THE popularity of Stock Journal Beef Week continues to grow, with a number of studs showcasing their cattle for the first time.
The advantages of showcasing stock to new customers has not gone unnoticed and is the main reason behind the additional vendors.
A handful of studs will open their farmgate for the first time to visitors but at least two of the faces will be familiar.
Trish Worth and her husband Michael Cobb, Kilkerrin Poll Hereford stud, near Mount Compass, believe the time is right to lift the covers on their four-year-old Kilkerrin enterprise. They feature on day two.
"Because our property is on the main road we've had people just driving past and coming in or inquiring of neighbours about the place," Ms Worth said.
"With that going on we thought now was the time to start showing what a good job we are doing and we will have a good cross-section of animals to show.
"There will be some bulls and some PTIC heifers and a cross-section of cows and calves to display.
"This is a beautiful breed and I am chairman of Herefords Australia and always happy to promote the breed and the people in it and that's one of the many reasons we are looking forward to being involved in Beef Week."
Likewise Peter and Phoebe Eckermann, Aruma Limousin, Korunye, are excited by the opportunities their Beef Week debut might present and are counting down to day one when they will be on show.
"We are entering our sixth year as a stud and we've got a selection of bulls and females that we have available for sale and I guess we have expanded to that point where we have a good selection of genetics to offer," Mr Eckermann said.
"We have 15 females and pretty much the whole of our herd will be available for display and for us the particular point of interest is that last year we bought a herd sire and Oakwood B-Boy - by Oakvale Dude (P) from Oakwood Cudle Pie (P) - will be available for viewing."
The Eckermanns have solid royal show form with outstanding results from rings in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, and many of their past champions will also be available for inspection.
"We have always thought about being involved in Beef Week but it's been a work in progress and we are at that stage where it can happen. A lot of things have aligned to convince us that this is the moment when we should get involved," he said.
"We are definitely looking forward to it. We lived in the city and moved out to the country to do this, so we love cattle and we love people and this is the perfect opportunity for us."
Featuring on day three, Jake Phillips, Phillips Cattle Company, is hosting a Beef Week field day at his Naracoorte property for the first time, although he has been involved before.
Mr Phillips runs Murray Grey and Angus cattle on Walla Park and is excited to be able to show his stock to a wider audience.
"This year will be our first on our own," Mr Phillips said.
"I have been a guest vendor with Bottlesford in the past and it has worked well for us. We're big enough now that we can host our own event. This gives us a great opportunity to present our cattle to an even wider audience.
"Hopefully this will help create new customer relationships for us."
Renee Mooney began Mt Mooney Stud at Culburra eight years ago and is joining the Stock Journal Beef Week for the first time. She will also present her stock on day three.
Mrs Mooney runs 250 stud and commercial Simmental breeders on two properties, Black Flat and Mt Mooney, totalling 1031 hectares.
Mt Mooney will be showcasing its Simmentals as part of the field day at Yerwal Estate Simmental and Angus stud, near Lucindale South.
"We do a lot of combined work with Regan Burow at Yerwal Estate and do a lot of embryo work with him too," Mrs Mooney said.
"We are excited to be a guest vendor and present our cattle there. I really see Beef Week as an opportunity to gain greater exposure and showcase our cattle to more people outside of our immediate area."
Highridge South Devon (day two) and Allendale Angus (day four) are also open.
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