Parkes Phoenix Editor

Perfect spring weather and an exciting new location proved the right combinations for the Forbes Farmers Markets held on Saturday. The markets, which are held on the fourth Saturday of each month, saw new stall holders and an increased number of people in attendance at Victoria Park.

The central location was also popular with morning walkers, stopping to have coffee and peruse the many stalls. The addition of children’s activities such as face painting and colouring in, is making the event ‘family friendly’ and was well received by local families who were able to purchase fresh produce while their children were being entertained.

The markets have a strict charter of guidelines that stall holders must comply with to enable them to join the growing number of regular attendees. Producers must reside within the Central West, an area reaching as far south as Wagga Wagga, Dubbo in the north, Bathurst to the east and Condobolin heading west.

All produce must be home/farm grown and must be fresh or a bi-product of the fresh produce. Producers are on hand to answer any questions you may have about their wares so you know exactly what you are buying and eating.

Farmers Market coordinator, Melissa Ross, was very pleased with the change of venue which will continue for the summer months. In March next year organisers will reassess the situation for winter and decide whether or not to make the move back to the showground and the all-weather facilities of the Ben Hall Shears complex.

This month the Biz Viz organised by the Forbes Chamber was hosted by Steve Walker of Walkers AGnVET. The AGnVET Services business has evolved over the past 100 years from a single focussed retail outlet started by Harry Walker in 1915 in Forbes NSW to a network of businesses with over 60 locations and 100 specialist advisors in agronomy and animal nutrition, strategically located throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Through the iconic brands of AGnVET Services, IK Caldwell, M.I.A. Rural Services, Darling Irrigation, The Wheelhouse Group, Howard Martin & Co and AGnVET Agribusiness these businesses play a key role in supporting their local rural communities. AGnVET Services today remains a proudly Australian independent agribusiness
owned by four families.

Steve Walker gave an overview of the background of the company which was started in 1915. Both Michael and Steve
Walker believe that it is the unique culture of the company and their people which gives them a point of difference in the market. Michael said, ‘We have good people that are committed to ensuring our customers receive the best advice and quality products to ensure they maximise their profitability in their individual farming enterprises. Our agronomic team are the best in providing a range of valuable services including on farm advice, farm mapping, soil moisture monitoring, nutrition advice and a suite of analytical services through our agronomic platform BettaCrop.

We have tremendous relationships with our suppliers and are looking forward to many of our local clients participating in a study tour to the USA in July 2016. In addition to this we will also be hosting this year’s Big Bucks Bonanza night next Friday November the 6th. This is traditionally a great night where our clients can take home some exciting prizes in the auction conducted by local identity Col Hodges.”

As part of the 100 year anniversary this year Michael said he and his fellow directors, David Walker and Mark Giffin were proud to host a dinner for the staff that were able to travel to Forbes on Saturday night. Steve believes that the ongoing success of the AGnVET business is built on the strong relationships and value adding that our staff across the branches have and provide to their local clients on a daily basis.

The Central West Livestock Exchange is a state of the art facility and a proven choice for buying and selling premium quality cattle, sheep and pigs. The complex opened in 2006 when the brand new $10.4 million cattle auction facility
was completed. The $15 million sheep auction facility was opened in late 2010 and $1.2 million pig auction facility in 2011.

Deputy Mayor Graeme Miller is the Chairman of the Saleyards Advisory Committee, which is the governing body of the Central West Livestock Exchange. Also on the committee are Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM, Councillor Brian Mattiske, Saleyards Supervisor Cassi Walmsley, Council senior staff, representatives from the local stock and station agents, vendors, a local carrier and a member of Local Land Services.

Cr Miller said in terms of numbers through the Central West Livestock Exchange, it was ranked second for sheep sales last year and was ranked in the top 10 for cattle sales. The facility is one of two pig selling centres in NSW and has the highest ranking for pig sales. Council has recently submitted an application for grant funding to expand the
cattle yards to cater for the larger numbers coming through the yards.

“When the facility was built nine years ago, the plan was to take us into the next 20 years, however the business has
grown to the point where we need to expand, which has exceeded all expectations,” Cr Miller said. “At the moment Council is completing a master plan for future development and an overall look at the site to take it into the next 20 years. “We will be looking at market trends and the usage of the yards.”

Cr Miller is also a member of the Australian Livestock Marketing Association Board, which is the peak national industry body in relation to conducting saleyards business and lobbying with interest groups and governments. “We are always looking at different ways that we can optimise the centre,” he said. The Central West Livestock Exchange also has canteen facilities, a six-bay high pressure truck wash, amenities including showers, ample truck and car parking and grazing paddocks for holding stock and resting stock.

State of the Art Facility is what the Local Agent’s have to say. Murray Reid from V.C. Reid and Son said, “The new livestok centre is a great asset to the town and also to all of the agents, buy ers, and vendors who use the facility each
week.” Geoff Rice, Landmark Langlands Hanlon, said,” the new livestock centre is a terrific centre to work from, and is just such a great improvement compared to the old one. With these improvements, it has attracted more and more business which is benefitting all of the local agents. It is one of the only Council owned saleyards left in the state, and a big benefit to this are the fees which the vendors pay, making it more attractive than other centres.”

Tim Mackay, agent from Forbes Livestock & Agency Co said,’ the centre is so much more superior than the previous one, and whilst we still get a little congested when the numbers are high, the sheep yards are working magnificently.” He agreed with Geoff Rice, that there are now more stock coming to Forbes since the new selling centre has been in place. Tim said,” there are now better facilities for the people handling the livestock and for the buyers and vendors.”

Luke Whitty, director of KMWL said, “Having worked at the old yards for a very long period of time, I view the new centre as state of the art. The hard cover over the cattleyards, along with the sawdust floor gives this centre a big advantage over other centres. It means that the cattle are very comfortable, and don’t get lame or sore footed whilst in the yards. The buyer’s walkways enabling them to view the cattle prior to purchase is an added advantage.

The sheep facility enables the agents to present the sheep in a better environment, and overall is just fantastic for vendors and carriers. I believe that we are attracting more business from further afield with this facility since we moved here.”

Forbes Art Society hosted another successful Art Exhibition in the Forbes Town Hall on Friday 23 October.
‘From Somewhere Down The Lachlan’ was an exhibition of works from two well-known local artists – Rosie Johnston and Jac Clark.

Rosie is an artist and award winning graphic designer who began painting seriously in her mid-30’s. She originally began working with water colours and smaller paintings before moving onto to much larger impressionist style pieces in bold strong acrylic colours for which she is now associated with.

Jac Clark is the owner of Morabon Print and Design in Parkes has been painting professionally since 2006. Her artworks are bold, vibrant portraits of animals and people. Jac had the privilege of painting Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, and this painting was accepted into the Portia Geach Exhibition, Australia’s most prestigious art prize for portraiture by female artists.

Jac was also asked to paint popular local singer, Celia Pavey and received many accolades for her 2015 Archibald entry ‘Dr Karl, pose 5’. Both artists displayed more than twenty pieces each and organisers were pleased with the response to the exhibition launch on Friday evening. The exhibition is open for public viewing until Sunday 1st November.