The holy grail in Merino judging for most breeders is the supreme exhibit but equally as prestigious according to Langhorne Creek's Steve Koehler is Stock Journal's most successful exhibitor Poll Merino and Merino exhibitor title.
So when he and brother Brett and Steve's son Ben found out their Radnor stud had won the trophy for the third time in 17 years as sheep exhibitors at Adelaide there was no wiping the smile off their faces.
"The first time we won it was across the whole showgrounds (all livestock exhibitors) and I remember we won it by more than 40 points, and then we won it again in 2004, but this is the first time since they changed the format to just sheep," Steve said.
"It means that you have a good above average team and you haven't just taken one championship you have done well in a lot of classes," Steve said.
"It shows the depth of quality and consistency of breeding," Brett said.
The accolades for their team of nine long wools and 11 March-shorn sheep included reserve champion medium Poll Merino ram- Radnor Greenwood and the junior champion ram .
Both these were sons of Radnor Walshy.
Like many SA breeders the Koehlers attend several interstate sheep shows, Hay Sheep & Wool Show, the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo, Vic, and Hamilton Sheepvention but say Adelaide is the "grand final" and end of year's work.
"It is really nearly three and a half years work by the time you are showing some of the full wools, from buying a ram to breeding and then the ram growing up," he said.
"It is lovely when a plan comes together."
Radnor was established in 1982 with the Koehlers making their Adelaide showing debut in 1991.
They have also been supporting the wool section since 1989, including 14 fleeces this year.
The Koehlers association with Adelaide goes back even further with Steve's father Eric showing three breeds of pigs, Berkshire, Large Whites and Tamworths, until 1971, also having plenty of success.
"The more success we had the more boars we sold," Steve said.