home in time to do the afternoon milking, arriving back at Beaudesert Showgrounds on Sunday morning just in time for judging.

Saturday, March 9 and Jock was off again but only for a short drive of 1.5 hrs to Woodford for the Wide Bay Burnett Illawarra Club's calf show but again having to head home for milking on Saturday night and Sunday morning before returning for judging.  

Jock uses the calf days to break in numerous calves so takes almost a completely different team each week.  Clipping and breaking in starts several weeks out without him really knowing how many he will end up exhibiting.  As the Riverwood and Den Dia teams were transported in the Riverwood truck to Woodford, Jock entered sixteen heifers with time to give them a quick wash.

With several exhibitors also going through the wash process, there was a lot of discussion on the various heifers as they came out of the shed.  When asked the name of one of his younger heifers, Jock wasn't too sure who she was or how she come to be at the show but she was clipped so she was part of the team.  A lot of head scratching later and consultation of his list, he still couldn't work out who she was so he thought he had better do a head count.  Seventeen heifers later Jock headed home to find out who the heifer was and what class she should be in.  Oh to have that many quality heifers to choose from.

Full results from both calf shows follow.

 

SOUTH EAST QLD ILLAWARRA CLUB CALF SHOW held on 2nd March 2014

JUDGE:  Mr Will Smith, Gympie.

Class 1 – Heifer 1/10/13 – 30/11/13
1st    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene April
 2nd    P & C Ardrey – Cheralyn Minerva 18

Class 2 – Heifer 1/08/13 – 30/09/13
1st    P & C Ardrey – Cheralyn Moira 42
2nd    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Little Princess 55

Class 3 – Heifer 1/07/13 – 31/07/13
1st    P & C Ardrey – Jondene Jinny 17
2nd    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Joslyn 5
3rd    P & C Ardrey – Jondene Midge 15
4th    Den-Dia Partnership – Den-Dia Belle 67

Class 4 – Heifer - 1/06/13 – 31/06/13
1st    R & S Voss – Mt Vista Aprils Pet
2nd    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Velda 10
3rd    Ledger Family – Riverwood Patsy 17
4th    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Dainty 116

Junior Champion – P & C Ardrey – Jondene Jinny 17
Reserve Junior – R & S Voss – Mt Vista Aprils Pet

Class 5 – Heifer - 1/04/13 – 31/05/13
1st    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Empress 8
2nd    P & C Ardrey – Cheralyn Moira 41
3rd    Ledger Family – Riverwood Bangle 2
4th    R & S Voss – Mt Vista Tulip 11

Class 6 – Heifer – 1/02/13 – 31/03/13
1st    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Jinny 16
2nd    Ledger Family – Riverwood Sapphire 6
3rd    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Silky 112
4th    Ledger Family – Riverwood Sugar Topsy

Class 7 – Heifer – 1/12/12 – 31/01/13
1st    Ledger Family – Riverwood Model 14
2nd    P & C Ardrey – Jondene Effie
3rd    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Cathy 13
4th    Ledger Family – Riverwood Annie 2

Class 8 – Heifer – 1/10/12 – 30/11/12
1st    Ledger Family – Riverwood Model 13
2nd    R & S Voss – Mt Vista Bangle 12
3rd    Ledger Family – Riverwood Lolly 2
4th    F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Kitty 51

Senior Champion – F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Empress 8
Reserve Senior Champion – F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Jinny 16

Class 9 & 10 – No Entries
Class 11 – Pair of heifers from classes 1 - 4
1st    P & C Ardrey
2nd    F S Johnston & Sons
3rd    Ledger Family

Class 12 – Pair of heifers from classes 5 – 8
1st    F S Johnston & Sons
2nd    P & C Ardrey
3rd    Den-Dia Partnership

Class 13 – Progeny Stakes
1st    P & C Ardrey
2nd    F S Johnston & Sons
3rd    Ledger Family

Class 14 – Exhibitors Group
1st    F S Johnston & Sons
2nd    P & C Ardrey
3rd    Ledger Family

Class 15 – Animal bred by licensed Semen classes 1 – 4
1st    P & C Ardrey
2nd    Love Family

Class 16 - Animal bred by licensed Semen classes 5 – 8
1st    P & C Ardrey

Class 17 – Animal bred by natural mating
1st    F S Johnston & Sons
2nd    P & C Ardrey
3rd    Ledger Family

Supreme Illawarra Exhibit – F S Johnston & Sons – Jondene Empress 8

WIDE BAY BURNETT ILLAWARRA CLUB CALF SHOW held 9th March 2014.

Judge:  Rob Lindsay, Warwick

Class 1:  Futurity Class - dry heifer exhibited at 2013 calf show
1st    Ledger Family - Riverwood Waffle 5 - pictured

2nd    Den Dia Partnership - Den Dia Minnie 9
3rd    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Blossom 13

Class 2:  Heifer born Oct/Nov 2013
1st    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene April
2nd    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Nell 47

Class 3:  Heifer born Aug/Sept 2013
1st    P & C Ardrey - Cheralyn Moira 42
2nd    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Little Princess 55
3rd    Ledger Family - Riverwood Madam 3

Class 4:  Heifer born July 2013
1st    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Joslyn 5
2nd    P & C Ardrey - Jondene Jinny 17
3rd    T & L Nicholls - Sunny View Pauline

Class 5:  Heifer born June 2013
1st    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Velda 10
2nd    Ledger Family - Riverwood Doris 17
3rd    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Joy

Junior Champion Heifer:  F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Velda 10 - pictured

Reserve Champion Junior Heifer:  F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Joslyn 5

Class 6:  Heifer born April/May 2013
1st    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Blossom 17
2nd    Ledger Family - Riverwood Bangle 2
3rd    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Little Princess 54

Class 7:  Heifer born Feb/Mar 2013
1st    Ledger Family - Riverwood Sapphire 6
2nd    Ledger Family - Riverwood Sugar Topsy
3rd    T & L Nicholls - Wanora Flats Butterfly

Class 8:  Heifer born Dec 2012/Jan 2013
1st    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Marlene 2
2nd    Den Dia Partnership - Den Dia Alice 4
3rd    Ledger Family - Riverwood Model 14

Class 9:  Heifer born Oct/Nov 2012
1st    Ledger Family - Riverwood Model 13
2nd    Den Dia Partnership - Den Dia Mary 5
3rd    F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Jackie 9

Senior Champion Heifer - F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Marlene 2 - pictured

Reserve Champion Senior Heifer - Ledger Family - Riverwood Model 13

Class 10:  Pen of 3 heifers - each from a different class
1st    F S Johnston & Sons
2nd    Ledger Family
3rd    Den Dia Partnership

Class 11:  Sire's Progeny - 2 head any age
1st    F S Johnston & Sons
2nd    Ledger Family
3rd    F S Johnston & Sons

Class 12:  Exhibitors Group - 4 head any age
1st    F S Johnston & Sons
2nd    Ledger Family
3rd    Den Dia Partnership

YOUNG PARADERS:
Under 12 years:
1st    Aydan Nicholls
2nd    Holly Nicholls

Over 12 years:
1st    Audrey Rose Torrilli
2nd    Josh Walshe