The Katherine Show kicked off in style with the annual Katherine Show Sale, where Killarney Station claimed both the Champion Pen and the top price of the auction. A big thank you to Patrick from Australian Cattle Enterprises for his enthusiastic bidding and for always supporting a good cause or event. It’s always great to see Patrick at an auction. Congratulations also to Wave Hill for taking out the Reserve Champion Pen and securing the second highest price of the sale, keeping the rivalry alive in the MPG camp.

The show ring featured an impressive display of Brahman cattle throughout the weekend. Congratulations to our Katherine Branch Executive member Brad Inglis and the Sturt Plains team, who took out the prestigious Supreme Champion of the Katherine Show with “Sturt Plains Mellsy”. Congratulations to everyone who exhibited cattle, showcasing the exceptional Brahman breed for which the Katherine region is renowned.

One of the weekend’s standout attractions was the inaugural Best Dressed Poddy competition. The creativity on display from both the kids (and parents) provided plenty of laughs and good old-fashioned entertainment. We can’t wait to see even more entries next year, so when the kids start asking for something to do over the School Holidays, why not get them out handling next year’s Best Dressed Poddy winner.

A great time was had at the Nutrien ladies sundowner, giving the ladies the chance to trade out the dusty jeans and water bottles for cute outfits and a vino while leaving the kids at the Campdraft with Dad. It was wonderful to see so many talented station women showcasing the businesses they have built alongside their already demanding station lives.

The ICPA BBQ and Auction was another huge success, raising more than $220,000 for a fantastic cause. The bidding was as hot as the BBQ, with incredible generosity shown by the many businesses and individuals who donated items and placed bids. Congratulations to everyone involved in organising the event, which continues to grow bigger and better each year.

Back at the NTCA stand, our annual Cows for Schools competition attracted an impressive 17 entries from schools across the region. The colourful displays proved a major drawcard, with plenty of kids proudly bringing their parents over to show what they had been learning about the cattle industry in the classroom.
A big thank you to Ben Coutts from Nutrien Katherine, who kindly volunteered his time to judge this year’s competition. While every cow on display was incredibly creative and showcased the students’ hard work, Ben somehow managed the difficult task of selecting the winners. Congratulations to St Joseph’s Catholic College Year 3/4 Class for taking out Champion, Katherine South Primary School for Reserve Champion, and St Joseph’s Catholic College Year 4/5 Class for winning the People’s Choice Award.

A special mention also goes to the boss, who managed to sneak one through the gate to claim second place in the Maiden A Campdraft!

Finally, a huge thank you to the dedicated organisers and volunteers whose hard work makes the Katherine Show such a standout event on the Territory calendar each year.

From the stands to the sale ring, the NTCA team had a fantastic weekend catching up with members, talking all things cattle, and celebrating another successful Katherine Show.