KORUMBURRA Show’s two-day format was well supported.
Friday delivered pleasant evening conditions as people enjoyed side show games, rides and entertainment, the night highlighted by the large contingent of Pygmy Goats that wowed a substantial audience with their cuteness and social nature.
Kids were captivated by Dinkum Dinosaurs, siding with a cheeky dinosaur against his brow-beaten handler and calling out instructions as if they were at a pantomime.
Magician Lachlan Wilde also engaged the younger crowd, involving them in his performance.
Jackson Rogers was happy to play his part, the local expressing confidence when Lachlan asked if a trick would work, impressed when the magician cut into an orange to reveal the missing playing card but not without skepticism about how the feat was accomplished.
While well into adulthood, David Hurst and David Bradshaw were having just as much fun as any kid at the Show, racing their electric remote-controlled cars around a grass track that included a jump, some of the vehicles from the 1980s.
The Korumburra Show offered an ideal opportunity to promote the sport locally, with plans to get a club going.
Local Simon O’Neill is keen to organise a monster truck event in Korumburra, displaying a couple of the stunning vehicles on both days of the Show.
While the Pygmy Goat action was confined to Friday, there were plenty of animals grabbing attention on Saturday, with the horses in action and judging of the sheep.
Natasha Pollard was in charge of Supreme Sheep ‘Phoenix’ from Blackpond Hampshire Downs in Langwarrin, the judges praising the quality of the field, one saying he’d be proud to have a number of them in his paddock.
‘Phoenix’ backed up his title from last year, again proving to be a standout animal the judges couldn’t fault, being labelled “an exceptionally good ram”.
The exhibit hall was filled with the brightness and vibrancy of fruit, vegetables, cakes and flowers, people also admiring craft items and an exhibition of photography.
Jan Appleton was enthusiastic in her town’s Show, happy to oblige the Sentinel-Times request by holding up her winning knitted child’s jumper, having also entered cookery items including a Christmas pudding and muffins.
It was a real family affair, with Jan’s husband entering the cheeseboard he crafted, and her granddaughter having origami on show.
“It wasn’t the easiest pattern to follow,” Jan said of her winning jumper, the pattern coming from Bendigo Knitting Mills.
Korumburra Agricultural & Pastoral Society committee member Nathan Hersey expressed delight on Saturday afternoon, reflecting on the two-day event.
“We’ve had a very good turnout, a lot of positive comments and we’re really pleased that the Korumburra community has supported the show in this way,” Nathan said, also crediting the substantial attendance from people further afield.
Postcodes taken at the entrance revealed showgoers came from a broad spectrum of places.
While committee members met many times and worked diligently to bring the Show together, the event wouldn’t have been achievable without the contributions of the many other volunteers.
Korumburra turns Pygmy entrants into big Show success
FORGET Melbourne’s claims to major events, with Korumburra smashing the record for the largest Pygmy Goat show in Australia on Friday evening.
Eleven studs and 64 goats were part of the action, enthralling a substantial audience, one of the classes of judging for does aged under six months attracting 18 entrants.
Stud operator Trish Joyce who introduced the event to the Korumburra Show’s program was thrilled with the support from entrants, declaring the previous largest Pygmy Goat show in the nation featured around 20 goats and just two studs.
She was also delighted with the response from showgoers, how many were drawn to the cuteness of the goats and the level of interest people showed.
“It was massive; just the positivity from the public was beautiful,” she said.
Despite the Pygmy name, many expressed surprise at just how small the goats were, their cuteness also attracting comments.
“They love to smooch up to you,” Trish said, with one of her goats even nicknamed ‘Smoochie’.
Trish said people were also shocked by how friendly the goats are.
Those entering their goats in the show commented on the set up of the pens, pleased with how they were organised.
“They were surprised how interested the public were to talk to them about their particular goats,” Trish said, pointing out the array of colours and personalities of the animals on show.
She noted that while social media offers an opportunity to increase awareness of Pygmy Goats, nothing beats face-to-face interaction.
“Everyone was smiling and laughing and so happy,” Trish observed.
The new event attracted lots of attention as it approached, with this newspaper not the only outlet seizing on the chance to promote a positive story.
Such was the appeal of the new goat show, a Swanpool breeder heard an interview with Korumburra A&P Society Danial Robbins about it on ABC radio as she made the long journey from near Benalla to the Korumburra Showgrounds.
“She couldn’t believe they were talking all about the Pygmy Goats that were going to be at Korumburra,” Trish said.
Still, once you see them it’s not hard to understand why people are discussing the tiny animals, their cuteness almost off the scale, with friendly personalities making them ideal pets.
The Pygmy Goat colouring competition was also a winner, attracting about 70 entries, children bringing a likeness of the animals to life in an array of colours, both Korumburra Primary School and parents throwing their support behind the fun contest.
As for the Goat Show itself, there were plenty of chances to win the various categories, with competition divided into does, bucks and wethers, by age and percentage of pygmy genetics.
However, ‘Trinity Blackberry’ stood out as Best in Show, the doe being the first to have her name inscribed on the new perpetual trophy that will be retained by Korumburra A&P Society, the winner bred by Trinity Pygmy Goats stud in Berwick.
Trish, who runs Lals Haven Goat Stud in Jumbunna, took out the Most Successful Exhibitor section, calculated on points awarded for first, second and third placings, her entrant ‘Sweet Caroline’ the winner of the large doe class that featured 16 pygmy does under 89.99 percent.
It’s a safe bet the pygmy stars will become an institution at future Korumburra Agricultural Shows, perhaps making the Friday spotlight their own.
