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treats
“It’s really good exposure,” he
said.
“I’m always astounded at how
many people come up to me at
Agfest and have never heard of me
and never tried my products.”
Mr Ryan said seeing the reactions
of people who have never tried the
products before is one of the things
he enjoys most.
“The reception and the response I
get are gems a lot of them,” he said.
“I just wish I could capture them.”
Mr Ryan said his most unusual
昀氀avour combination includes native
pepper berry which has a distinct
spicy edge to it.
A long-time love of gardening and
food has given Mr Ryan the ability
to create new and unique 昀氀avours.
“When you have a long
association with growing and eating,
it’s quite easy to get in here and
think well that will work,” he said.
“I’m the eccentric chocolatier.”
Mr Ryan sources as many of his
products form Tasmania as possible.
“Price has never been my issue
it’s always quality,” he said.
“I like to buy the best quality
products I can because I pride
myself on quality not quantity and I
never want to lose that.”
Dogs have their
day for top prize
LANA BEST
Top contender ... Waterlea Ace and handler Martin Waddingham.
Picture: ANNA HEYWARD
ONE of the best things to do at
Agfest is grab a hot drink and
hang over the fence with the
sun on your back to see the Tas
Working Sheep Dog Association
members and their dogs doing
what they do best.
The connection between the
handler and his canine workmate
is mesmerising and their ability
to handle, let’s face it, some of
the most ornery and unpredictable
animals on the farm, is simply
amazing.
Agfest traditionally hosts
the last round of the trialling
year, with three solid days of
competition the 昀椀nal chance for
competitors to gain valuable points
for the consistency award.
The three top dogs and their
handlers are then selected as
the state representatives in the
prestigious Ted Gaby Interstate
Challenge competition conducted
at the 2024 Australian Supreme
Championships held this year in
Geelong in September.
Those who are in the top
four nationally go on compete
alongside New Zealand in the
Wayleggo Cup, also being held in
Geelong.
TWSDA president Vicki Jones
said that the trial being held at
Agfest could go to any one of a
talented group of dogs, with much
depending on the compliance
and co-operation of the sheep
and their willingness to allow the
dogs to guide them through the
course.
“Not all dogs are suited to the
style of some sheep so scores can
change rapidly from one trial to
another,” she said.
“At this stage, the leaderboard
is pretty close and looks likely to
昀椀nish with Martin Waddingham,
Lee Jamieson and Bernard
McGlashen 昀椀ghting it out for top
dog.”
The working dog arena is at
the eastern end of Quercus Park,
adjacent to the craft sheds and
equine arena.
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TASMANIAN COUNTRY Friday, April 26, 2024 13