Show-stopping ram makes $10,000 at Glenlee Park's annual ram sale
The decision to keep all stud offerings for the home sale paid off for Will and Billie Schilling at their sixth annual Glenlee Park Border Leicester sale at Gerang Gerung on Friday.
Despite heavy rain forcing the rams to be shed-housed for 2.5 days before the auction, a strong crowd gathered alongside online bidders to compete for the offering.
All 10 stud rams offered sold to a $5450 average and $10,000 top price, while commercial buyers maintained momentum through the flock rams, clearing 63 of 71 to average $1230.
Overall, 73 of 81 rams sold for a combined average of $1808, marking a significant leap from the 2025 overall average of $1288.
Mr Schilling said he was "absolutely rapt" with the decision to keep his top stud rams for the home sale rather than selling at external events like the Elite Show & Sale.
"I knew I had a pretty good run of rams to sell here, and it's good to get rewarded for doing that," he said.
"It's just good to see them gone at 14 months old because they need to be in someone else's paddock doing what they're bred to do."
The top-priced ram was Lot 4, Glenlee Park 25-0003, a July 2025-drop ram that was crowned supreme longwool exhibit at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo.
Sired by Retallack Will-Exceed 20-0336 and out of Glenlee Park 19-0006, the ram featured a BLX Index of 104.08.
Mr Schilling described Lot 4 as an "outstanding shape" and one of his favourites from the start.
"I don't think you can find a Border Leicester with a carcase like him," he said.
"I knew I had him, and that's sort of why I made the decision to sell him at home because I thought he's probably a bit of a drawcard, and he was."
Repeat client Michael King, Netley Park, Cannawigara, SA, who runs a Border Leicester and Poll Dorset stud alongside commercial Merinos, purchased the ram.
Mr King plans to join the young ram to between 70-100 ewes in his first year.
"He was very correct, had good wool type, a strong head and good bone structure, and just stood out for his all-round good shape," he said.
There were other high prices secured in the stud rams, with Lot 3 making $8500 when secured by Avolyn stud, Avoca, and Lot 1 making $8000, selling via AuctionsPlus to Normanhurst stud, Boorowa, NSW.
Other stud highlights included Lot 5, selling for $6500 to Brurob stud, Kilmore, via AuctionsPlus, and Lot 10, selling for $6000 to Vanita stud, Kingston, SA.
Geoff and Diane Allan, Melrose, Mathoura, NSW, who breed first-cross ewe lambs for the Bendigo sales in November, secured 14 rams to a top of $2300, averaging $1436.
Ms Allan said they looked for "big, long and big-boned" rams to put over their Merino ewes.
"We were originally based on the Retallack bloodline, and because Will's taken on Retallack, we like what he's doing and we're supporting a young bloke," she said.
Another volume buyer was Vivian Grain, Kaniva, who picked up 12 rams at an average of $1183 through Kyle Livestock, Kaniva.
AWN auctioneer Dale Dridan, Horsham, praised the quality of the offering and the strong stud and commercial demand.
"I thought demand was very, very good," Mr Dridan said.
"There was a lot of stud competition on the front 10 rams, and local and interstate demand for all the flock rams right through to the end."
He said retaining the show-winning stud rams for the on-property sale was a success.
"His rams perform in many areas, and he's got a very, very loyal repeat buying group that comes back every year," he said.
"It's a testament to the rams that you get the repeat buyers alongside four or five new commercial buyers.
"These rams stand up against the best in the business, and it's a reward for effort and years of dedication."
The sale was settled by AWN Horsham, with AuctionsPlus in attendance.
