Locked and loaded

By Sophie Baldwin

Jan 13, 2025

Beck Robertson with daughters Isla, Peyton and Dakota with part of their 2025 IDW heifer team Jantilly and Black Rose (right). Photo by Sophie Baldwin

It’s all hands on deck for the Robertson girls with International Dairy Week just around the corner.

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Dakota, 11, Isla,10, and Peyton, 6, have been busy preparing their heifers over the summer, getting up early feeding and practising their leading.

The girls love the show and they love the fact the pool is nearby as well.

“IDW goes for a whole week and I have got my own swag to sleep in this year,” Isla said.

Isla, Peyton and Dakota with a calf they hope will be a future star of the Southern Star Holstein team. Photo by Sophie Baldwin

The girls have been working hard with eight-month-old Jantilly and seven-month-old Black Rose, who are part of the Southern Star Holstein team this year.

Dakota said Black Rose was her favourite.

“Black Rose is special because she is the last heifer (their family line was nearly extinct before her birth) and Mum said we have to look after her — she still gets a bucket of milk even though all the other heifers calves are weaned,” Dakota said.

The Robertson family from Yarroweyah are no strangers to the show circuit.

They have been attending IDW for a few years now, along with many of the local shows including Cobram and Rochester.

At this year’s National Herd Development Winter Fair, Jantilly came second in the youth section while the family had a class win with another heifer, Tonio.

Jantilly’s dam, Southern Star Windbrook Jantilly, also received honourable mention and won the aged cow class at the Winter Fair, so she has some pretty good genetics behind her.

“We enjoy the shows and we like working with the cows and getting to know them,” Isla said.

Peyton with her favourite calf. Photo by Sophie Baldwin

Mum Beck said it was really rewarding to watch the kids as they learn their way around a cow.

She said the girls were also taking a keen interest in the animals as they progress through the generations.

“Some of the calves they are working with now are daughters out of the calves they first led a couple of years ago — watching and listening to them make the connection is really rewarding.”

And the girls certainly know their animals, as they chatter away about their heifers and all their calves.

Everyone might have a different favourite calf, but one thing is for sure — the girls love their calves and they love working them.

Beck said Stewart and the kids spend the entire week at IDW while she usually stays home and keeps the farm running.

“Stewy and the kids love going. They enjoy seeing the cows and catching up with people they don’t get to see all the time,” Beck said.

Isla working with one of the calves. Photo by Sophie Baldwin

International Dairy Week will be held from Saturday, January 18 to Thursday, January 23 at Tatura Park.

This year the event is celebrating its 35th year with a special dinner on the Tuesday night.

The dinner will include a historical presentation of IDW over the years by founder Brian Leslie, along with the awarding of the Lex Bunn and Power of Women in Dairy awards.

Declan Patten and the IDW team are looking forward to another year and another week, with the event regaining its pre-COVID popularity.

“Last year was the best IDW we have had. The atmosphere was electric and was so well supported and we are hoping to top that again this year,” Declan said.