March Sales 2024

EAST GIPPSLAND NEWSPAPERS | 11 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024 Unique mountain sales About 8500 cattle will grace the Elders Mountain Calf Sales next week, where pink shirts will line the saleyards at Omeo and Benambra, ably led by Elders Bairnsdale’s Morgan Davies. Morgan is also the main auctioneer and organiser of the two-day event, which attracts hundreds of buyers from across eastern Australia. “The Hereford calves are renowned as the best and I certainly believe that,” Morgan said. “The black spring weaners also look a picture. “It makes our jobs easier with cattle that look so good.” He said selling that many cattle in any selling centre, let alone in four sales, over two days and three saleyards, was no mean organisational feat. “We concentrate on the business transaction of cattle being presented correctly and that they go to the right homes. “The mystique of the mountain sales is unique, there is nowhere else like Omeo, Benambra and Ensay.” Morgan has attended the Mountain Calf Sales every year, as Elders send a lot of their young people to work at the sales. “I like the camaraderie of it all up there, we probably have about 35 people around us, 10 good auctioneers, 10 good cattle drafters and plenty of people on gates. “We’re also bound by the weather in that region. Ȋ:HȇYH KDG ȵRRGLQJ UDLQV ZHȇYH KDG VDOHV FDQFHOOHG EHFDXVH RI ȴUHV RU VROG ZKHQ WKHUH DUH ȴUHV QRW WRR IDU DZD\ “The challenges are pretty extreme, but everyone just embraces it and we pull together.” Morgan started with Elders at freshly 18, straight out of year 12 and into the trainee program. He spent time in Korumburra, Swan Hill, Broken Hill and Albury until the opportunity came up to go back to Gippsland. “I had no intentions of working in Bairnsdale,” Morgan said. “I was thinking more like the Koonwarra area, I was pretty young. “But there was a management change at Bairnsdale and I took on the livestock manager role when I was 21.” “It’s a great industry to be in and a great career,” he said. “I was lucky enough to learn from some great stock agents and people, like Peter MacCallum and Ian Parker, they let me take the lead which was really uncommon. “We built a substantial business, but I needed their support to get there.” He also lists agents like Brad Obst and David Hill as people he has learnt and developed a skill set from. As an auctioneer, Morgan opens the Mountain Calf Sales, and other large sales like the Yea weaner sales but he didn’t begin with that career aspiration. “I didn’t have my heart set on being an auctioneer, I was more about growing the business and our clientele, but I had to take on the role and be more serious. Morgan entered the National Young Auctioneers competition in 2011 and ran second. “It was a good learning curve, auctioneering is all part of the job,” he said. “I really enjoy it now.” Morgan grew up in Foster where his father owned the local butcher shop and a family farming operation which split, allowing Morgan to also work with his uncle and his cattle. He married Lindenow girl Jess Bulmer in 2012 and the couple has three children, Stella, 3DW HLJKW DQG +HDWK ȴYH Now 38, Morgan says his agent career hasn’t been without its challenges. Recently Morgan has taken on the Gippsland livestock manager role and has almost immediately had to deal with the closure of the Victorian Livestock Exchange in Pakenham, and GHDO ZLWK WKH VWD΍ IURP WKDW RɝFH “Urban growth just defeated it,” Morgan said. While he admits he’s not delicate with words, Morgan’s motto is ‘Trust is your currency’ and he pays special attention to his clients and the marketing of their cattle. The Elders Mountain Calf Sales take place next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 5-6. 7KH ȴUVW (OGHUV VDOH EHJLQV DW 2PHR RQ 7XHVGD\ DW SP ZLWK D EODFN FDWWOH \DUGLQJ IROORZHG E\ WKH VDOH DW %HQDPEUD DW SP 7KH IROORZLQJ GD\ WKH VDOHV EHJLQ DW (QVD\ DW DP UHWXUQLQJ WR 2PHR IRU WKH ȴQDO VDOH DW SP 7KH %DLUQVGDOH FDOI VDOH WDNHV SODFH WKH IROORZLQJ )ULGD\ 0DUFK Elders auctioneer, Morgan Davies (centre), in full voice at last year’s Ensay Mountain Calf Sale. Davies expects about 8500 cattle to be on auction across next week’s sales at Omeo and Benambra. (PS) MARCH SALES FEATURE 2024 ANNUAL SALE Inspection 9:30AM Sale 1:00pm Bulls to steer you in the right direction and live for heifer and heifer! Genomically Tested & Delivery Assistance Available LOT45 - KAROONDAATLANTIS (H) LOT 3 - KAROONDAALTITUDE (P) Paul & Judi Sykes - 0487 550 226 Lynton & Lauren Hill - 0427 750 250 Visit - www.karoondapark.com Tuesday 19th March 2024

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