A total of 160 head of cattle were exhibited at this year’s southern Droughtmaster Feature Show held at Gympie on Thursday.
Taking on the tough job of choosing the champions was judge David Greenup, Rosevale Santa Gertrudis, Jandowae and associate judge Megan Krause from Miles in western Queensland.
“They have a fair cross section of studs from a large area represented in the feature show,” Mr Greenup said.
The first champions of the day was bull calf Payola Falcon 209 and exhibited by Payola Droughtmasters.
Next award was for the Female Calf Champion won by Bryvonlea Princess May, Bryvonlea Droughtmasters and reserve champion was Glenlands Vanna.
The Junior Champion Bull was awarded to Farogan Valley Chief, Farogan Valley Droughtmasters and Reserve Champion Junior Bull was Glenlands Voltage.
The Junior Champion Female was awarded to Glenlands Vanetta and Reserve Junior Champion Female went to Bryvonlea Swan 2.
Senior Champion Bull of the Droughtmaster Feature Show was Glenlands Unlimited and Reserve Champion Bull was Carnudge Eugene Fitzherbert, Carnudge Droughtmasters.
Overall, the Grand Champion Droughtmaster bull went to the junior champion Farogan Valley Chief.
The Senior Champion Female was Farogan Valley Aura with Reserve Champion Female going to Nindethana Giselle.
The overall Grand Champion Female was awarded to the senior cow Farogan Valley Aura with a bull calf at foot.
With the final Supreme Exhibit to be judged it came down to a decision between full brother and sister, Farogan Valley Chief bull and Farogan Valley Aura cow and calf, owned by Nick and Sarah Hughes, Farogan Valley Droughtmasters, Upper Kandanga. Both were out of Farogan Valley owned cow called Pine Valley 2801 and sired by Strathfield XXXX Gold.
The 21-month-old Farogan Valley Chief bull was awarded the 2017 Supreme Champion Droughtmaster Exhibit.
“Our bull called Chief has performed extremely well on the show circuit this year with a Supreme Exhibit win at Gayndah Show, Tropical Champion at Kingaroy Show and Junior Champion Bull at Monto Show,” Mr Hughes said.
“We have only been showing Droughtmasters for four years, but we started with a commercial Droughtmaster cattle herd 12 years ago.
“We have been so nervous all day because we came to the feature show hoping to win a class, so to get the supreme exhibit is very overwhelming.”
Mr Hughes added his Chief Droughtmaster bull has always stood out to them as a quality sire and will now be presented at Brisbane Royal in August.
“The supreme exhibit was an exceptional bull with traits I think are really favourable to the future of the Droughtmaster breed,” judge Greenup said.