3 minute read
Stoney Point raises $9,000 for the Angus Foundation
Bridget, Matilda and Will Watson with their Foundation stud heifer, Stoney Point Annabel S002PV
Cheyne Twist, Senior Marketing & Communications Officer
Stoney Point Performance Angus rallied support for the Angus Foundation at their recent Dispersal sale, donating all proceeds of Lot 335, Stoney Point Annabel S002PV, to the Angus Foundation.
The heifer, sold at day two of the Stoney Point Stage Two Dispersal Sale, was a 2021 drop Sydgen Enhance daughter with a particularly handsome set of EBVs and genetics, selling for an impressive $9,000. While he himself is in the process of moving on from the Angus breed, Perry Gunner, Stud Principal of Stoney Point Performance Angus, highlighted the importance of ensuring the next generation of Angus stewards through providing opportunities for the beef industry’s future leaders. “The Angus breed is very successful, but unless it looks forward to the future then there is no point being successful,” said Mr Gunner. “The Angus Foundation is all about the future and the youth that will come through in the future to continue the great performance of the Angus breed.” In addressing the crowd prior to the sale of the heifer Mr Gunner said, “I think when you are a bit older like me it’s worthwhile leaving something for the future, so I am leaving the proceeds for this heifer, so it’s up to you guys to bid up and help the other side.” Will Watson and daughters Matilda and Bridget were the successful purchasers of Annabelle S002PV and look to use the Foundation heifer as a foundation for their developing stud enterprise. “We recently started up our own stud, which Pete (Colliver, Stoney Point Farm Manager) got us into and Pete said this was the opportunity to get into the stud game as he knew we were keen, and the kids were keen. So, we bought the heifer for our children to start their first stud,” said Mr Watson. When asked why they were drawn to the foundation heifer for their purchase, Mr Watson said, “Last year we bought our first stud cattle out of the Stoney Point sale, we are very happy with their genetics and have been using their genetics for about 10 years. We thought this heifer was going to a good cause and was a good push to start Matilda off.” Over the course of the two-day dispersal 372 females were sold, averaging $8,103 with a top price of $34,000. The Angus Foundation provides funding for several of the Angus Youth Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries provided to young Angus members, as well as supporting education and research opportunities. The Foundation has been responsible for providing support for the Trans Tasman Travel Bursary to New Zealand, scholarships to attend the Tocal Beef Cattle Assessment Course, the LiveEX conference, the SmartBeef conference, Beef Australia and the industry leading GenAngus Future Leaders Program. Previously the Angus Foundation has also assisted students to attend both the University of Illinois and Kansas State University in the United States. The Foundation has also recently seen the addition of new opportunities with the introduction of the Foundation Research Grants, awarded to undergraduate and postgraduate students to enable them to undertake research that can be applied to the Australian beef industry; and in conjunctions with AuctionsPlus, a Foundation Cadetship that will see the recipient spend time with AuctionsPlus and finish with attending the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Course.
