FOR Robert Hart, Glen Devon Poll Dorset stud, Two Wells, the Royal Adelaide Show is a big annual highlight – he has missed only a couple of events in the past 60 years.
His earliest memories are of holding Dorset Horn lambs for his family's Glen Devon stud at Two Wells when he was in primary school.
Since then he has spent many hours in the sheep shed holding rams and ewes – including several broad-ribbon winners.
In his role as chairman of the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA Council, Robert oversees works of representatives of the sectional committees involved in organising and conducting SA's largest annual event, and their staff.
It is an honour that he does not take lightly.
He says all of the councillors recognise and respect the work of their predecessors, and feel a strong obligation to ensure it remains one of the nation's best-supported royal show.
"I feel really proud being part of a successful organisation with its own unique culture driven by the dedication of volunteers over the past 175 years," Robert said.
"The strength of the show is the volunteer work done by the sectional committee representatives – it is a bottom-up approach that really works."
This year, the show has 33,529 competitive entries in 62 sections of which 10 sections have record numbers.
Robert was elected to the pastoral committee which oversees the sheep and wool section in 1998. He was then elected to the council executive in 2004 and became a board member in 2007 before moving into the role of chairman in 2012.
Showing is a proud tradition for the Hart family, with Robert's late father Les first exhibiting Dorset Horns more than 80 years ago.
Their Poll Dorset stud was founded in 1959, and has since shown almost continuously.
"The championships are a highlight of course but we have been lucky enough to win the ram lamb and ewe lamb classes regularly, " Robert said.
"This is great – being a terminal sheep breed. As an exhibitor I really enjoy the fellowship with exhibitors from around Australia, many that you only see at show time once a year.
"I also enjoy the vibrancy of the whole show experience, from commercial exhibits to the many displays and competitions along with the excitement of the carnival atmosphere."
Robert says the Farmyard Nursery is a particularly important attraction, giving many young children the opportunity to see and touch farm animals for the first time.
"The look of wonderment on children's faces when they are holding a day-old chicken is just terrific," he said.
"It really helps the city-country connection. There are very few events which really bring the city and country together like the show."
Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
