A chance of rain greeted attendees at the Clermont Beef Expo on Wednesday, where the theme of the day was all about drought proofing your dollars.
A yarding of 1157 head of exceptional quality prime and store cattle were judged and sold, with the steer market hitting a top of 358c/kg, while heifers sold to 322c/kg.
The Fernie family, Riverview Cattle Co, Clermont, claimed the grand champion exhibit title for their pen of Droughtmaster-cross bullocks, which were also named the pen of jap ox bullocks - grain assist/crop fed and the champion pen of prime cattle.
The sale opened with the grand champion pen, and demand was clear as the market quickly hit 345c/kg.
Hugh Fernie said it was great to get the win, and the cattle looked "bloody unreal" considering the season.
"A lot of work has gone into them to get them where they are," Mr Fernie said.
"They've had their fair share of ups and downs, and they're the tail end of the drought.
"It's good to see a fair turnout here and a good lineup of cattle to make it all worthwhile."
Hoch & Wilkinson agent Jake Passfield said it was a quality yarding of cattle.
"Just weight for age in a lot of these younger bullocks that we sold, and the younger females were impeccable," he said.
"It's a testament to the vendors and to the Clermont country - even in a tough season it can produce a quality article.
"There wasn't a bad beast in the yard and vendors were very well rewarded."
The champion pen of store cattle, entered by Khartoum Station, Clermont, made 304c/kg, and the supreme champion beast, awarded to Burenda Angus, made 348c/kg.
The day kicked off with a fundraising breakfast cooked by the CWA ladies, with all proceeds going to Smash SMARD - an organisation that supports medical research and awareness for the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress (SMARD).
