The Gatton Dairy Showcase saw an increase in entries of 190 head of dairy cattle, with all six breeds represented. The Illawarras had the strongest entry, with 62 heads entered from 11 exhibitors. Exhibitors are made to feel welcome and enjoy their stay, which suggests that this show will continue to grow. It was a freezing week with snow falling some 40 km south of Gatton.
The show was a triumph for Daryl and Leanne Priebbenow and their daughter Nicole, winning Senior Champion cow, Silverleigh Gina 23, and Honourable Mention Cow, Silverleigh Gina 27. These two cows, along with the Reserve Champion cow, Riverwood Moss 2, won the Interbreed Group of 3 cows.
Silverleigh Gina, 23, was at her second show. At the 2014 Toowoomba show, she won Intermediate Champion, going on to be the Supreme Illawarra exhibit. At Gatton, she was also Reserve Champion Interbreed Cow.
Ledger Family's Riverwood Moss 2, who has undoubtedly been the star of the Sunshine Coast shows this season, had to be satisfied with the Reserve Champion cow. At the Gatton Show, she was no longer an under-3-year-old, having to move up to the 3 -4 year milk class, but she lost no supporters.
With Moss 2 no longer eligible for the younger section, Steve Ledger brought out another Intermediate Champion in Riverwood Sapphire 6. Reserve Intermediate was White Park Polly 467 with Riverwood Model 13 being Honourable Mention.
The Junior section had good entries with FS Johnston & Sons' Jondene Velda 10 gaining the Championship. Jondene Velda 10 is a daughter of the noted uddered cow, Jondene Velda 7, a winner at Brisbane in 2014, who also won the Qld On-farm Challenge Best Udder. Reserve Junior Champion was Mike and Glenda Henry's White Park Joyce 32, with Honourable Mention going to Riverwood Model 18, exhibited by the Ledger Family.
Judge - Terry Tidcombe, now of Malanda, Qld.
Class 1: Heifer 6 Months & Under 10 Months
1st Allen Vale Marlene 23 - Allen Vale Illawarras, s. Lynonga Poplars Empire
2nd Cheralyn Moira 44 - P & C Ardrey, s. Kangawarra Sandman
3rd Tara Pammie 5 - M & G Henry, s. Creighton Park Elmo
Class 2: Heifer 10 Months & Under 15 Months
1st White Park Joyce 32 - M & G Henry, s. Tara Chester
2nd Riverwood Model 18 - Ledger Family, s. Happy Valley Parker
3rd Mount Vista 12 - R & S Voss, Venvale Phanta
Class 3: Heifer 15 Months & Under 20 Months
1st Jondene Kitty 54 - F S Johnston & Sons, s. Happy Valley Parker
2nd Silverleigh Marlene 93 - D Priebbenow, s. Silverleigh Creedence
3rd Cheralyn Moira 43 - P & C Ardrey, s. Silverleigh DUnder ncan
Class 4: Heifer 20 Months & Under 2 Years dry
1st Jondene Velda 10 - F S Johnston & Sons, s. Jondene Design
2nd Riverwood Sapphire 7 - Ledger Family, s. Riverwood Panther
3rd Tara Cherry - M & G Henry, s. Panorama Attention
CHAMPION JUnder NIOR HEIFER - JONDENE VELDA 10 - F S JOHNSTON & SONS
RESERVE CHAMPION JUnder NIOR - WHITE PARK JOYCE 32 - M & G HENRY
HONORABLE MENTION JUnder NIOR - RIVERWOOD MODEL 18 - LEDGER FAMILY
Class 5: Heifer 2 Years & Under 3 Years dry
1st Jondene Dainty 113 - F S Johnston & Sons, s. Jondene Ford
2nd Moyola Sunshine 73 - Allen Vale Illawarras, s. Panorama Attraction
3rd Myall LandcrUnder iser Freckles 2 - C Vonhoff, s. Myall LandcrUnder iser
Class 6: Heifer 18 Months & Under 2 Years in milk
no entries
Class 7: Heifer 2 Years & Under 2.5 Years in milk
1st Riverwood Sapphire 6 - Ledger Family, s. Rosedale Archie
2nd Den Dia Primrose 7 - Canning & Hinrichs Family, s. Happy Valley Democrat
Class 8: Heifer 2.5 Years & Under 3 Years in milk
1st White Park Polly 467 - M & G Henry, s. Venvale Phanta
2nd Riverwood Model 13 - Ledger Family, s. Rosedale Archie
3rd Tara Tracey 2 - M & G Henry, s.
Class 9: Heifer - Best Udder & Attachment Under 3 Years
1st Riverwood Sapphire 6 - Ledger Family, s. Rosedale Archie
2nd White Park Polly 467 - M & G Henry, s. Venvale Phanta
3rd Riverwood Model 13 - Ledger Family, s. Rosedale Archie
CHAMPION INTERMEDIATE - RIVERWOOD SAPPHIRE 6 - LEDGER FAMILY
RESERVE CHAMPION INTERMEDIATE - WHITE PARK POLLY 467 - M & G HENRY
HONOURABLE MENTION INTERMEDIATE - RIVERWOOD MODEL 13 - LEDGER FAMILY.
Class 10: Cow 3 Years & Under 5 Years dry
1st Jondene Barbara 18 - F S Johnston & Sons, s. Jondene Lucky
2nd Mount Vista Tulip 10 - R & S Voss, s. Panorama Aramis
3rd Den Dia Quetta 43 - Canning & Hinrichs Family, s. Moyola Adventurer
Class 11: Cow 5 Years & over dry
1st Jondene Blossom 2 - Allen Vale Illawarras, s. Carrousel Distrigene
2nd Jondene Josephene 76 - F S Johnston & Sons, s. Jondene Lucky
3rd Chelmadale Tulips April - R & S Voss, s. Happy Valley Apex
Class 12: Cow 3 Years & Under 4 Years in milk
1st Riverwood Moss 2 - Ledger Family, s. Riverwood Kingston
2nd Silverleigh Gina 27 - D Priebbenow, s. Apples Absolute Red
3rd Tara Bounce 4 - R & S Voss, s. Glenbrook Kosciusko
Class 13: Cow 4 Years & Under 5 Years in milk
1st Silverleigh Gina 23 - D Priebbenow, s. Silverleigh Maverick
2nd Venvale Thelma 121 - M & G Henry, s. Llandovery Verbs Viscount
3rd Tara Vision 5 - M & G Henry, s. Jondene Jubilee
Class 14: Cow 5 Years & Under 6 Years in milk
no entries
Class 15: Cow 6 Years & Under 7 Years in milk
1st Riverwood Bonnie 2 - Ledger Family, s. Venvale Prudino
2nd Allen Vale Blossom 15 - Allen Vale Illawarras, s. Panorama Royal Treble
3rd Mount Vista April - R & S Voss, s. Mount Vista Fancy's Design
Class 16: Cow 7 Years & over in milk
1st White Park Minnie 29 - M & G Henry, s. LG Bygold
2nd Den Dia Minnie 5 - Den Dia Partnership, s. Fyn Aks
3rd Jondene Buttercup 82 - F S Johnston & Sons, s. Jondene Lucky
Class 17: Best Udder & Attachment over 3 Years
1st Silverleigh Gina 23 - D Priebbenow, s. Silverleigh Maverick
2nd Silverleigh Gina 27 - D Priebbenow, s. Apples Absolute Red
3rd Riverwood Moss 2 - Ledger Family, s. Riverwood Kingston
CHAMPION COW - SILVERLEIGH GINA 23 - D. PRIEBBENOW
RESERVE CHAMPION COW - RIVERWOOD MOSS 2 - LEDGER FAMILY
HONOURABLE MENTION COW - SILVERLEIGH GINA 27 - D PRIEBBENOW
Class 18: Illawarra Bull over 9 months old
1st Whispering Rose Mount GE Romino - Canning & Hinrichs Family, s. Mount Vista April's Surprise
Class 19: Pen of 3 Heifers Under 3 Years
1st Ledger Family
2nd M & G Henry
3rd F S Johnston & Sons
Class 20: Pen of 3 Cows, 3 Years & over
1st M & G Henry
2nd Ledger Family
3rd R & S Voss
Class 21: Maternally Related Illawarra Pair
1st Ledger Family
2nd Allen Vale Illawarras
3rd R & S Voss
Class 22: Progeny of Illawarra Sire - 2 females, any age
1st Ledger Family - Rosedale Archie
2nd M & G Henry - Venvale Phanta
3rd F S Johnston & Sons - Jondene Lucky
Class 23: Exhibitors Group - 2 females over 3 Years, plus two females under 3 Years
1st Ledger Family
2nd M & G Henry
3rd F S Johnston & Sons
Most Successful Exhibitor:
1st Ledger Family
2nd M & G Henry
3rd F S Johnston & Sons
Matt Henry at the 2015 Gatton Dairy Showcase (photo: Lara Webster, ABC)