The southdown farming trio of Leo Christey, left, Mark Christey, 16, and Andrew Christey.
It’s a good job there is no school exam clash for Mark Christey during the Canterbury A&P Show.
Mark is the third generation of his Southbridge family to lead southdown sheep into the judging ring at the annual event.
He accepts school comes first and the show second, but it is a close-run thing.
Three generations of sheep exhibitors – Mark Christey, left, Andrew Christey and Leo Christey.
“Exams are starting today, but not for me. They start on Monday for me, but last year I had to go home for an exam on Thursday.
The 16-year-old from Ellesmere College is in his element in the sheep pens and looks forward to show day each year.
“It’s good to get out and see what other people are doing compared with Dad at home,” Mark said.
“I don’t know how long I have been going to the show. I wouldn’t remember because I was so young when I started.”
At the show are his grandfather Leo, who started the family’s Mapua Southdown Stud in 1963, and grandmother Leonie, a show stalwart.
Alongside them are father Andrew, sister Sarah with mother Louise an integral part of the farming family. Each member is involved in their 100 hectare farm which combines mixed cropping with 220 sows, cow grazing, a commercial sheep flock and the prized 130 ewe stud.
Their best show result was top drawer ribbons in the southdown carcass evaluation class and best pair of rams several years ago but since then the wins have been elusive and they have had to settle for second and third placings.
Andrew said his father, Leo, started the stud to breed a “fast fattening” lamb and it continued to meet this criteria with southdowns since developing into a premier meat breed.
“I could see the opportunity when I took over the farm over 10 years ago to carry on with the stud and sell commercial rams.”
Andrew is no stranger to attending the show himself and enjoys the camaraderie, family outing and the competition.
“Because Mum was quite heavily involved in their day they used to go to the Royal Show every year when it was three in the North island and two in the South Island and they used to go everywhere and we grew up going to the show.”
The family farm was bought in 1919 by Mark’s great, great grandfather Jack.
Unsurprisingly, the “dream goal” is for Mark to take over the intensively-run operation after tertiary studies.
He helps with lambing and checking the ewes and is starting to assist his father with selecting stud rams.
“I know a little bit, but not much because there is heaps involved. Dad and Grandad know a lot about sheep, that’s for sure.”
With his family pedigree, it is not any surprise that Mark is a big supporter of the southdown breed.
“Is southdown the best breed in the world? Well, I would have to say that – there is no choice in that one.”