Agricultural
2 September, 2025
Success at the Ekka
The district had great success at the this year's Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).
Stud Beef: Speckle Park
Shaun and Debbie Black of SND Signature Speckles at Stoneleigh have reached new heights in this year’s Speckle Park Feature Show at the Ekka.
One of their four exhibits, SND Signature Rather Perfect with calf at foot, was crowned Speckle Park Supreme Exhibit.
This was not the Black’s only achievement in the last three years of showing at the Ekka, after claiming Grand Champion Bull with SND Signature Renegade in 2022.
There were 191 entrants in the Speckle Park Feature Show, almost double its entry numbers in 2024, and the largest single-breed representation in this year’s stud-beef program.
This earned Speckle Park the great honour of being the feature beef breed for 2025.
Dairy Cattle
The Garratt Family of Argyle Farming at Southbrook had great success in the dairy cattle competition, claiming Supreme Champion Udder, Supreme Champion Intermediate Dairy and Champion Milk Producing.
Further success was had in the Holstein breed competition, winning the Most Successful Exhibitor and Premier Breeders Award with Arabella 1st Jemma.
The Garratts have been farming at Southbrook since 1926, with Peter and Jess Garratt now in charge of operations.
Their children Malachi and Jairus did not miss out on the opportunity to participate in the Ekka’s youth competitions, and had great success.
In the Dairy Youth Team Challenge, Jairus’ team placed first and Malachi’s placed third.
In the Junior Paraders competition, Malachi placed first with the added bonus of Reserve Champion Parader of Show.
It was the Barron family at Cambooya who cleaned up in the Jersey competition.
Prime Lambs
The Hood family of Plainview Texel Stud at Pittsworth had great success in the Paddock to Plate competition, crowned Overall Champion, Reserve Champion, and victor of the Taste Off Challenge.
Meanwhile, the Curtis family of Bellevue Grazing Co. at Millmerran took home ribbons in all classes.
In the carcass results their accolades included Champion Single Lamb, Overall Champion Pen of Three Lambs and Overall Reserve Champion Pen of Three Lambs.
In the Paddock to Plate competition, Bellevue Grazing Co. was Carcass Champion and Grass section winner.
