GRAHAM "Harry" Day, a successful and humble sheep and cattle breeder from Bordertown, was the worthy recipient of an Order of Australia Medal in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
While Mr Day was "absolutely amazed and shocked" to receive the medal for services to the livestock industry, those in the industry and involved with the Royal Adelaide Show thought the recognition was thourougly deserved for the Allendale stalwart.
"I'm grateful and it's a great honour," Mr Day said.
"My family's been involved in agriculture for a long time and it's my life's work."
Graham's father Allen E Day founded the Allendale stud business in 1931, with the purchase of Suffolk ewes.
Allendale would grow to incorporate Tamworth and Landrace pigs - dispersed in 1960 when the family moved to Bordertown - Poll Hereford cattle, and Poll Dorset and White Suffolk sheep, and has become one of the premier stud operations in the country.
Even with the success of his Allendale stud, Graham has always found time to give back to the industry he holds so dear, by serving on countless committees.
He was the Australian Poll Dorset Association president, chairman and life member of the Australian Society of Stud Sheep Breeders, president of the Suffolk Sheep Society of SA, and life member of the Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association and South Australian Poll Hereford Breeders.
Looking back on a lifetime in the livestock industry, Graham said the friendships were what he cherished most.
"I can remember my father saying when I was only a teenager 'there's probably other profession's where you'll make more money, but if you're involved in this industry you'll meet so many interesting people from all walks of life and from all around the world'," he said.
Graham's wife Prue said he had been a great mentor for young people and always took interest in other breeds he was not necessarily involved with.
Elders' former national stud stock manager Tony Dowell said Graham's authentic character was just one of the attributes that made him a worthy recipient of an OAM.
"There wouldn't be anybody in the industry - and it's rare in this industry - that wouldn't have a favourable word to say about Graham," he said.
"He's universally admired and accepted."
Mr Dowell knew Graham through his role as national stud stock manager for Elders from 1984 to 2013.
"I'd go down to Allendale two or three times a year, I sold rams and bulls for him at major sales - it's been a long association," he said.
"Graham is an extraordinarily good judge of all the breeds of sheep he's involved in, he's an extraordinarily good judge of Poll Hereford cattle and has one of the best herds of cattle, and two of the best flocks of sheep, in Australia.
"He's judged at major Royal shows in every state in the country with great aplomb and great success. He's bred some of the very best Poll Hereford bulls the industry has seen.
"The thing that really makes him stand out is that he's such a decent, decent person and he's always been willing to help young people improve their own knowledge, aptitude and stock handling ability."
It's this involvement with future breeders and young people making their mark, which makes Graham optimistic about the future of the livestock industry.
"The industry is in great shape," he said.
"Stud breeding, sheep breeding and cattle breeding is more scientifically-based than it once was but I'm still sure eye appeal and the judgement of animals for correct structure and so on will be very important moving forward."
81-year-old Graham's sons, Lachy and Alastair, are carrying on the family stud breeding tradition with Day's Whiteface and Allendale.
Graham is still actively involved with the day-to-day work at the farm and still attends many sales and shows.
The show scene is another area where Graham has excelled, as an exhibitor, worker, sheep and beef cattle judge and chairman of the sheep committee.
He has not missed a Royal Adelaide Show since 1947, saying it was an important advertising medium for the stud, but also a way to give back to the industry through judging and volunteering.
President of the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA from 1993 to 2004, Jock Duncan said he had enjoyed a long association with Graham since serving together on the pastoral committee of the Royal Adelaide Show.
"I've always regarded Graham as a dedicated stockman with both sheep and cattle, and I was thrilled to learn he received an OAM," he said.
"Graham has the ability to judge any breed of sheep and cattle, his knowledge is so broad."
While Graham has handed the reins over to the next generation, he and Prue show no signs of slowing.
"We still enjoy the involvement in the industry," he said.
"A lot of our good friends are sheep and cattle people.
"We plan to keep in touch with as many people as we possibly can, and keep attending shows and important breed sales."
Also making the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2020 were PEATS Soils managing director Peter Wadewitz and Woodside Cheese Wrights owner and head cheesemaker Kris Lloyd.
Mr Wadewitz, also the managing director of Biobin Technology and chair of the Australian Organics Recycling Associaition, received an OAM for service to the organic recycling industry.
Ms Lloyd received a Members in the general division medal (AM) for her significant service to the artisan cheese making industry, to education, and to tourism.
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Click here to sign up to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.