This article first appeared in Queensland Country Life.
Today beef producers would have been hard at work competing in cattle judging at the historic comeback Ekka in Brisbane.
While COVID-19 lockdown forced its cancellation for the second straight year, Queensland Country Life has dived into the archives and retrieved a gallery featuring some of the familiar faces of the cattle rings.
Forget the prize-winning cattle for a minute, forget the trophy winners with all their ribbons; these are the real champions.
More than 1000 head of stud cattle were nominated to compete at the Royal Queensland Show this week.
The event would have also played host to a number of state finals including young auctioneers, showgirls, rural ambassadors and junior judges and paraders competitions.
Faces of EKKA 2017. Photographer Kelly Butterworth.