Allendale stud farm’s sheep and cattle are constantly picking up champion ribbons and trophies across Australia – and now it is breeder Graham Day’s turn to join the winners’ circle.

The South Australian breeder and judge was awarded an Order of Australia medal this week after dedicating his life to helping the livestock industry produce some of the highest quality sheep and cattle in the world.

“My wife Prue got the first bit of a message and I thought gee whizz, I couldn’t really believe it,” Day said from his home in Bordertown.

“Hopefully, I can keep on helping the industry, I’ve got ideas but really, the beef and lamb industry are both going along at a mighty pace.”

It was Graham Day’s father Allen who started the Allendale Suffolk stud in the state’s upper South-East in 1931, and it is now Australia’s oldest.

After working on the farm for some years with his father, Graham Day started the Allendale White Suffolk Stud in 1984 with the joining of Allendale ‘Revised Edition’ to select Poll Dorset ewes.

The sprightly 81-year-old has since bred some of the nation’s most sought-after sheep and cattle, the stud regularly taking out top honours at the Royal Melbourne Show and Royal Adelaide Show over the years.

“Dad first showed in Adelaide in 1935 and we haven’t missed a year since, apart from the war and of course this year there’s COVID that’s stopping the Adelaide show,” Day said.

The family are not only regular fixtures at the Adelaide event each year, but Day is also a former chairman and deputy chairman of the Royal Adelaide Show committee.

He was also a pastoral committee member for about 20 years and is still a judge in the beef and sheep rings.

His stud’s commitment to creating high quality bloodlines has led to farmers across Australia buying Allendale sheep and cattle to improve their stock.

The bloodlines also have been exported to South America, Africa, New Zealand, China and Japan.

Day’s sought-after expertise also has reached further afield after he was asked to judge at sheep and cattle shows across the nation along with in South Africa and in New Zealand.

He believes Australia has carved out a strong position in the global industry.

“We never want to get too far in front of ourselves, but Australia is a leader in the sheep industry as well as also one of the leading countries in terms of the beef industry,” he said.

Day’s medal recognised his part in making that happen.

This is story is part of Solstice Media’s Regional Showcase series and awards program. Each week we will bring our readers regional news stories that matter as well as some inspirational tales of individuals and communities doing what country people do best – having a go.

If you have a tale to tell or know of one, get in touch at South Australian Regional Showcase.