TWENTY five years ago, when the Strzelecki Lions Club settled on the idea of running a showcase event for the local dairy industry, it wasn’t even part of the plan.
They were simply looking for a way to raise money for the local community and decided to play to their main strength – dairy farming.
“There were quite a few dairy farmers in the group, and we were looking for some new fundraising ideas,” said one of the originals, Cliff Wallace.
“The only thing we knew anything about was dairy farming, said Cliff, chairman of the organising committee for 24 of the 25 years.
“We’d seen some of the other events and really wanted to focus on dairy farming, bringing together all the services dairy farmers might be looking for in one place and we’ve pretty much stuck with that, although we’ve expanded out to beef and other farming, especially where there are services in common.
“That’s been the secret to success.”
So, this year the South Gippsland Dairy Expo celebrates 25 years of showcasing the latest innovations, products and services available to the local dairy industry.
And the goal of raising funds has been exceeded many times over, according to Clif, with upwards of $750,000 going back into local causes and projects, as well as supporting Lions’ projects here and overseas as well.
Planning for the expo starts in January each year, and the committee meets monthly until the last week before the event to ensure all the plans are in place.
The committee of gold sponsors includes: Apiam Animal Health – ProDairy, Brandt, Burra Foods, Dairy Pumping Systems, Easy Dairy Automation Systems, Evans Petroleum BP/Castrol, GEA Farm Technologies Australia Pty Ltd, GippsDairy, Greenmate Agriculture Pty Ltd, Lely Center Gippsland, Metalform Ag, nbn Local Gippsland, Rabobank, Reid Stockfeeds, Saputo Dairy Australia and Vic Silos.
Silver sponsors and media partners include: Poowong Dairy & Hardware, SRH Milk Haulage, South Gippsland Shire Council, Dairy News Australia, The Warragul Gazette and the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times.
This year there will be 110 stallholders, according to dairy expo organiser, Deanne Kennedy, managing director of Jaydee Events.
“The sites are always full and honestly, there wouldn’t be a dairy expo if it wasn’t for the businesses and farm service people wanting to come here each year and support the expo and the local dairy industry,” said Deanne.
“We’ve got all the usual features, with support from Saputo, Burra Foods and the South Gippsland Shire, including dairy farm consultant Matt Harmes who’ll be channelling Roger Climpson with a segment titled ‘This is Your Life’, the Udder Truth Showbag and the Gumboot Gift.
“We welcome the children along from Karmai Kinder because they love seeing the big farm machinery and we have the children’s art and craft activity but it’s predominantly an event for the farmers, a one-stop shop where they can make contact with people from the industry, see what’s new and shop around,” Ms Kennedy said.
Udder Truth Show Bag
Don’t miss your chance to win a share of $5000 in the Udder Truth Show Bag competition, sponsored by South East Organic Fertiliser.
Participants must be farmers and over 18 years of age. Collect a show bag at the gate (there are only 200 of them), answer 17 of the 20 questions and request your card be stamped by the corresponding exhibitor.
The first card drawn at 2.30 pm on Thursday — with 17 correct answers, with the exhibitor stamps — will win $3000. Second place will receive $1500 and $500 for third.
Sponsors include: Easy Dairy Automation Systems, Jantec Systems, Brown’s Fertiliser, Dairy Shelters Australia, MaxCare, Ridley, East Coast Generators, Travel Managers – Poowong, Burra Foods, Achmea Insurance, Green Mate Agriculture, Redei – Renewable Energy Solutions, Entegra, Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria – Gippsland, Alltech, Reid Stockfeeds, South East Organic Fertiliser, Agriculture Victoria and GippsDairy.
Farmers tell their stories
Matt Harms from OnFarm Consulting is hosting a session on Wednesday at 11am, called: ‘This is your life. Everyone has a story to tell’.
With the dairy industry as diverse as it is, and dairy people being the backbone of the industry, it is no wonder there are so many personal stories in the dairy community.
Panel members are: Colin Gray, a dairy farmer from Nilma; Ancret Shipton, a dairy farmer from Bega and a former Focus Farmer from Nar Nar Goon; and Chloe Brown, a western Victoria dairy farmer and podcaster
Panel members have heart-wrenching and challenging stories to tell, which have shaped them into the resilient people they are today.
Colin Gray and Ancret Shipton will talk about the challenges that have been thrown at them, and how they have adapted to their new lives.
Chloe Brown will share the stories and challenges she hears from the people on her podcast.
The Gumboot Gift
On Thursday at 1pm, the prestigious 120-metre gumboot footrace will take place.
It is a must-see and do event, with both male and female sections and a prize pool of $4000.
There are two new rules this year: the participants must be wearing authentic farm-type gumboots (no fitted gumboots allowed); and last year’s winners will be handicapped.
The event is sponsored by: Lardner Cattle Sales, Jefferis Livestock & Transport, Walker Electrical Contracting, Countrywide Clothing, Levey Engineering, Farm Depot, Ag-Crete Industries, Nacas Truck ‘N’ Ag, Devin Hance, Carringtons at Loch, Lectaire Auto Electrics & Air Conditioning, S.G. hire & Sales, The Burra Barber, Nutrien Ag Solutions, JJ’s Waste and Recycling, Notman Pasture Seeds, Area Specialist Jack Gilchrist and T & G Mechanical Repairs.
Farm tech a feature
IT’S a fact that South Gippsland’s dairy farmers are among the most efficient milk producers in the world, and whether it’s at the pointy end of genetics, or as early adopters of technology, better nutrition or methods of pasture production; you’ll find it locally.
And this year’s South Gippsland Dairy Expo is going to have a firm focus on technology.
“We’ll have two examples of robotic milking machines, one from Lely and one from GEA which farmers will be able to see working,” said chair of the dairy expo organising committee Cliff Wallace.
“There will also be demonstrations by two types of farm drones, showing their fertilizing and spray capabilities.
“And we’ve also encouraged the other exhibitors to highlight their new products and equipment. It should be pretty interesting,” said Cliff.
The South Gippsland Dairy & Farming Expo is on Wednesday and Thursday, September 4 and 5, at the Korumburra Showgrounds, Korumburra, from 10am to 3pm each day.
Cost is $15; children under 16 years have free admission.
Check out the South Gippsland Dairy Expo HERE
For more information for exhibitors or visitors, phone Deanne Kennedy on 0419 878 055 or email dairyexpo@jaydee.net.au
