A last-minute decision by the Graetz family to exhibit top young ram lambs in the judging of the All Purpose Pen of Two ram lambs at the Elders SA Stud Merino Expo paid off with them winning a new motorbike.
Earlier this month at their local Mundulla show their Ashrose stud won supreme Merino exhibit with one of the two AI-bred Orrie Cowie Casper sons.
While there, a few breeders encouraged them to make the trek to Burra with their heavy cutting, rich white wool sheep.
Tim Graetz said winning the all purpose class, which is judged on both wool and meat traits and measurements was a real highlight for the stud on their first attempt.
"It is a real feather in the cap to win with so many top sheep in the class- we're very proud of them," he said.
The 11-month-olds had almost identical figures, both weighing 88 kilograms and carrying a 19.2 micron fleece with a 99.5 per cent comfort factor.
One had an eye muscle depth of 36.6mm while the other was 35.1mm.
"It was a bit of a gamble not knowing how they would test up but they are peas in a pod," Mr Graetz said.
Both young sires will be offered for sale later in the year, either on-property, at Adelaide or Bendigo.
Merino enthusiasts from four Australian states and Uruguay converged on the Expo ensuring the biggest crowd in years.
Twenty-three studs showcased their upcoming sale rams and stud reserves at the central location at the Burra Oval, while 11 studs opened their gates on Monday, making some strong sales.
The ribbons were well-spread in the judging under the astute eye of judge Grantley Mullan, Eastville Park stud, Wickepin, WA, who was looking for heavy cutting sheep with scale and bone.
The Ashby family, North Ashrose stud, Gulnare, claimed victory in the Elders Field Day Ram of the Year with an upstanding horned ram, NA 4119, with great presence weighing more than 150 kilograms.
Their prize was a Universal sheep feeder.
The 20.6 micron stud reserve was by a ram which North Ashrose sold privately for $25,000 to Teka stud, Argentina in 2016.
NA 4119's other wool measurements included a standard deviation of 3.1, coefficient of variation of 15.0 and comfort factor of 99.3pc.
Mr Mullan gave the ram the nod from 16 rams for its tremendous bone and extra width and length of body.
A close second was a Merino from the Sullivan families' Greenfields stud, Hallett.
"Both have got very good wools, both are heavy cutting but I went with a bit more crimp in the wool on the North Ashrose (ram) and a fraction more bone," Mr Mullan said.
"Both are extremely well balanced and will breed on."
North Ashrose stud co-principal Tom Ashby said it was pleasing to rise to the top of such a strong line-up.
He said NA4119 possessed an "outstanding carcase and structure with heavy cutting, well-nourished wool".
The Sullivan family, Greenfields stud, Hallett, continued their golden run in the championship pair with their fourth win in the past five years.
They earned the right to again represent SA on the national stage at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo, Vic, in July.
The polled pair comprised an AI-bred grandson of Jonty who has bred so well for the stud, while the ewe was naturally bred out of one of their top ewes.
The powerful, 21.2 micron ram made the top price in Elders helmsman sale, selling for $9000 to WA stud, Ockley Park, Narrogin, WA,.
The equally impressive ewe went back to a Banavie 247 line in the Greenfields flock.
James Sullivan said it was always a privilege to represent SA.
"It is a big thing to produce the top ram and ewe- it is not an easy feat," he said.
"The ram has been a stand-out for size and structure"
WA judge, Grantley Mullan, Eastville Park, Wickepin, said the lineup was a credit to the SA breeders although some pairs the ram was much higher quality than the ewe.
Mr Mullan said his final decision came down to the "finer points" of wool quality between the Greenfields ewe and the ewe in the runner-up pair from the Brooks family's East Bungaree, Hallett.
"Both the ewes had good underlines but the finishing ability was a fraction better on the Greenfields ewe," he said.
It was East Bungaree's third time as runner-up in recent years.
"The ram was out of one we bred ourselves but part of the Otto family and the ewe was an Imperial 22 daughter from East Mundalla," Tony Brooks said.
"They complemented each other well as well-nourished medium wools."
Merino SA president Nick Wadlow said it was a "fantastic crowd" with both interstate and local visitors drawn to SA studs for their focus on both wool and meat.
"The meat job is so good and the SA sheep is renowned for being heavy wool cutters, that is why we get those guys coming back, chasing that productivity," he said.
Me Wadlow said it was pleasing to see sales of rams in all price brackets and the eight trade site exhibitors at the Burra Oval having a successful day.
"The quality of the sheep is fantastic and there is a real vibrancy to the industry," he said.
"Despite the drought in many areas people are making more money and reinvesting in the industry which is great to see."