OUYEN’S Kevin Crooke and Danni Wilson have been driving forces behind the Wimmera Autumn Merino Sheep Show, but after dedicating the past five years to getting it off the ground – and running it – they are taking a backseat in 2026.
And after the smash success of the 2025 event, the show is looking for an enthusiastic generation to step into the gap left by Team Tamaleuca Merino and Poll Merino stud.
This year’s event drew studs from far and wide and Horsham Agricultural Society executive officer Andrea Cross said in 2020 the combined passion of Tamaleuca and Robert Harding from Glendonald Merinos got the competition on the go.
“Our sincere thanks go to Kevin and Danni, who have dedicated their time and energy to ensure the Wimmera Autumn Merino Sheep Show continues,” Ms Cross said.
“They have also been annual sponsors of the ribbons and sashes, and we are seeking to engage a new generation of enthusiastic young stud masters who’ll consider taking on the role to see the show continue.”
A 2025 highlight was judges Will and Harry Miller, working together for the first time – and it was only Harry’s second show as a judge and Will’s first.
The judging pair’s father Rod said there had been high hopes the family might have had four generations there on the day but his 90-year-old father Bill, with whom he founded Glenpaen Merino Stud in 1989 (adding the Poll stud in 2010) has not been well and was unable to attend.
“We started as pure Merino but are nearly all Polls now,” Rod explained.
“The Horns were founded on Snowy Plains blood and the Polls came from Roseville Park, but we have reached the point where we are our own genetic destiny, with the occasional infusion of outcross genetics if we see something we think will bring us something special.
“Which is also one of the reasons we show, it lets us see what everyone else is doing and what rams are breeding not just to type but with that something special.”
Today Glenpaen stages an annual on-property ram sale on the second Friday of October, offering 100-plus stud rams – with rams also available for private selection after that.
Rod said the family is now at fifth-generation farming – but a sixth generation shearing.
Which is why he was pleased to see his sons stepping into the showring as judges, continuing the family’s strong farming history.
“With 20 studs entering 140 sheep for the show, the boys had their work cut out and we have had plenty of positive feedback about how they went,” Rod added.
“Obviously we couldn’t compete this year with them judging, but Orrie Cowie certainly had a big day out, winning the Fabstock Supreme Champion Sheep of Show, Grand Champion Ram and the Reserve Supreme Sheep of Show was the Grand Champion Ewe, which was also won by Orrie Cowie.
“It was also pleasing to see Tamaleuca take out the March shorn ram award, they have put a lot of work into this show for many years.”
Glenpaen shears 10,000-12,000 sheep (depending on season) each year, run alongside a growing Angus beef cattle herd and some cropping on 6300 acres.
But right now, Rod said he was spending a lot of time on the excavator digging out dams as they go dry, one after the other, in the region’s protracted drought conditions.
Danni Wilson said as much as they have loved working on the show “Ouyen is still a fair haul from Horsham” and with the bigger number of studs there compared to the Mallee felt it was time to let someone else step up.
“It’s going very well, and all the people love going, so we are hopeful the next generation will take it into the future,” Danni said.
“This year we had studs from as far as the Mid North of SA, with Tom Ashby’s North Ashrose right across to Bendigo,” she said.
“And we believe these events are as important, probably more important, as social gatherings than just shows, everyone coming along is on the same page, and it is a good outlet for breeders to catch up, do some networking and just having a good time.”
Ms Wilson said they were also delighted with the ribbon for their ram PB, and his 12 months of wool.
“It’s always a big ask to get them through the summer, and as spectacular as he is, at 16.8 micron, he is very fine for our part of the world,” she laughed.
“He’s kind of too good to be true.”
