IN PICTURES: Farmers, producers come in droves for Great Southern Merino Sheepbreeders’ Association ram sale

Hundreds of farmers, primary producers and graziers attended Katanning Leisure Centre on Thursday for the annual Great Southern Merino Sheepbreeders’ Association ram sale. Housing about 100 rams, the KLC basketball courts were transformed into a makeshift cattle station. About 300 people attended with farmers and producers showcasing their priced rams in a quest to win the coveted supreme trophy, awarded to the healthiest and highest-yielding ram. Angenup Merino and Poll Merino Stud in Kojonup claimed top honours after winning the Supreme Trophy for their immaculate 134kg 15-month-old ram. It marks their sixth Supreme win, their last coming in 2016, and their triumph first with a young ram. Lewisdale Stud took out their first-ever Rabobank Trophy for the best five rams, displaying great size, stature and immaculate wool structure. Tilba Tilba, Williams, won Genstock’s most successful exhibitor for accruing the most points across all categories. The event ran in conjunction with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Katanning Research Station Showcase. DPIRD senior development officer Mandy Curnow conducted a Putting Carbon into Context presentation on the integration of carbon principles into all aspects of farming. Later a bus tour took farmers and primary producers to the station to observe ongoing research at the facility. St Patrick’s Primary School students attended throughout the day and the school provided nibbles for the event’s sundowner.