Ekka · Show Day

Ekka week makes Brisbane buzz. On Mount Mee, Spike and Suzy borrowed the show feeling without leaving the paddock.

Show day at home, said Spike, chest proud. Tidy coats. Calm feet. Best manners we have.

Suzy lined up a pretend judging lane between two rails. Not a real ring — a teaching lane. Soft eye. Walk on. Stand. Wait.

Canberra walked the lane like she had always been in a catalogue. London queued behind her as if ribbons were real. Harare tried to graze mid-lane; Spike soft-pushed her back to the game. Beijing pondered, then one clean show step. Tokyo darted — Suzy reset her with a look. Moscow planted like a champion of not moving. Paris arrived last and still looked intentional. Denver owned height. Nairobi chose the sunny side of the lane. Manila watched from the other side — guest judge energy.

Little Thunder stood mahogany-handsome, orange poll bright, calm as a show bull who has decided not to make a scene. Good, said Spike. Show quiet is still show pride.

Chooks refused to be herded into anything like a parade and were excused with honour. Sheep wool-warm looked naturally dressed for winter show season even in August imagination. Goats wanted to climb the rails; Suzy said not today. Quails declined the lane and were counted as free-range exhibits.

The lesson: pride is not shouting. Pride is clean water, brushed patience, and animals who trust your soft eye in a crowd feeling — even if the crowd is only the herd.

Spike demonstrated a serious stand. Suzy demonstrated a serious sit. Together they were a blue-ribbon pair of kelpies who still steal socks on ordinary days.

For families heading to the real Ekka: keep kids’ hands gentle, watch animals with respect, come home and practise calm feet in your own yard.

Put Ekka day in your Farm Keeper folder. Mount Mee will still be here after the fairy floss — gates, troughs, soft eye.

Calm feet. Soft eye. Show pride at home.