FAMILY tradition plays a big role when it comes to agricultural shows.
Head steward of the poultry, pigeon and caged bird pavilion David Wenzlau was exposed to a variety of different birds from a young age.
“My father showed poultry for more than 50 years,” Mr Wenzlau said, noting this provided him with an overview of rural shows and their significance within local communities.
Mr Wenzlau said his dad exhibited at many local shows, including Sea Lake, Hopetoun and Rainbow.
“It was always exciting to see what prize cards and ribbons he brought home,” Mr Wenzlau said.
His father moved from Beulah to Woorinen in 1949 and joined the Swan Hill show committee.
While his father passed away in 1994, Mr Wenzlau ensured his legacy lived on.
Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the Swan Hill show committee the following year, in 1995 and has been involved with the poultry, pigeon and caged bird pavilion ever since.
“The children especially love the colours of the birds and all the different sounds within the pavilion,” Mr Wenzlau said.
A lot of preparation goes into preparing entrants for the poultry, pigeon and caged bird categories, with judges using a points system to determine the winners.
While judging is always a busy day, Mr Wenzlau said points were based on the various colouring of the bird, its posture, wings, legs, toes and comb, while also assessing how it responded to being handled.
Mr Wenzlau said this year marked a significant turning point within the pavilion with the return of the pigeons, following multiple outbreaks of disease.
“This will be the first time in many years we have had pigeons,” he said.
