Riverina Merino 2008

Riverina Merino awarded a trio of coveted Industry Awards at the Hay Merino Sheep Show on June 3, including the Elders Riverina Ram of the Year and the well-known Riverina Ambassador and Junior Judging awards tailored to develop young Merino industry members. Riverina Merino’s new marketing initiatives, which will see group members attending several large events throughout 2006, form the basis of an exciting promotional program designed to take the Riverina Merino message to a greater local, interstate and global audience through strategically targeted industry events.

Riverina Merino’s upcoming 2006 appearances include Western Australia’s giant Katanning Show, Sale and Expo on July 10-11, the Merino Innovation Day at The Grange - Upper Swan on July 12, Bendigo’s Australian Sheep and Wool Show and Export Ram Sale on July 21-23, the Hamilton Sheepvention on August 7 and 8, and the Dubbo National Merino Sheep Show and Export Ram Sale on August 29 and 30.

At Saturday’s Hay Merino Sheep Show, the 2006 Elders Riverina Ram of the Year was won by Pooginook Merino’s P/GK Balance from a field of twelve strong contenders. Senior Judge Ross McGauchie judged P/GK Balance to be an outstanding, impressive, and very correct ram.

Riverina Merino President and Pooginook Stud Principal David Taylor was delighted with the result and says the win is especially significant because Balance’s stud line is the foundation of the modern Merino type at Pooginook and the whole team worked hard to achieve the result. ‘P/GK Balance is an uncomplicated pure wool ram on a rectangular structure’, he says. ‘He is the son of an infusion of a Toland ram through artificial insemination and is the basis of our line that we’ve named the Four Corners Family. Visitors to Katanning, Bendigo and Hamilton will be able to see some of the Four Corners rams and some will be available for sale at the interstate events and at our on-property sale on October 3.’

The other June 3 presentations at Hay continue Riverina Merino’s long-term support of ambitious young people. Merial’s Noel Reid Young Riverina Ambassador Award, which offers a place at the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership program to the winner, was awarded to Angus Munro of Hay’s Uardry stud. Landmark’s Pennefather Perpetual Trophy for the Best Junior Judge, with its first prize of a study tour to New Zealand, was won by John Ryan of Uardry. Second prize in the Pennefather Perpetual Trophy was awarded to Caleb Thomson (Uardry) and third place was awarded to Nick Dowling (Uardry).

President David Taylor is enthusiastic about Riverina Merino’s marketing plans and knows how much the interstate event appearances will benefit all members. ‘Today’s Merino industry landscape is much different to a decade ago and all of our members understand the importance of pro-active marketing, consistently improving our product through genetic research, and getting the message out in an increasingly competitive market,’ he says.

As well as pursuing new marketing initiatives, Riverina Merino’s group of more than 30 studs work hard to improve bloodlines through dedicated management and research programs. In addition to a full on-property Spring Ram Sale Calendar beginning in September, the group offer a free newsletter and a comprehensive website displaying the latest in show and sale results.