Dairy week director Declan Patten said it was his intention to eventually broaden the exclusively Holstein event to include a Jersey division.
He said there would be no major changes in the Bendigo event and the two dairy competitions will remain at their current locations.
Winter Fair founders Clare and Stu Modra announced they were stepping back this week, and reflected on their journey over 12 years.
“As founders of this event, it’s not easy to say goodbye, but we are filled with pride as we look back on everything that the show has achieved,” the couple said.
“The VWF [Victorian Winter Fair] began as a simple idea shared between four friends — Clare and Stu Modra, Adam Dee, and Rus Robins — during a casual evening over a meal and a few beers.
“What started as a light-hearted conversation about creating something special in our industry quickly blossomed into a full-fledged event.
“Initially, the show was only intended to be a one-off event, but as often happens with great ideas, the industry had other plans.”
Mr Modra said no money changed hands in the transfer and he was pleased that the new owner was Mr Patten.
Mr Patten said it was a great opportunity to secure the second biggest show of its kind in Australia.
He said the two parties had been having discussions since the mid-year Winter Fair and they only recently finalised the transfer.
“We certainly don’t intend to make any drastic changes in the first year.”
The growth of the Bendigo event has occasionally provoked fears that International Dairy Week might move, but Mr Patten scotched any talk about dairy week shifting away from Tatura.
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