Best of Beef
What a week! What a fortnight actually… I cannot believe it (Beef 2012 and the World Brangus Congress) are over.
If you have no idea what I am on about, then you don’t live in Queensland. Beef 2012 is the massive event celebrating all things beef-related in Australia (an event that takes place in Rockhampton every three years, changing its name appropriately). And the World Brangus Congress is a little thing I have been tangled up in for the past couple of years – doing my bit to help Australia host our very first WBC event. (It’s why I have been pretty light on in the blogging department for a little while).
The two events ran simultaneously, which was clever and crazy at the same time. Clever because there was always plenty for our inter-state and international visitors to do. Crazy because it tripled the things WE had to do and attend. Almost every meal was also an event, most days included Congress functions and in between hours were spent showcasing our business.
Our family business also showed cattle and ran a trade site at Beef 2012 – luckily I was smart/assy enough to hire a couple of couches. Cause MAN we needed them… and while I REALLY wanted to blog and tweet my way through this action-packed time, I was so time-poor (plus I only had my car charger for my phone battery!) that I managed just a couple of tweets.
Here are a few quick images to give you a tiny taste of what we were up to…
Giggling at my father urging on the Brangus team in the interbreed tug-of-war in Centre Ring (a warm up for the actual cattle showing the following day!). Okay, I was also yelling my little heart out too… just ask the poor Droughtmaster supporter filming the battle between our two chosen breeds – her video was filled with the dulcet tones of my biased cheering. 😉
Admiring the beautiful horses and talented riders at the campdrafting demonstration put on by Paradise Lagoons entrepreneur Graeme Acton.
Taking in ‘The Man From Snowy River’ show under lights at the Rocky Showgrounds…
Welcoming visitors into our little corner of Beef 2012 – note the comfy couches, the cool hat rack (made by Mr Incredible) and slideshow of images from our operation that my regular readers have probably already seen here on the blog!
(Aside, if you attended Beef’ and ate at the StoneGrill, chances are you tasted beef produced by the chick in pink shirt in this pic. Yum!)
Our comfy corner also drew some great new friends – like Sidney from Texas who delighted my daughter and her friend with lots of cuddles and glittery nail polish!
We gazed in wonder at the spectacle of dozens of beautiful Brangus cattle in Centre Ring…
The biggest ever gathering of Brangus in this country. Pretty darned cool…
And got a kick out of the efforts humans go to, to make bulls smile…
Look this way!
Ears forward!
SMILE!!!
Admired the butts of many bovines, but especially this one… who sported a glittery symbol of a pink ribbon in honour of this guy…
Glenn McGrath. Aussie sporting hero (cricket fast bowler) and patron of two important groups – The Australian Year of the Farmer (for which he was in Rocky) and The McGrath Foundation (founded by Glenn and his late wife, Jane, to help find a cure for breast cancer).
I have to admit I got a little star-struck in meeting Glenn – but he was lovely and genuinely enjoyed his stint as ribbon-awarder and also winning-ticket-picker. He helped the Brangus Association give away these two girls…
The four-legged ones. (And yes, you do recognise the bloke on the left with the black one – our stud donated a heifer to the promotion for the breed).
Had to finish with this guy… clearly fed up with all that poncing and parading around the ring. I expected him to send his handler for a cup of tea too…
I have a few more highlights to share from Beef – including one that will blow your mind. Lord knows it blew mine. But it’s Mother’s Day and I am scheduled for a cup of tea and lie down of my own.
So… what’s everyone else been up to while I have been away?
🙂
BB
14 Comments
debby
Waiting. Just waiting for you.
Plus Bimbadeen attended Cara’s graduation, via Tim’s head. I got a job. I have a cold. We have a new tenant. Grandbaby dandling time. Lot of company, including a 99 year old man.
Nothing much actually.
BB
Took me a while to work out that second sentence… Tim wore a Bimbadeen cap. Right. Got it… a bit overtired I think! Sounds like you’ve bin bizzy too.
🙂
BB
debby
But you’ve got pictures to prove it. And your ‘bizzy’ looks a lot ‘bizzier’. So the different groups wore different color shirts? You might have inherited ‘encouraging’ from your dad. Just saying.
debby´s last blog post ..The Rest of the Story.
Colin (HB)
Brilliant showing BB of what Australia is.
Made little ole me, burst with pride.
Great to see your own heifer, magnificent beast.
Now ensure that no bloody mining is going to cause any environmental impact on this most important of all industries – steaks do not grow in supermarkets.
Yep, agreed you do need a cup or glass of something.
Also HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, you and the other half are great role models.
Cheers
Colin
BB
Gosh – thanks Colin! 🙂
Beet
wow you have been very busy indeed! I think I’d need to sleep for a month to recover lol
What I’ve been up to? Starting a new blog, painting, drawing, building cardboard heads, scaring children with collages of eyes, creating skulls out of clay… stuff like that lol
Beet´s last blog post ..Bittersweet
BB
Just visited your blog and your last post gave me pause… I hope you survived Mother’s Day okay. Hugs, BB
jeanie
What have I been up to? Juggling everything, secret Jeanie business, cooking, cuddling kids.
jeanie´s last blog post ..There was an old lady…
BB
The old Secret Jeanie business, eh? Vital stuff. *taps nose* Not as important as cuddling kids though. Cuddles from me too. xx
Fiona
I know Beef Week left me feeling a little like that bull in the last picture! Am sorry that I didn’t get to meet you in person, though I did see you very busily working away. My interests were mainly in the Brahman ring, though we were happy to glance both ways. Congratulations on what seems to have been a great congress for you.
Fiona´s last blog post ..No Place like Home
BB
Sorry I missed you too Fiona… had been looking forward to a blogger catchup! (Don’t think either of us had time to do it justice in reality though… we need a bushie blogger gathering sometime, no?)
🙂
BB
Kelly
Well, nothing that holds a candle to all that you’ve been doing. I did catch a nice bass one day last week.
Good to have you back in blogosphere. Oh…and when you tweeted earlier in the week about the breed tug-o-war, I was picturing a brangus and a charlais out there with ropes attached, pulling away!
Kelly´s last blog post ..Shadow Shot Sunday #80
Kate
I love seeing photos and reading your commentary on what goes on in other parts of the world. I found this so interesting, BB. And your little corner of Beef 2012 is totally cool.
Kate´s last blog post ..Nothing but randomness
Leenie
Missed you and your news and photos. Loved this post, especially the photographers working the very handsome models. Heh heh. That must have been a wild and crazy bunch of days for you and yours. Mr. I and his brangus bull are most incredible.
Leenie´s last blog post ..I LEARNED HOW TO LOVE THEM