Wingham Beef Week 2017

Thirty years ago a small group of beef cattle producers got together to stage a carcass competition for producers to be able to benchmark the quality of the beef they produce compared to other producers and their industry peers.

The idea originated following a very successful cross breeding and beef yield field day, conducted by founding president Eric Richardson, on his Dingo Creek property some years prior.   

The original concept was to produce a competition for progressive cattlemen and women to pit their beef producing skills against the regions best.   

Eric, as reported in the 1987 Wingham Chronicle, said “if not taking home prize money then the knowledge gained by being prepared to learn and take advantage of what other successful producers were doing would be invaluable.”

It was then in 1987 that Beef Week was born with the foundation executive committee of Eric Richardson, Bruce Scrivener, Paul Holmes, Gloria Hayes, Tony Gaudron, Helen Scrivener and Lesley Summerville (nee Penfold).

The following year, 1988, the inaugural Beef Week competition commenced with a carcass competition and an all breeds bull competition held on vacant land where Wingham Newsagency now stands.

Beef Week continued to grow with each new committee bringing with it new ideas, innovations and change.

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Possibly the biggest change was introducing an all breeds stud cattle competition held in Wingham’s Central Park followed by a street parade in Isabella Street.

It is testament to the original committees resourcefulness, commitment and belief in the concept that Beef Week has been embraced by, not only beef producers but also, schools and the community in general.

The Wingham Chronicle reported in 1990 that “the Beef Week concept has captured the imagination of all concerned in the industry.”

As current president Paul Relf said “Beef Week has certainly stood the test of time and has developed into the truly unique event we see today.”

For our junior beef cattle enthusiasts, the future of the industry was so well received that it was a “watershed” point in Beef Week’s 30 year journey.

2003 saw another important milestone when Wingham Beef Export’s became the major sponsor in recognition of Beef Week’s contribution to the local beef industry. Thus another chapter began with not only the injection of much needed funds but also when Wingham Beef Export’s processing facilities were made available for students and producers to enter the chiller to view, analyze and judge the carcasses they had prepared.

This in itself is unique in the industry and the team at Wingham Beef Export’s headed by Grant Coleman should be justifiably proud of their contribution to the continued longevity of this wonderful community event.          

There must have been a tremendous number of behind the scenes dedicated volunteers who can feel a great deal of satisfaction in their contribution to this event which is still going strong to this day.

With 350 junior competitors in 2016 the event is now widely acclaimed as the premier junior beef cattle competitions in the State and it’s acceptance throughout the industry is evidenced by the competitors and visitors from an increasingly wide area.

The event provides great financial benefits to local businesses too.