THIS year pig breeders Colin and Joy Lienert celebrate their 58th and final Royal Adelaide Show - and 84th royal across the nation - ending a truly remarkable show association for their Lynjoleen stud at Shea-Oak Log.
Colin says the Royal Adelaide Show - and pig judging - have changed dramatically over the many years he and Joy have exhibited their world-leading Berkshires.
"Our first show was in 1957 and back then there were three sheds full of pigs," he said.
"The Berkshire shed was where the beef cattle are located now.
"Back then, the sheds were filled up with Large Blacks and Tamworths, which were the predominant breeds in those days, along with Berkshires and Large Whites.
"All the judging was done in the raceway - there were no judging rings."
Colin and Joy enjoyed success with their pigs right from the start.
"In our very first showing we showed three pigs and we won two firsts, a fourth and a reserve champion," he said. "We haven't missed a Royal since then."
Colin and a fellow breeder played a major hand in setting up one of the most popular attractions at the show today.
"The show never used to have a big animal nursery," he said. "The first animal nursery was set up - opposite the wood cutting - by Adelaide Hills producer Colin McKechnie and myself."
Although Colin and Joy are known for their pigs, it was another animal that caught Colin's eye early on.
"One of the highlights of the early showing days was the beautiful Clydesdale horses, in particular those shown by Clem and Eddie Loffler of Neales Flat," he said. "The Lofflers were also very good Large White breeders and ran the Edenbrae stud."
It was through the Clydesdales that Colin gained his first show experience.
"I used to go every show time before I started showing pigs and watch Clem and Eddie Loffler with their Clydesdales and help lead their Clydesdales in the grand parade," he said.
"My family was breeding Clydesdales at the time. It was how I first got into showing. I was going with my dad to local country shows like Gawler, Tanunda, and Freeling."
Relationships formed along the show journey have been high points.
"A highlight of our showing has really been the friendships formed with fellow breeders," he said. "They are a very fine bunch of people and we really became like family."
One of the closest friends they made was Lindsay Baker, Mallbrae stud, Wild Horse Plains.
"We shared many successes and also much sadness," he said.
"When I think back, I think one of the greatest achievements made by a pig breeder came from Lindsay and Margaret Baker of the Mallbrae stud. In one year they exhibited pigs in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney and were most successful at all of those shows."
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 11, 2014 issue.
