When Nadine and David Richards heard they had won this year's Queensland Country Life Win a Pen of Santa Steers competition, they were over the moon.
Santa Gertrudis producers themselves, the Richards run two properties, Daymar and Eltoma about 50 to 60km from Roma, totalling about 2023 hectares.
"It was so good to hear because we've been putting in water infrastructure at Eltoma," Ms Richards said.
"We had just rolled out three kilometres of poly pipe and gone home to have some lunch when I got the call."
Ms Richards said the whole family was thrilled to win the pen from their single competition entry.
"It was totally unexpected," she said.
"It's nice to have something like this happen after having been dry for so long.
"We know our floor boards are good because we were all jumping around."
The Richards jumped up early on Wednesday morning to see the pen go under the hammer at Dalby Saleyards.
The pen were sold by GDL, Dalby, and made 348.2c/kg for 660kg to make $2298/head, with half of the proceeds going to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The steers were purchased by JBS Australia.
The Richards' share of the proceeds will go straight towards feed costs, but any bigger celebrations may be delayed until better conditions prevail.
"When it rains, we'll celebrate," Ms Richards said.
"It was nice to come out and see some fat cattle get sold."
The pen of six purebred Santa Gertrudis steers were this year donated by Dunlop Santa Gertrudis, Proston, and fed for 100 days at Morgan Pastoral Company's Kurrawong Feedlot near Quinalow.
Stud principal Scott Dunlop said they were pleased to support the Win a Pen of Santa Steers competition.
"I think it's an extremely worthy cause and so important for rural areas," he said.
RFDS treasurer of the Darling Downs volunteer auxiliary Libby Gardiner said she wanted to thank the Dunlops for their generous donation, which has helped to raise vital funds for the service.
"The cattle have been wonderfully prepared as well to ensure a top price," Ms Gardiner said.