Risdon Feedlot, Freestone Feedlot teams win big in 2022 Warwick Show prime cattle comp

The best of Warwick’s cattle producers have again shone on the regional stage in one of the biggest prime cattle competitions yet, with farmers revelling in their first show in years unhindered by drought or Covid.

The Warwick Show is renowned for bringing the best of the region’s cattle and livestock to the fore, and the 2022 event has so far kept this tradition alive.

Several heavyweights of the beef industry across the region and wider southeast Queensland claimed top honours in the prime cattle competition on Friday.

The Gross family’s Risdon Feedlot went home with a bevy of the Show’s most prestigious awards including grand champion / prize beast of the show, champion pen of three, champion steer or heifer, and reserve champion vealer or vearling.

Second-generation leader Howard Gross proudly accepted many of the ribbons and prizes from sponsors and patrons, including his father and icon of the Warwick cattle industry, Bill Gross.

The large remainder of top gongs went to the Freestone Feedlot team, such as reserve champion pen of three and steer or heifer, exhibitor with the most entries, and most successful exhibitor.

With 40 years’ experience in the industry and a lifetime involved with the Warwick Show, Freestone Feedlot manager Wendy Bryce said it was incredibly exciting to be taking home so many ribbons after the prime cattle judging.

“I don’t think you ever expect to win. It was a really good competition this year and we like to support the show, so we always get a team ready to come down,” she said.

“There has been a couple of tough years with the drought and Covid, so to come out and have a show like this is just great.

“I used to ride in the Warwick Show when I was a little girl and have always lived in the Warwick district, so I’ve almost always been around it.

“It’s a team effort and this is the sort of thing where everyone comes in and helps. We’re just locals supporting our local show.”

The 2022 Warwick Show drew one of the biggest prime cattle exhibitions in recent years, with 54 head of cattle entered across 12 individual categories.

Other ribbon-earners on the day included new chairman Matt Cleary, Wilbri Pastoral, Rehan Santas, M and C Muller, B and J Bourke, and the Nudgee College team.