For Ross Draper, it was a “complete surprise” to be inducted into the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria’s Beef Hall of Fame during the Royal Melbourne Show.
The principal of Red Cactus Red Poll stud, Arthurs Creek, said he was humbled for the recognition and joked he was probably selected “...for hanging around the (Melbourne) Show for 30 or 40 years”.
He founded the Red Cactus Red Poll stud in 1970 at the age of 12.
“I went to the (Melbourne) Show ever year when I was little and watched the Red Poll judging, and I started showing myself when I was about 12 years old at the Whittlesea Show. Dad got me a few calves to start with,” Mr Draper said.
He started showing at Melbourne in his early 20s and almost 40 years on, he said he’d continued to show at Melbourne and Sydney Royal Shows because it was a great opportunity to benchmark cattle, not only within one’s breed but against other breeds too.
“With Red Poll being a smaller breed, it was terrific this year to have some in the front lines (of the interbreed judging).”
He said the Red Poll breeders were an easy-going group that got along and helped each other out – expect on judging day!
“I do a bit of stirring before judging,” Mr Draper said, adding that included of his long-term partner Gay Ward, who also has a Red Poll stud, Redward.
“Definitely, we get competitive.
You get a lot of enjoyment when you win and I’m learning to enjoy it even when I don’t.
- Ross Draper
“You get a lot of enjoyment when you win and I’m learning to enjoy it even when I don’t.”
They run 160 cows, including some commercial ones on about 283 hectares.
Mr Draper has judged at Melbourne and many Victorian country shows.
He was awarded the RASV Presidents Medal in 2009 for his contribution to the stud beef industry and involvement at the Royal Melbourne Show.
He is the current President of Stud Beef Victoria and in this role, and as a Stud Beef member, he has continually supported the education of young people – encouraging their involvement as exhibitors and judges.
Mr Draper has been part of the Whittlesea Show Society for more than 30 years, and is currently its president. He’s a past federal president of the Australian Red Poll Cattle Breeders and is currently treasurer.
