Greater Shepparton City Council is extremely pleased with the positive response for Australia's premier dairy event, International Dairy Week, which saw a record number of cows in the cattle competitions and welcomed visitors to Tatura from around the globe.
Spanning over six days, from Saturday 13 January to Thursday 18 January 2024 at the Tatura Park Equestrian and Events Complex, the annual event welcomed people from far and wide to enjoy educational seminars, children's activities, food, machinery, cattle competitions and more. With 57 trade stalls over the whole week there was something for everyone.
The event welcomed Tatura's second annual Food Truck Festival on the Saturday night, offering a large variety with over 15 food trucks offering diverse menus. The last day also saw the official acknowledgement of the Kevin 'Gunna' Ryan OAM Outdoor Arena, recognising the significance of the Tatura local who was instrumental in the development of the facilities at Tatura Park.
Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, said the event was extremely well received, with it playing a significant role in generating economic activity across the Greater Shepparton region each year.
"Attendance across the week was exceptional compared to the last two years, especially with the introduction of the Cows Create Careers program on Wednesday," he said.
"A total of 1,145 cows were entered in the cattle competitions, which is more than 150 additional entries compared to last year. The week's judging panel came from all over the world to see what Tatura had to offer, including Canada, America and the Netherlands.
"Tatura has hosted this prestigious event for the last 34 years and Council look forward to continuing this long standing partnership with International Dairy Week for many years to come."
Director of International Dairy Week 2024, Declan Patten, was thrilled with the event and the support shown from the dairy community.
"It was an event to remember, it is always a positive way to start the year and this event was no exception. There was a great atmosphere this year with lots of attendees, new initiatives and support from the community," Mr Patten said.
"Looking back at the years of COVID-19, you would truly wonder if events like this would happen again. To see record attendance numbers across the board is really pleasing to see. We would like to thank the Greater Shepparton City Council, Semex, Dairy Livestock Services and Nutrien for their support. We wouldn't have been able to host this event at Tatura Park without them and the local companies who helped throughout the week."
With the event now over for another year, Council looks forward to 2025 and the continued growth of Australia's premier dairy event.
