Driving forces behind SA Junior Heifer Expo inducted into Hall of Fame
The SA Junior Heifer Expo's enduring success largely comes down to the efforts of the volunteers who have stepped up to the committee, helped with the education program, been a steward in the judging ring or helped with the catering over the years.
So it was very fitting in the event's 40th anniversary that two pivotal figures who were there from the very beginning were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The inaugural president the late John Ashby from Snowtown and long serving committee member Annie Haynes, Avenue Range, were added to the board during presentations last week.
The two former Poll Hereford breeders join event founder and Simmental breeder Jan Gray who was the first person recognised in 2024.
Expo president Jono Spence said John- the Wirreanda stud principal - had lead the first few heifer shows well which had seen its popularity grow quickly.
He also drew on his experience running the Mount Pleasant Poll Hereford Youth Show which had been a precursor to the all breeds Expo.
Mr Spence described Mrs Haynes as "Annie everywhere" with her many roles including the coordinator, a group leader to a ringcraft instructor between 1988 and when she stepped down from the committee in 2000.
Mrs Haynes recounted how Mrs Gray called a meeting at the 1984 Royal Adelaide Show to discuss her idea for an all breeds junior heifer show.
"What could possibly go wrong thinking everyone would agree to have all the British breeds and all the European breeds and a couple of Bos Indicus in the ring together and judge them as one - who would not want to see that, well it turns out everyone did
"We all had children of that young age that came to the shows and helped with the breaking in so it was a really good opportunity for them to have their own little show
The first heifer show which was held in the May school holidays (when there were only three school terms each year) attracted 121 participants and was over three days on the beef cattle judging lawn at the Adelaide Showgrounds.
The next year was the largest Expo ever with 199 entries.
"I was privileged to be there right at the beginning of something that has turned out to be more than any of us could of hoped it would be," she said.
Mrs Haynes shared how in the early years she would arrange the mailed in entries on her lounge room floor to put the catalogue together - first by the age of heifers and then the age of handlers.
One year in the early 1990s when she switched to using a lap top she ended up with a calamity.
She had put all the entries in an excel spreadsheet but did not recognise they were arranged by American date format so had to redo the catalogue until the early hours of the Expo start date.
Mrs Haynes also recalled several other incidents including one where a heifer had escaped the showgrounds and was found roaming around a backyard in Goodwood.
She says she is "humbled and honoured" to have been recognised for her service to the Expo and says she is proud that the event's successful format has largely remained unchanged, aside from changes to industry relevant speakers in the education program.
"I have never stopped loving it (the Expo) even though I haven't been for a few years, I tell anyone who wants to listen that if they have kids and cattle they need to get there," she said.
"I am still passionate about it and in awe that it has been taken to the next level with new committees."
Mr Ashby - who was representing his late father- said he would have been honoured to have been made an inductee and had always been a "great backer of young people".
"He was keen to involve young people whether it was sport or in the beef industry, he was a footy coach back home and liked passing on knowledge to young people coming through," he said.
Mr Ashby says his father encouraged him and his two sisters to attend the Expo.
Mr Ashby- the 1990 senior champion herdsperson- said the Heifer Show brought together youth from all breeds together. Previously everyone was parochial towards their own breeds and rarely mixed.
This led to the formation of the SA Young Beef Breeders of which he was the inaugural president.
