BEING offered a lamb sausage barbequed by legendary ex-AFL player and media personality Sam Kekovich was part of the Sheepvention experience for those walking past the Greg Allan Farm Machinery display on Tuesday.

Kekovich had been invited by owner, Greg Allan, to lend his signature showmanship - and culinary knowledge - to the business’s exhibit and was in his element calling on unsuspecting people to grab some bread and get served up some tasty cuisine.

“I’ve been invited to this show a number of times over the years because of my farming relationship and my lamb ambassador relationship with the Hamilton community at large, but because of circumstances the twain never met,” he said.

“But Greg the other day said, ‘would you mind coming up?’ … he’s just opened up a nice dealership over here … so that’s why I’m here.”

Standing next to a smoking grill turning over some delectable comestibles, Kekovich was at ease with his role recommending a regional family business that will be a great benefit to the town while employing several locals on the way.

“Promoting country Australia, promoting Greg Allan and his machinery and letting them know that they’ve got a wonderful Australian citizen as far as their community, which they should support,” he said.

For Mr Allan, the expansion of his 34-year-old business in Colac to Hamilton was a natural step, looking for bigger premises under cover but also “getting a bit serious about importing”.

“We (had) about 80 containers last year, and probably we’re somewhere between 80 to 100 this year,” he said.

Asked by The Spectator about Hamilton being a good fit in terms of an ideal location, Mr Allan agreed and added that his family’s foresight in seeing the opportunity played a part too.

“You’ve got diversification (here) with broadacre, sheep and a bit of dairy,” he said.

“My kids and nephews (are) getting involved in the business … it sort of came along at the right time.

“There’s probably about 14 family (members) tied up in the business.”

Mr Allan said he was thrilled to see that the new venture meant Greg Allan Farm Machinery had in the last 12 months more than doubled its staff numbers to around 34.

“It’s not all about ourselves, it’s giving other people the opportunity,” he said.

Back at the grill, Kekovich offered his thoughts about one of the region’s most common products and the one he loves to promote.

“I’m cooking snags – lamb,” he said.

“I’m very old-fashioned in a lot of ways.”

Despite the simplicity of his tastes, he let on that he did have a preference for a small selection of his favourite seasonings to the full product.

“I marinate mine in either garlic, chili, even in beer,” he said.

“The farmer in contemporary times has done a magnificent job producing a very simple product, which doesn’t need a great deal of embellishment.

“But I’m still an old-fashioned Aussie – the ‘plain’ snag, a bit of tomato sauce and a good bun with a nice coldie alongside you is almost utopia.”