DPIR shines at the Alice Springs Show

Show season is upon us and a team from Old Man Plains Research Station (OMP) and the Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) attended the Alice Springs Show recently to connect with industry and the public, and to highlight some of the great work the department is doing.

The team, which included Philip Hausler, Executive Director Agriculture Division, Stuart Smith, Regional Director Southern, Bryan Gill, Manager at OMP, Meg Humphrys, Pastoral Extension Officer, Sally Sims, Technical Officer and Jocelyn Coventry, Pastoral Production Officer, even picked up a blue ribbon for the department’s pen of steers, which saw off some tough competition.

The show, which took place from 5-6 July, features quality cattle from all over the Red Centre and beyond, and our steers were up against some of the best in the Territory.

The team also worked alongside Meat and Livestock Australia and the NT Cattlemen’s Association on a project that saw hundreds of show goers enjoy a virtual reality tour of the beef and lamb industries.

Donning virtual reality headsets, show goers were taken through the production process, with a focus on livestock, the environment and the consumer. Guiding them through the entire supply chain, the ‘tour’ covered farm, transport, abattoir and restaurant.

On Saturday after the show, some staff members attended the Centralian Beef Breeders Association gala ball at the Alice Springs Convention Centre, which the department sponsored. The theme was Starry, Starry Night and it was a great opportunity for networking and hearing directly from industry.