With the impact of the pandemic putting a halt to Queensland agricultural shows this year, cattle breeders are turning to alternative ways to showcase their cattle, in a COVID-Safe manner.
Held on Saturday, the Goomeri Beef Summer Show provided breeders with the chance to get their cattle out in preparation for 2021 showing season.
Traveling from the Darling Downs, Scenic Rim and the Burnett, up to 29 exhibitors offered 94 head of cattle to be judged by Simon Kinbacher from Garthowen Droughtmasters and Elders Rockhampton.
Grand champion bull and supreme exhibit went to Bryvonlea Volvo, Bryvonlea Droughtmasters, while Jen-Daview Quality, owned by Silverleaf Limousins, was sashed grand champion female.
Professional cattle handlers, Les and Leanne Lee, Leegra Fitting Service, first developed the idea of the summer show after talking with locals and fellow cattle handlers in their area.
Highly motivated to prepare cattle for the 2021 sale season and after the success of the Imbil Show Society's special beef show, Ms Lee said breeders were exited to showcase their cattle again.
"Everyone's got young cattle that they want to get broken in and get out before they get too big before next year," Ms Lee said.
"Everyone was just missing the shows and Imbil Show did something very similar about a month ago and we thought, 'why don't we organise something', and we did.
"We had a lot of responses to start off with and we thought if we got 60 head it would be great, but to get 94 cattle registered was really good and shows you how keen people are to get out."
During the normal showing season, Leegra attend and showcase cattle for studs at between 20 and 25 shows a year.
However, with the impact from the pandemic, they were only able to attend just five shows this year.
"It was pretty tough initially, but then people thought, 'well, why stop, everything's going to start up again next year', so it got really busy and everyone's been sending a lot of their weaner cattle to be broken in," Ms Lee said.
"We've been getting a lot of people wanting to send their sale bulls for next year to be handled so we've actually been inundated."
Leegra Fitting Service first started in 1988 and has since established business across Queensland, providing professional preparation of show and sale cattle.
The Lees mainly showcase in the South Burnett, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Sydney, Brisbane, out on the Darling Downs up to Emerald.
Excited by the return of Beef Australia 2021, the Lees will also be celebrating 30 of years in business next year.
"I was originally showing horses when I met Les at the Gympie Show and we've been married for 20 years and Les has had the business going for 10 years before that, so just over 20 years for myself," Ms Lee said.
"I think, more and more people are realising that you've got to use the shows as a marketing tool.
"A lot of our clients have realised showing cattle is one of the best forms of marketing, especially with showing young bulls and taking them through to the sale."
Goomeri Beef Summer Show results
- Calf champion female - Jen-Daview Quality, Silverleaf limousins
- Res calf female - Michicki Obsession, Michicki Droughtmasters
- Junior ch female - Bandeeka Q Fortune, KBV Simmentals
- Res jnr female - Jen-Daview Quiet Achiever, Jen-Daview Limousins
- Senior champion female - Cedar Brook Milkshake, TN4 Brahmans
- Res ch female - AAA Photo Finish M9
- Grand champion female - Jen-Daview Quality, Silverleaf Limousins
- Calf champion bull - Bryvonlea Volvo, Bryvonlea Droughtmasters
- Res calf bull - Jen-Daview Rukus, Jen-Daview Limousins
- Junior ch bull - Meldon Park Queanbeyan, Meldon Park Simmentals
- Res ch bull - Bryvonlea Victor, Bryvonlea Droughtmasters
- Senior ch bull -Leverdale Tsunami, Leverdale Droughtmasters
- Res snr bull - Diamond Valley Aviator, Diamond Valley Brangus
- Grand champion bull - Bryvonlea Volvo
- Supreme exhibit - Bryvonlea Volvo
- Champion led steer - Yogi, TN4 Led Steers
- Res champion led steer - Smithfield's Sapphire, Proston SS and Smithfield Cattle Co