MANY livestock exhibitors have had a long association with the Royal Adelaide Show but some of them stand apart through their achievements.
Among them is Graham Day, Allendale stud, Bordertown, who has been involved in sheep, cattle and pigs.
The stud has never missed a show with their sheep since 1935, when Graham's late father Allen began showing Suffolks.
"The first year he won champion ram and ewe and reserve champion ewe, and it went on from there," Mr Day said.
His first show was after World War II in 1947.
It was also the family's debut year showing pigs which they continued until 1960, when the stud moved from Alma in the Mid North to Bordertown in the South East.
In fact, the Day family was only the second in SA to breed Landrace pigs, that became the foundation for many modern breeds.
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Their Poll Hereford cattle have been regularly shown since 1951, and they began showing Poll Dorsets in 1957.
The Days have shown White Suffolks since the breed made its Adelaide Royal debut in 1991.
Mr Day says they have been fortunate to win many champion ribbons and trophies over the years, and considers the show ring as a way to benchmark their livestock against those of other breeders.
It is also an "annual catch up" with long-time friends and fellow breeders.
"We have been lucky enough to win at least three supreme all breed sheep champions in the last 20 or so years - two with Poll Dorsets and one with Suffolks, which is always special," Mr Day said.
"It is hugely competitive in the Suffolks, Poll Dorsets and White Suffolks so just winning a broad ribbon is a real achievement."
Mr Day, who was a councillor on the Pastoral Committee for 35 years and now an honorary councillor, says the Show is regarded as Australia's premier Royal sheep show and sale.
It attracts huge numbers of entries each year and a growing number of interstate exhibitors.
Mr Day has enjoyed being involved in the seedstock industry for more than six decades.
"It has been hugely interesting breeding two British sheep breeds which have remained popular but making one white (White Suffolks) and one polled (Poll Dorsets) to suit the conditions in Australia," he said.
The showing tradition has been strongly embraced by Graham and Prue's sons Lachy and Alastair, and their wives Lou and Jayne.
Alastair and Jayne are continuing the successful Allendale name and Lachy and Lou have risen to prominence with their Day's Whiteface stud.
This article was originally published in September, 2014, to mark the 175th Royal Adelaide Show.
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Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
