Matt and Julie Ross won the national sharemilker title in 2007 and Matt says the whole competition experience is like no other when it comes to bringing ambitious, innovative, hard-working, progressive people together.
The cows, grass and even financial side of dairying can all be in place but it’s the power of people – the relationships, sharing of ideas and enthusiasm and resources that can really kick-start and build incredible, progressive farming businesses, he says.
In 2007 Matt and Julie were 50:50 sharemilking 800 cows and had not long entered an 800-cow equity partnership with Matt’s former employers Neil and Julie Hamilton.
Eight years on and the equity partnership not only milks 1800 cows through two farm dairies with the farm size increasing from 300ha to 580ha, Matt and Julie’s share in the equity partnership has also risen to 90%.
They sold their cows and finished sharemilking at the end of last season but over the past few years have used an equity sharemilking structure to help Ross’ brother progress too.
The work involved in the competition isn’t for the faint-hearted but like most things the more you put in the more you get out.
Matt says the process proved absolutely invaluable for him and Julie.
“By the time you’ve gone right through your business looking at each of the criteria the competition is judged on I know it was the hardest, closest look we’d ever taken.
“You have to be prepared to put a lot of work in but the more you do the more you learn about yourselves.”
Matt’s also been a judge for the competitions and found that also gave him new insights and allowed him to meet a whole new wave of forward-thinking, go-ahead farmers.
The couple are right behind any of their staff who show an interest in the competition and Matt says there’s no doubt in his mind that the benefits are many and ongoing.
