SOME men might retreat to their sheds for some stress relief, but for Clifton's Ben Drain, preparing and showing beef cattle is his preferred means of winding down.
It's a hobby that paid off handsomely for the dairy farmer on Tuesday when he won champion led steer or heifer at the lucrative CRT Farmfest Led Steer and Heifer Show at Toowoomba, where a pool of $8000 in cash prizemoney and trophies was up for grabs.
His 566kg Limousin/Hereford-cross steer named Knockout beat a big field of more than 110 head to take the champion ribbon, $800 prizemoney and trophy in the steer's first ever show.
"I bought him as a calf off his mother in the paddock last year and have had him on feed," Mr Drain said.
"Showing the steers is my stress relief instead of a shed, I have the steers. Getting a win like this is good recognition for the time and effort you put into them."
Mr Drain has exhibited led steers for other people in the past, but has spent the past two years showing his own steers.
Next stop for Knockout is Toogoolawah Show tomorrow and Saturday.
The big task of judging the steers and heifers was up to Tim Bayliss, Landmark, Armidale, NSW, who is an AuctionsPlus training and sales manager.
Mr Bayliss was full of praise for the entries, and took a hands-on approach to judging.
"The quality right through from the lightweight to heavyweight entries was outstanding and great to see, and the champions and reserve champions were some of the best steers you will ever see they would stand up anywhere, including the Ekka," Mr Bayliss said.
"The champion steer was an ideal steer for market specifications and could hit a couple of different markets. He had meat in the right places and good fat cover."
