The Swiss-bred Valais Blacknose sheep was a hit at this year's Seymour Alternative Farming Expo and will be a new breed displayed at the Best Sheep & Wool Show, with Bec Waddell managing a display.
This year’s Best Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo on July 19 to 21 will showcase a new breed of sheep among the usual fare of high-quality exhibitions and guest speakers.
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The Valais Blacknose is a breed from Switzerland and has started making a bit of a show around regional areas, including this year’s Seymour Alternative Farming Expo.
Best Sheep & Wool Show chief executive officer Margot Falconer said every year people were looking for something different.
“We will have the Valais Blacknose sheep, but this year’s feature breed will be the Dounie Merino, which is a dual purpose sheep,” Ms Falconer said.
“With state government support we are also running the Festival of Lamb called ‘Local Heroes’ which showcases agri-producers.
“And the shearing is back, the dogs are back, the fashions are back.”
Ms Falconer highlighted the diversity of fashion on display, with two fashion shows being held on each day.
“Australian Wool Innovation send down their runway collection,” she said.
“Woolcraft put forward the best of their designs, so there is a Woolcraft parade, and the rest of the parade is put together from the fashion site holders.”
The fashions return to tear up the runway at this year's Best Sheep & Wool Show.
Photo by
Peter Weaving
Ms Falconer said there was a ‘theatre’ component of the event which balanced the serious aspect of sheep showing and seminars.
“If you ask me what the most popular part of the show is, it’s the dog trials and the shearing that attract huge audiences,” she said.
The event is the largest show of its kind in the world and normally welcomes between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors each year.
“That number often fluctuates; it depends on the weather.”
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