Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a fifth-generation farmer from Moriarty on the north-west coast of Tasmania. My husband, Owen and I farm together with my parents, growing peas, beans, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, potatoes and poppies. We also produce wheat, grass and lucerne for hay and silage and have sheep and cattle as well as, horses on agistment.
 

Why did you join the Rabo Client Council?

I was approached by my Rabobank rural manager, Leigh, who thought it would be a good opportunity for me to network and be able to take my ideas forward to the Bank. I really value the relationship as we can learn a lot from Rabobank, but the Bank can also learn a lot from us. It is very much a mutually beneficial relationship. I went along to the first meeting as a bit of a trial and now here we are in my second year on the Rabo Client Council.

My name was also put forward to join Rabobank’s Global Future Farmers Council, which has really broadened my horizons. Meeting up last year in the Netherlands, it brings together next-gen farmers from across the world to discuss and drive change in the food and agriculture industry – which is pretty cool.
 

What are some of the key initiatives your Rabo Client Council has been involved in:

For us in Tassie, it’s really making sure we get some initiatives happening down here. At the end of last year, we ran a Financial Skills Workshop – an interactive workshop to help farmers understand their business management ratios and the key components of a business’s financial profile. With the second module of this program lined up for this year.

And just yesterday, we hosted a Business Transition and Succession Planning information session in Campbell Town. It was so great; I wrote seven pages of notes as it was very relevant to me personally. We had a really diverse group of people, with both the older and younger generations in the room. It was all about trying to be proactive and taking a holistic approach, as it can be such a touchy subject.

We’ve also contributed funding towards the Boys to the Bush program, which organises group and individual ‘MENtor’ youth visits, working bees and work experience opportunities to help young men enter the workforce.

One initiative I brought to the table – and that we now get behind – is Rural Youth here in Tasmania. It’s like a young farmers club, but we’re the only ones still going in the country. Members are aged between 15 and 30, and Rural Youth runs Agfest, our big field days down here. Our Rabo Client Council is sponsoring a Rural Youth member to participate in an international study tour, which could take them anywhere from the UK to Austria to New Zealand. In return, Rural Youth also host international youth members here – it goes both ways.
 

What initiatives have had the most impact?

Continuing the relationship with Rural Youth would be very beneficial. Young people are the future of agriculture, so supporting the next generation is super important. As well as bringing more of our financial skills and succession planning workshops to Tassie. I also hope the Rabo Truck will come here again after its successful event at Ashgrove Cheese – it really draws a big crowd and brings everyone together.