Farming history bagged for all to enjoy

WA has a proud wool-growing history, particularly in the Great Southern.

To recognise those who produce the greasy commodity, Graham Barrett-Lennard — with the help of his sons Josiah, 17, and Elijah, 15 — launched a new initiative at this month’s 47th annual Newdegate Machinery Field Days.

Wool bags imprinted with families’ farm stamps and names and date of establishment were proudly displayed in the Dyson Jones Wool and Technology Pavilion.

Mr Barrett-Lennard, who oversees a flock of 3000 ewes alongside a 2000ha cropping enterprise across two properties near Newdegate, said the initiative honoured farming families’ heritage.

“There are a few with plenty of history, like the Walters from Bridgetown who started in 1890,” the seventh-generation farmer said.

It is the first year we’ve done it and I knew people would be keen to get involved.

The Barrett-Lennards featured their own wool bag, stencilled with Prairie View, in recognition of the family farm.

Newdegate farmer Chaz Hall was also among producers to contribute to the project, and stencilled his farm’s name, business name and founding date onto a bag.

Mr Hall applauded the idea and said he hoped it would be an annual display at the Newdegate show.

“I thought it was a good idea, and it gives you an idea of how long everyone has been around and farming in the area,” he said.

“We stencilled the business name KPMSF Hall, Allendale was the farm name and then the date that our farm was founded in 1980.”