THREE generations of the Chapman family celebrated a win in the Dorset Down section of the Australian Sheep & Wool Show earlier today.
Stud principals Margaret and Colin Chapman, Woodhall, Wedderburn, were on deck at Bendigo with their daughter Elizabeth Chapman and grand-daughter Magnolia, 12 months, to see their team of sheep awarded champion Dorset Down ram and ewe.
Although they were the sole exhibitor, Margaret said it was vital to keep the heritage breed in the public eye.
There are only five Dorset Down studs in Australia, and the Chapman family’s Woodhall stud has been running since 1945.
Margaret and her husband took over the enterprise in 1985 when her dad Allan Turnbull died.
“I’ve been managing the stud for 30 years now,” she said.
“And we’ve been coming to Bendigo since it began. We just love coming back to see all the friendly people.”
She said she enjoyed the social side of the event more than winning ribbons.
The Chapmans run 70 breeding ewes.
This year it had been tough to find a market for their rams due to the dry season around Bendigo.
“It has been a hard season,” she said.
“But they are great sheep, and are easy lambers.”
