This year’s Seymour Alternative Farming Expo was another success, with large crowds visiting a range of displays presented by businesses and enthusiasts alike.
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Kings Park was the place to be over the weekend, although this year the stalls circled the oval instead of covering it, as the oval is still recovering from last year’s flood.
Commercial displays ranged from tractor and pump demonstrations to small-sized gardening and hobby enterprises.
Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens welcomed visitors to the event’s 32nd year and said that all things agricultural were a vital part of the expo.
“The event brings new and exciting diversity in the agricultural industry and the expo provides opportunity to get up close and personal and learn from many experts,” Cr Stevens said.
“It tailors to most beginners and those wishing to improve their knowledge and skills.”
Among the animal exhibitors was Julia Webster from the Poll Highland Cattle Society with two bull calves reared from the 55 head on her 34-hectare property east of Ballarat.
Highland cows, known in Scotland as ‘Hielan coos’, have always been popular with visitors, but Ms Webster said Poll Highlands, bred without the traditional long horns, had the advantage of being easier to handle in yards.
Poll Highlands were first bred from crossing Belted Galloways over typical Highlands in 2005.
“It takes four generations of breeding to classify them as polled,” Ms Webster said.
Visitors to the expo were unanimous in their praise of it having such a relaxed and local feel.
Arisah Anella travelled from Sydney to enjoy the company of friends and said the event had more of a community feel compared to royal shows in capital cities.
“We’ve come to see the animals and stalls and to support the local community,” Ms Anella said.
“It’s just so relaxed.”
Youngster Horatio Lehmann led the camel caravan run by Peter Hodges atop the entourage leader, Bam-Bam.
Horatio’s mother Amy Lehmann said her dream of taking a camel home would not be approved by her husband.
“Would I buy one? Oh definitely!” Mrs Lehmann said.
Mr Hodge said a sale could be arranged.
“I have plenty of spare camels. I have 32 all up,” he said.
Anneke Homan and Paul MacPhail had two of their kelpies on display, holding a small flock of sheep with their skill.
Ms Homan moved to Australia from the Netherlands 12 years ago and said she had been training kelpies ever since “falling in love” with them.
“I didn’t know what a kelpie was until I got here,” she said.
“The breed started out as the Scottish collie and then we got them out here in the mid-1800s,” Mr McPhail said.
“One of the early dogs was called ‘Kelpie’ which became a line and is now a breed.”
Luke Weekley and Phil Lyons, from Mornington, displayed two cutting-edge drones that are becoming popular with farmers.
“We map thermal or multispectral imaging to identify soil moisture, which is useful for Australia which is about to go into El Niño,” Mr Weekley said.
“You don’t need a licence to fly one of these on your property.
“Using this technology will tell you straight away how good your land care management is going.”
Also on display was a whip-cracking demonstration where visitors were free to try their skills.
Nine-year-old Ivy Haines said whip-cracking was one of her favourite skills as she demonstrated her finesse with two whips.
“I like the sound that the whips make and the movement it takes to make them crack,” Ivy said.
“I also like to learn new tricks.”
McPherson Media Group event manager Jamie Gilbert was thrilled with the numbers through the gates.
“Across the three days we had a really good crowds, particularly on the Sunday with the great weather,” Mr Gilbert said.
He said there had been a record number of exhibitors — more than 400 — with excellent feedback on the event from visitors as well as from site holders.
Mr Gilbert said next year’s expo would run from April 12 to 14, 2024.