A minutes silence was observed before the start of the Merino and Poll Merino ram sale at Willandra, Jerilderie.
Led by Willandra studmaster Ross Wells, it commemorated the tragic death of local wool grower Mark Wettenhall in a farming accident.
The late Mr Wettenhall was very well respected in the Jerilderie district and was a longterm client of the Willandra stud.
At the 2019 John Wells Memorial Sheep Sale in Jerilderie, the Wettenhall family were presented with the shield for highest price pen by Ross Wells.
Also, before the sale started Ross Wells acknowledged the support and wisdom he has received from Steve Phillips for the past 45 years as Mr Phillips steps down from the stud classing at Willandra but is retained as stud consultant.
For 34 of those years, Mr Phillips was the stud classer having taken over from Tony Watson who also classed the Willandra flock for 34 years.
Chris Bowman is the new Willandra stud classer.
Sale results :-
119 sold from 130 to top $13,000, average $2733.
Top price at $13,000 was paid for a Merino ram by George Simpson, Yooroobla Pastoral Co, Jerilderie.
Mr Simpson is a longterm client of Willandra and each year his surplus sheep are sold for high prices at the Jerilderie sheep sales.
Top price in the Poll Merino draft was $7000 paid by Brumpton Pastoral Co, Mitchell, Queensland.
- Full report next week
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