ELEVATINGTHEBRAND
WelcometotheJuly2026editionofSantaExpress–news,informationand updatesfromtheSantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia)Associationuploadedon thefirstMondayofeverymonth.
KingRanch:CEOexplains whytripwascancelled
Texasdouble:Kleberg scholarreturnstoUS
Youdecide:Council electionsunderway
AnnualReport:New digitalformatprepares forlaunch
Almosttimetoshow andshine
WelcometotheJulyeditionofSanta Express.Withthebeginningofanew financialyearnowuponus,we'realso justamonthawayfromoneofthe biggesteventsontheSantaGertrudis calendar,whenmembersfromacross thecountrycometogetherinBrisbane fortheRoyalQueenslandShow(Ekka), ourAnnualGeneralMeetingandarange ofassociatedfunctions.
Julyalsobringsusclosertothestartof thepeakbullsaleseason.Saleswillbe underwayinNewSouthWalesnext monthandwillthengathermomentum acrossQueenslandasspring approaches.Wewishallvendorsand buyerstheverybestfortheseason aheadandthankourcommercialclients fortheircontinuedsupportofSanta Gertrudisgenetics.
It'saparticularlybusymonthinthe Associationofficeasweprepareforthe largesteditionoftheyearoftheSanta Journal.TheAugusteditionwillonce againshowcasethebreadthand
AnnualReportGoes
Digital
Inamovetoreducecostsandallow moretimeforproduction,thisyear's AnnualReportwillbedistributedto membersinadigitalformatratherthan beingmailedasaprintedpublication.
strengthofourbreed,featuringextensive saleadvertisingandpromotionofstud andcommercialoperationsfromacross Australia.
Thismonthalsoseesthecompletionof ourAnnualReport,whichprovides memberswithasnapshotofthe Association'sactivities,achievements andfinancialperformanceoverthepast 12months.Welookforwardtosharingit withyoulaterthismonth.
Whetheryou'repreparingcattlefor upcomingsales,planningyourtripto Brisbane,orsimplykeepinganeyeon theseasonahead,wehopeyouenjoy thiseditionofSantaExpressandthank youforyourongoingsupportofSanta GertrudisBreeders'(Australia) Association.
BradCooper GeneralManager
SantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia) Association
Thereportwillbeemailedtomembers onMonday,20July,providingeasy accesstoreadon-screenanddownload forfuturereference.
Alimitednumberofprintedcopieswill beavailableattheAGMonSaturday,8 August,andwillalsobepostedto memberswhodonothaveanemail addressonrecord.
RJKlebergscholar headstoTexasA&M
The2024RJKlebergScholarship recipient,MiaDoering(picturedright),is headingbacktotheUnitedStatesafter beingacceptedintotheprestigious KingRanchInstituteforRanch Management(KRIRM)atTexasA&M University–Kingsville.
Widelyregardedastheworld'sleading MasterofScienceinRanch Managementprogram,KRIRMdevelops futureranchleadersthroughaunique systems-basedapproachthat combineslivestockproduction,natural resourcemanagement,business, finance,leadershipandstrategic planning.
"Iamincrediblyhonouredandexcitedto havebeenacceptedintoKRIRM,"Mia said."Theprogram'sfocuson developingwell-roundedleadersrather thantechnicalspecialistsiswhatexcites memost"
Miawillsharemoreabouttheprogram andherjourneyinaspecialcolumnin thenexteditionofSantaJournal.
RJKlebergScholarship announcementnears
TheracetobecomethenextRJKleberg Scholarshiprecipientisalmostover,with interviewsandapplicationassessments takingplaceasthiseditionofSanta Expresswentlive.
Theprestigiousscholarshipprovidesa uniqueopportunityforayoungSanta Gertrudismembertoserveasthe breed'sambassadorforthenext12 months,includingtheexperienceof travellingtotheiconicKingRanchin Texas.
The2026RJKlebergScholarship recipientwillbeannouncedduringthis year ' sEkka KeepaneyeonourFacebookpagefor updatesandtheannouncementofthe successfulcandidate.
SantaGertrudisJudging Schoolpostponed
TheSantaGertrudisJudgingSchool, originallyscheduledtobeheldfrom17–19July,hasbeenpostponeddueto limitedregistrations.
Whiletheeventwillnotproceedonthe planneddates,theAssociationremains committedtodeliveringthisvaluable educationalopportunity.Plansare alreadyunderwaytoreschedulethe JudgingSchoollaterintheyear,with furtherdetailstobeannouncedonce datesandarrangementsareconfirmed.
Council electionvoting underway
Ballotpapersandcandidate biographiesforthisyear's SantaGertrudisAustralia CouncilElectionweremailed toeligiblememberson3 July.
Ifyoubelieveyouareentitled tovoteandhavenot receivedyourvotingpack, pleasecontactWendy Jamesattheofficevia admin@santagertrudis.com .auor(07)32162708.
Completedballotpapers mustbereturnedby Tuesday,4August,eitherby mailorhand-deliveredto103 CopperfieldStreet,Geebung. Ballotswillbecountedatthe SantaGertrudisAustralia officeonWednesday,5 August. Thereare11candidates contestingsevenCouncil vacanciesthisyear
Pleasenotethatonly financialOrdinaryMembers areeligibletovote.
KingRanchvisitcancelled amidbiosecurityconcerns
PlansforahighlyanticipatedvisitbyKingRanch leadershiptoAustraliainJunewere unfortunatelycancelledduetoemerging biosecurityconcernsintheUnitedStates.
AfterextensiveplanningbySantaGertrudis Australiaandhostproperties,KingRanchmade thedifficultdecisiontopostponethetrip followingthedetectionofNewWorld Screwworminareasclosetoitshome operationsinTexas.Withthepestnowwithin100 milesoftheKingRanchHomeRanches,the companydetermineditsleadershipteam neededtoremainclosetohometosupportany potentialresponseefforts.
InalettertoAustralianhostsandindustry stakeholders,KingRanchCEORobertHodgen acknowledgedthedisappointmentthe cancellationwouldcauseandthanked everyonewhohadcommittedtimeand resourcestopreparingforthevisit.
Whilearescheduledtripisnotanticipatedin 2026,KingRanchremainscommittedto strengtheningrelationshipswithAustralianbeef producersandhopestorevisitplansforafuture visitin2027,conditionspermitting.
TheSGB(A)Athanksallmembers,stationsand industrypartnerswhohadplannedto participateinthetourandlooksforwardto welcomingtheKingRanchteamtoAustralia whencircumstancesallow.
MalandaShow
Successwasachievedforthe TallangalookStudatMalandaShowon 27June.
Competitionwasfiercewith154stud entriesandTallangalookcamesecond andthirdintheInterbreedPairofBulls, ReserveSeniorChampionTropicaland thirdintheInterbreedSire’sProgeny.
RosewoodShow
TalgaiVersacewascrownedGrand ChampionTropicalFemalebeforegoing ontowintheprestigiousSupreme TropicalExhibitattheRosewoodShow held27June.
NewRegulation–
Showingofcalves
Councilapprovedanewregulation(14.4) attherecentCouncilMeetingregarding theshowingofcalves Thenew regulationreads“14.4Thatacalfor calvesatfootenteringtheSanta Gertrudisringofanyledshowmustbe theproductofaPurebredSanta Gertrudismating,eligibleforre intheStudBook.”
RegistrarSupport
AreminderthattheSantaGertrudis RegistrarSupportteamoperatingoutof ABRIcanbecontactedon(02)5765 0524oremailedat sg@santagertrudis.com.au
SophieWieland,AlisonTrompf,ChloeWieland andNickTrompfwiththeInterbreedPairofBulls
TalgaiVersaceattheRosewoodShow.
CallideDawsonCarcaseDinner,Biloela 10July
24July
CentralQueenslandCarcaseClassicDinner,Rockhampton
4August CouncilElectionBallotsClose
5August
7August
8August
CouncilElectionBallotsCounted
EkkaSantaGertrudisJudging
SGB(A)AAGM,Rydges,FortitudeValley
Promoteyourstud, businessorevent
Nobodyeversoldasecretsoifyouhave somethingtopromotetotheSanta GertrudiscommunityacrossAustralia, thenwhynotadvertiseinSantaExpress orSantaJournal.
ThenextSantaExpresswillbeuploaded onMonday,August3.