For stud breeder Marie Fitzpatrick, the Timperlea Angus bull sale is one of the biggest days of the year.
It's also when the family gets together to celebrate a shared love of farming which makes her mum Linda shed tears of pride.
Marie Fitzpatrick at the Timperlea Angus bull sale with a potential buyer and Rural Livestock auctioneer Donald Cooke. Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
The annual yearling bull sale takes place at Marie's Angus Stud near Oxford and 24 of her best boys are going under the hammer.
It's a time of year that makes Linda's heart swell.
"I think it's a real asset to have family all working together and doing their own thing within the [family] cluster," she says, wiping tears off her face.
"They're all talented in different ways and they're all doing well in their own areas, so we're really blessed with what we've been given."
Clarence and Linda Timperley Photo: Cosmo kentish-Barnes
Farmers check out some yearling bulls. Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Before the auction gets underway, the bulls graze in pens as potential buyers walk around them. Every now and then they raise their heads and glance around.
The yearlings have been carefully selected by Marie for the sale.
"They're quiet and very easy to work with and they are the top line as yearlings, so they're not just a heifer mating bull, people use them over cows," she says.
The auction is held in a converted seed shed. Large straw bales are set up around the showing pen for seating and in the corner sits a makeshift bar.
When the auctioneer is ready, Marie leads in Kaiwara 480/14 - her first bull.
Farmers wait for the auction to start. Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Auctioneer Donald Cooke and Anthony Cox from Rural Livestock Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Linda and her hubbie Clarence mingle behind the bidders with their two other daughters, who have also married and come back to the farm.
"They did their careers, went away and then in their early thirties decided to come back farming and yeah, it's gone on from there," Clarence says.
Marie spent time as a successful chef.
"The cheffing will never come out of Marie but farming is her passion."
When the auction gets underway, farmers and farm agents make their bids with a flick of their catalogue.
It's not long before the last of the bulls are sold. The average price is $3590 with the top bid going for $10,500.
Marie is relieved the sale was successful and she can relax now and enjoy the afterparty.
"That's probably the most important part of the day," she says, laughing.
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Yearling bulls waiting to go under the hammer Photo: Cosmo kentish-Barnes
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
