The northern Victorian family have been showing cattle for many years and are regular participants in the Winter Fair at Bendigo, but this is their first senior win and they couldn’t be more excited.
“Buttersnap is an extremely balanced cow with great dairy strength and a beautiful snug udder,” Mrs Wishart said.
“We have been working with her for the past five years and she continues to improve with age.
“She was also first in the seven years and over in-milk class and best udder in class.”
Echoing those sentiments, judge Lisa McKay from Irrewillipe said Buttersnap was an amazing cow.
“She had a great udder along with a great width and depth to her frame; she really was the complete package,” Mrs McKay said.
Overall Mrs McKay said the quality of cattle was amazing along with the turnout of exhibitors.
Mrs Mckay got the call up after original judge Kevin Doeberiener from the United States was involved in a farm accident and was unable to attend. She was helped by associate judge Emily Robins from Cohuna.
“Kevin would have been a next level judge and I felt bad for Emily and the exhibitors but at the same time, I had never met Emily before and to work with her was just awesome and now we have had the opportunity to share such a great experience together,” she said.
Event organiser Clare Modra said 2025 was another successful year, despite the fact the event was held outside of school holidays on July 1 to 3.
“Our junior numbers were really strong and we actually had more kids than we have ever had participate in handlers and the junior judging even though it wasn’t school holidays,” Mrs Modra said.
For the first time organisers added a new champion class ‘bred at home’ — the cow must be born and bred by the exhibitor and not purchased.
“The winner was judged in class and the highest placed cow was declared the winner. There was only a champion, no reserve or honourable mention,” Mrs Modra said.
She also said for the first time in the history of the event there was a clean sweep of the junior A=Red class, with Mitchell and Lyndsay Flemming being part owners in the junior, reserve and honourable mention animals.
Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor was awarded to Gorbro Holsteins.
Laura Poole from Pyramid Hill was given the Youth Excellence Award while the Youth Encouragement award winner was Imogen Kath.
Other award winners were:
- Reserve Senior Champion and Supreme Udder: Gorbro Sidekick Repa, Gorbro Holsteins.
- Bred and Owned Senior Champion: Winwood Tatoo Lights Out, Winwood Holsteins.
- Red Senior Champion: Gorbro Riverdown Asia IMP ET, Gorbro Holsteins.
- Supreme Intermediate Champion and Supreme Udder: View Fort Hano Pure, Winwood, Brookbora, Twin View and Dufield.
- Reserve Intermediate Champion: Eastview Jagger Bonnie, Ashen Plains Holstein and Profit-a-bull Genetics.
- Bred and Owned Intermediate Champion: Gorbro Jagger Shimmer, Gorbro Holsteins.
- Red Intermediate Champion: Elm Banks Warrior Okabargo Red, Eastview Holsteins.
- Supreme Junior Champion: Impression Jealous of My Latenite 269 IMP ET, M. & L. Flemming, C. Moscript and M. Senegal.
- Reserve Junior Champion: Elm Banks Masterclass, BK Farming.
- Youth Junior Champion: Eastview EB Chief A Bonnie, Eastview Holsteins and Elm Banks Holstein.
- Youth Junior Reserve Champion: Melaluca Imagine Dharma, Ottreys Bridge Holsteins.
