Why this family prioritises going to its breed's national sale every year
In the 60th year of the Hereford National Show and Sale, only one vendor can claim to have exhibited every year since the event's inception in 1965.
The Bush family runs both the Kirraweena and Glenholme Hereford studs, Cootamundra, NSW, and celebrated 60 years in the ring this year.
Kirraweena Glenholme stud co-principal Geoff Bush said the family was very proud to have such a long history with the event.
"Kirraweena was started by my father [Fred Bush] over 70 years ago," Mr Bush said.
"Ten years later, the sale itself began as a herd improving sale led mainly by the Roche brothers from Tumbarumba, NSW.
"The brothers asked my father if he would be interested in starting up a multi-vendor Hereford sale at Wodonga, and we've been coming ever since."
Born in the same year the Hereford National started, Mr Bush also celebrated his 60th birthday this year.
"I would have been a few months old when they ran the first sale," he said.
Mr Bush said the first time he attended the event was in 1980.
"It was pretty big then, they were selling a couple hundred Hereford and Poll Hereford bulls then," he said.
"It's a great place for younger, newer studs to have an opportunity to showcase and sell their bulls alongside the larger, established studs.
"There are some families that are still buying our bulls that have been buying them from the start."
The Bush family was the largest NSW-based exhibitor this year, with seven bulls that went under the hammer.
While the family has never won the grand champion sash, they have claimed the most successful exhibitor title a few times.
The tough seasonal conditions being faced by many producers across south-east Australia presented a challenging climate for the sale this year.
Both the clearance and prices were down, with 80 of 108 bulls at the sale sold to average $9500.
"The quality of the line-up this year was as good as any year, which is such a testament to the breeders," Mr Bush said.
"We're feeling relieved after this year's sale."
The family was able to sell all seven bulls through the ring.
"We grossed $66,000 for seven, which was about a $9000 average per bull, so we were very happy and relieved," he said.
"It was tough, but you get used to having really tough years and really good years.
"We're not planning on going anywhere.
"Our family plans on being there for the 70th anniversary.
"We've just got to push through these dry times like we always have."
