Farmyard friends: Harry Priest with two of his farmland prepare for Royal Geelong Show on Wednesday. Picture: Tommy Ritchie 54760
Andrew Mathieson
HARRY Priest isn’t joking when the Royal Geelong Show veteran says he lives and breathes animals.
The Harry Farmland’s name on the showground shed is the sign of his life, not just a marketing gimmick, after bringing his farmyard friends to the show for more than 20 years.
“We always sleep here – we never leave the animals,” Harry swears of his dedication to the show.
Every night for the past month Harry has pulled his Landcruiser into the shed, rolled out his swag and tucked up among the Shetland ponies, alpacas and kid goats in preparation for the show.
Even at the age of 71, he’s up at six in the morning and on his feet until nine that night.
But still he’s as happy as, er, Harry.
Just like his namesake, Harry the ram.
“Oh, he looks a lot like me,” Harry the human laughs.
“He’s been coming for six years and he loves it here, loves the people.
“He’s as happy as can be.”
A former farm manager at a Ceres stud, Harry gave away travelling to other royal shows around Victoria to concentrate on his hometown’s own big day.
“We like to think we’re as good as the Royal Melbourne Show,” Harry says.
“That’s not bragging; that’s what we attest to the standard.”
Harry likes his annual show attraction to simulate a real farmyard.
The shed has hay bales sprawled out, saddles nailed on the walls and he even brings in a stagecoach for the show.
“The main objective is to give the kids a chance to pick up the chooks and pat a rabbit or a guinea pig,” he says, “because you wouldn’t believe how many of them don’t even have a dog or a cat.”
Royal Geelong Show runs until Sunday at Geelong Showgrounds.
Ticket prices are $16 for adults, $14 for concession card holders, $10 for children aged eight to 15 and free for kids under eight. A family pass for two adults and two children costs $40.
