Home to things you’ve heard of but never seen — plus a hundred experts ready to take questions — the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo has become a key event in the central Victorian calender.
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The 2022 event was no different, with an estimated 20,000 people walking through the gates.
Most of that 20,000 would have left weighed down by bags and the occasional plant — perhaps a half-price wood axe over one shoulder, new horse lead and a pocket full of business cards.
Event organiser Jamie Gilbert said the wood chopping championships on Sunday were a highlight.
“The championships on Sunday afternoon and the shows they did before where they’d race chainsaws were unreal,” Mr Gilbert said.
“The crowds were massive.”
Peter Hodge was running the camel rides — a critical piece of entertainment for many children.
Mr Hodge said the move last year to April instead of February was a good one and he was glad the organisers had permanently moved the date backwards.
“Friday has been pretty quiet compared to last year, but not as quiet as a Friday back when the expo was in February,” Mr Hodge said.
“Saturday is the busiest. I’ll have some family helping out then.”
Down at the poultry pavilion pens of prized pullets were already disappearing and “SOLD” markers going up by Friday lunch.
Traditionally the poultry pavilion sells about 50 per cent of their birds on the Friday, but Seymour Poultry Club president Liz Vidos said it depended on the year.
“The keen ones come on Friday,” she said.
“They’re able to get what they want.”
On the sheep side of things, Yarrawonga farmer John Beattie was showing his Lincoln stud animals, famous for their curly wool and meat frame.
“I haven’t missed a Seymour expo since they started in 1991,” Mr Beattie said.
“I think it’s gotten better, now that we’re running at a cooler time and we’re in a better shed with open sides and high ceilings.”
Fellow sheep enthusiast Les Stevenson from Tungamah said there were a few “tyre kickers” on Friday, but quite a number were stopping to ask about his Bond sheep.
“The Merino farmers are trying to breed a dual-purpose sheep now, but these are the real meat Merino,” Mr Stevenson said.
Deniliquin grazier Jason O’Loghlin said the milder weather in April meant the attendee patterns had changed.
“Normally everyone would come through in the morning to beat the heat, but now they trickle in, get lunch and come back,” Mr O’Loghlin said.
Mr O’Loghlin had several Wiltshire Horn sheep at the expo.
“People come up because they recognise them. They’re a very old British breed and the original self-shedder.”
Over in the outdoor cattle area Brahman exhibitor George Mercieca from Kyneton said he was saving his energy for Saturday.
“Saturday is the day for people who have money. That’s when the full-time workers and lawyers come,” he said.
“Friday is for the farmers.”
Kerang-based Bazadais stud breeder Darren Gurnett was showing his cattle alongside a family member’s sheep.
“It’s interesting, the sheep have been getting less attention than the cattle,” Mr Gurnett said.
“The Bazadais are a French cow and one of the highest-yielding cattle you can get for muscle. We’ve made them polled and now we’re working on making them black. Black cattle always sell for more.”
Daniel Boote from Avenel Ridge Alpacas said on Friday morning he had been asked five times about herd guards.
“We don’t have enough of them (castrated males) and there is a shortage,” Mr Boote said.
“Ninety per cent of the farmers who use alpacas as herd guards will come up and tell me how much they’re saving the farm in livestock loss.
“People underestimate them, but I ask ‘have you ever been kicked by an alpaca?’ That usually works.”
Journalist