I was looking for a wow factor in the sheep and how they paraded and owned their space.
- Lexi Thomas, 9, Cavendish.
Amid cancellations of dozens of agricultural shows across Victoria, three Western District sisters set out to hold their own kind of show complete with ribbons and judging, albeit online.
Imogen Thomas, 12, and younger sisters Lexi, nine, and Emma, six, came up with the idea after missing their favourite shows due to coronavirus.
With help from parents Simon and Kate Thomas and grandfather Bob Thomas, the trio from Silk Southdown, Cavendish, coined it the Rona Virtual Sheep Show and live streamed it on Facebook.
Eleven breeds were featured in the show with more than 130 entries from across the state with several hundred viewers tuning in from across the country and abroad.
"We just had to find a way to show our sheep ... and were blow away by the response," Simon Thomas said.
Entries were judged by middle sister, Lexi, who spent hours taking notes on each sheep from the video entries and provided comments for every single entry.
The ewe classes were the most difficult to judge according to Lexi, who studied every breed standard in detail.
"I was looking for a wow factor in the sheep and how they paraded and owned their space as well as their breed standard and structural correctness," Lexi said.
Fairbank White Suffolk claimed the gong for the top champion ram while Flinders College had the champion Corriedale ewe over one-and-a-half years.
Deepeler Suffolk took home the champion lamb award while Tillara Suffolk won the Serena award for best hindquarter.
"This show demonstrated that with some innovation and determination anything is possible," Mr Thomas said.
"Even the tried and true sheep show model can be reinvented and adapted to a new virtual reality."
Additional awards went to the cutest lambs, most fancy dressed and the best-led sheep.
"Of the 138 entries which were all studs, we also had an additional 20 entries which were by the general public and people who wanted to enter a sheep but didn't have a stud," Mr Thomas said.
All the classes can been seen on the Silk Southdown Rona Sheep Show Facebook page.
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Bryce Eishold
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
