May 27th : Day 5 :Albury to Wagga Wagga

May 27, 2012: Day 5 : Albany to Wagga Wagga

This morning came bright and early ! I think we all have been having a good time touring Australia that were all starting to get tired. Last night we had dinner at a Soden's and it was AMAZING ! We had a choice of anything off the menu. I got a fillet mingon and steamed vegetables. I was kind of leary about getting it because it was grass fed beef, but actually it was good.

Holding Tom the baby lamb

We loaded up our luggage and ourselves on the bus at 8:00 in the morning from the Paddlesteamer Motel. Which was a lot better then our hotel the other night in Seymour. Oh did I mention that we are now in New South Wales. Our tour started this morning with Trigger Vale Genetics farm. They have White Suffolk, Merino studs, and crossbreds. They A.I about two hundred lambs in the summer. Trigger Vale is family operation where Andrew and Mandi Bouffler run there farm with their three children. We looked at the quality of wool they produce and differences there is between America. They run around 2,500 head of sheep total.

Owner of Trigger Vale Genetics

Our next stop was at the Emu farm this stop was a fun stop. The only other time I had seen an emu was at the zoo. This farm has about two hundred birds . They use the bird for their the emu oil, the second resource is the emu meat that they use. They said that the emu produces around 10 kilograms of oil ! Quite interesting. They served us a steak lunch which was good. I feel like all they do is eat around here. I can honestly say that I am stuffed right now.

Emu farm

Our last stop for the evening was at Spry familys shorthorn operation. We looked at some of their prize livestock. One of their bulls won the Sydeny Royal. They run about 350 cattle on their operation and has traveled to the states to look at the shorthorn cattle in the United States. After we finished talking for awhile the Spry family cooked us an amazing steak supper ! Although it was good I could not eat much because I was so full from lunch. I enjoyed talking to the Sprys and learning about their operation. Today was a busy day and was good.

One of the top bulls that did very well at the Sydney Royal

-Kara