Lucindale is renowned for producing top quality cattle and sheep but it will soon have another claim to fame - home of SA's first working dog auction.
The inaugural Lucindale Working Dog Auction will be held at Yakka Park on Sunday, September 26 and is expected to draw people from far and wide looking for their next four-legged workmate.
To be held in conjunction with the local Lions Club, it will also be a much-needed fundraiser for the community, helping to fill the void of the cancellation of the South East Field Days for the past two years.
Auction chairman Greg Fisher said the idea was born from discussions among a few mates who were all dog enthusiasts.
"With no (local) footy last year we would meet up on weekends and practice working sheep with our dogs at one of the local properties, it just went from there," he said.
There are already well-established dog auctions at Casterton, Vic, and Wagga Wagga and Jerilderie in NSW - where a dog sold for $18,750 last month - but Mr Fisher believes there is more than enough demand for a local sale.
"We are in a big sheep growing area which is very reliable country, so there are a lot of sheep here,": he said.
"Spring is the busiest time of the year and there are always a lot of people looking for started dogs."
If you have a good dog it can be worth two blokes working (the sheep up) at the back and they don't ask for much in return.
- Darren Jenke, Lucindale Working Dog Auction committee member
Mr Fisher says interfacing the auction - to be conducted by Elders - with AuctionsPlus should also add to the bidding action.
Committee member Darren Jenke - who has been a vendor at Jerilderie for the past couple of years - is keen to showcase his dogs' abilities locally but says it is pleasing to see farmers recognising the value of a well-trained dog.
"If you have a good dog it can be worth two blokes working (the sheep up) at the back and they don't ask for much in return," he said.
The committee are keen to hear from any businesses willing to help make the event a success with several tiers of sponsorship available.
Nominations will open in early July with the committee looking for 40 trained dogs and five started pups, from three to nine months of age.
Videos of each of the dogs in action in the yards and paddock will be posted on the group's Facebook page and a short demonstration of all the lots will be held on the morning of the auction.
Lucindale Lions Club board member Dale Simpson said they were very impressed with the plans presented to them by the auction committee.
"When a good idea like this comes along we like to support it. We also have lots of experience putting on great events and we can see this becoming an annual event," he said.
Mr Simpson said the club had a strong history of donating to worthy causes in the local area which the proceeds raised at the auction would add to.
- Details: Call chairman Greg Fisher on 0408 335 936 or auction coordinator Kylie Ware on 0438 621 651, or follow the Lucindale Working Dog Auction Facebook page
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