We’ve decided to write a newsletter every couple of months to keep you up to date with what’s happening at Fairy Springs.

GYMPIE FEMALE SALE  

Early June we took 6 heifers to the Gympie Female sale.  We had a very successful sale with 4 PTIC heifers averaging $8500 and 2 unjoined heifers averaging $6500.

Our top price heifer, Fairy Springs Dowager, sold to Lint and Tracey Davies, Cooran, Via Gympie, for $10000.  The Walther family, of “Roseborough” at Lowood, purchased Miss Madonna for $9000.  Barbara Matherson of Kingaroy purchased Miss Rena, and Flying Miss for $8500 and $6500.

Our 2 unjoined heifers went to Craig Beisell of Wallumbilla for $8000 and John and Catherine Byrne, Cooran for $5000.  We would like to thank the underbidders and wish the purchasers well with their heifers.

JUNIOR BEEF SHOW  

Joe and Sarah attended the 3 day Rockhampton Junior Beef show run by the Australian Brahman Breeders Assoc at the end of June.  This year saw 94 participants aged from 5 up to 25 years of age compete.  Sarah was thrilled to win the open age group 18 - 25, winning the Landmark Junior Beef Scholarship prize of $500.  She intends to put this towards a trip to New Zealand to look at their cattle industry and agricultural practices during her summer break from Uni. 

This is the 9th year Joe and Sarah have attended the Junior Beef show, and they have really appreciated the work the committee and guest speakers have put into teaching young people about judging and showing stud and trade cattle.

EMERALD AG-GROW

Eddie and Debbie attended Emerald Ag-grow in early July.  They took a couple of bulls from the Brahman Week team, a couple of replacement heifers, and a junior bull.

It was a great few days with absolutely everything on display, from tractors to tools, tanks and cattle licks, clothing, hats, furniture and wines.  There was something for everyone, also a bull and horse sale, trade cattle judging and sale and working dogs.  It certainly was a very sociable time and very well attended.

We enjoyed meeting with people and discussing their bull requirements for the coming season.

LACK OF RAIN

It’s turned very dry with our last rainfall of 17ml on the 29th April.  The year started very well for us with good falls in January and February which produced good pasture growth.  We still have a good amount of dry feed and are looking at starting a supplement feeding programme for our breeders shortly.

THE CATTLE

We did a full round of weaning in early June and another in mid July.  They are now being educated with horses and dogs.

We’ve nominated 16 bulls for Brahman Week.  They will sell early afternoon on the first day, Wednesday 6th October Lot Nos. 175 - 190.  The bulls are currently running in a small paddock and will be coming into the yards shortly in preparation for the sale. Six bulls have been nominated for the Monto All Breeds sale to be held on 11 September.   Inspections prior to the sales are most welcome.

Paddock reared bulls were put onto oats on 25th June and will be available later in the year.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Joe is currently enjoying a working holiday in the Northern Territory.  He is travelling with his school mate from St. Brendans College days, Bryson Hawkins.  They attended Katherine Show, and caught up with mate Aaron Kurtz, who works for Landmark in Katherine. 

They are spending a week or so on Camfield Station helping manager Jim McAdam muster steers for an export order.  They then go to neighbouring Pigeon Hole Station to catch up with a friend from home, Lindy Symes.  Then they make their way back to Mt Isa for the great Isa rodeo.

SARAH’S BREAK

Sarah is at the end of her mid year break from Uni.  She started it off with her best mate Paula Walker’s 21st at Clermont at the end of June.  Then attended Junior Beef show and spent time mustering at Blackwater, home and Mundubbera as well as fencing, to earn a few dollars.

She is currently on the 3rd year Ag tour.  They are camping at the Leslie Dam near Warwick looking at feedlots, dairying, cropping and cattle in the Warwick and Stanthorpe areas. 

She will certainly be experiencing some winter weather.

NEIL MCDONALD SCHOOL

Eddie and Debbie are attending a Neil McDonald school on low stress cattle handling this weekend, at Eddie Hackmanns property at Alton Downs.  They are very happy with skills they learnt at a Bud Williams school last year at Emerald and look forward to learning Neil’s approach to low stress cattle handling.  

WELCOME