Located in Gippsland, in south-eastern Victoria, collectively and individually their passion is to breed the best dairy genetics and make them available to others in the dairy industry.

In 2017, Callum — with Declan and Ellie Patten — submitted a two-month-old Holstein heifer calf into the World Wide Sires Evolution Sale at IDW.

The calf, Lightning Ridge-CMD Jedi Gigi Imp-ET, was considered in genetic terms to be the fourth best ever bred in the world, and sold at $251,000.

Last year, the principals of First Class Genetics gathered embryos and semen from across the world to sell through an online auction at IDW.

The sale included 22 generations of cow families of EX classification.

They did this alongside showing a team of cattle.

In 2024, Mitchell, Lyndsey and Callum return to IDW with their show team, comprising their own and other breeders’ cattle.

“We generally show a big group of our own cattle and on behalf of other breeders,” Mitchell said.

“We’ll take between 20 and 30 head of cattle to IDW.

“We show the best we have and the best that other people have for us to show also.

“We collect cattle along the route we’re travelling from Tinamba to the show, and people also deliver their cattle to us at IDW.”

Mitchell’s involvement in showing cattle was entrenched as a professional cattle fitter.

“It allows me to work closely with each cow on an individual basis, which is really special,” he said.

On their farm at Tinamba, he and Lyndsey focus on preparing and managing cattle year-round to show at IDW.

“We’re all driven by passion for the dairy industry and the people at IDW,” Mitchell said.

“We love being involved in the registered breeding side of the industry.

“IDW brings international visitors to Australia and raises their awareness of our dairy industry.

“IDW ensures the Australian dairy industry is seen on the global stage.

“When we get to the show, Lyns and I have an intense passion to show our cattle and be as competitive as possible.”

But their involvement is about more than competition.

“We work together with Justin Johnston from Glomar Holsteins,” Mitchell said.

“He helps us by loading our cattle into his truck, alongside the cows he’s showing too.

“When we get to the show, we all enjoy the camaraderie. My best friends are all in the dairy industry.”

There are also opportunities to build their business by attending IDW.

“We’ve actively imported a lot of embryos from several international cow families that we’re interested in,” Mitchell said.

“We’ve built those linkages by being at IDW.”