One of my favourite jobs is loading large mobs of cattle. After you’ve worked hard mustering and processing every animal, it is so satisfying to watch them load and fill up the crates. The job usually ends with chatting with the drivers afterwards. Having a livestock carting history myself, it’s great to catch up with a fellow truckie and hear about what’s happening in cattle transport, plus the all-important weather report from wherever they came from the week before.
Last week’s conversation with a dad who was very proud of his daughter left me with good vibes after hearing his story. “Yeah she’s up in Queensland now, working at a feedlot, about 35,000 head and she’s going so well they want to bump her up into a higher position, and she’s doing it all by herself with her little boy in daycare,” he said. This one line in his yarn had me thinking, what a legend.
Being a young gun working full-time in a feedlot and raising a child as a single mum far away from family is no easy feat. The proud truckie dad said it had been challenging for her to find something suitable that kept her in agriculture. He mentioned she had previously worked on a couple of stations and was happy to secure a feedlot position that gave good support. By choosing a feedlot it meant she was near a town that offered access to childcare. The childcare apparently costs an arm and a leg, but it allows her to work the hours required and stay in a role that aligns with her career. He said one of the bonuses was that the company also offered a great social network with planned activities. Being a single parent and holding down a job isn’t a new thing, but chasing a career in agriculture can be somewhat hindered when you have a little person to love and care for.
I’d like to take the opportunity to applaud this young woman. Rather than push aside the desire to be hands on with cattle every day and take a somewhat normal job, she found a role that suited and made it work, that is praiseworthy, and I wish her all the best in climbing the leadership ladder.
If you’re reading this and are in a similar situation, or you may know of someone trying hard to find the balance between staying in agriculture and being a parent, hopefully, some inspiration can be gleaned from the sharing of this story. Feedlots are not the only companies offering flexibility, there are many stations and farming operations that will work with you and your family circumstances. A top tip would be to link in with a job provider who specialises in agriculture and is passionate about connecting job seekers with employers. As an industry, we have a great need to fill the gaps in Australia’s ag workforce and there is so much work out there. By using a recruitment service, you will have better access to opportunities, and some agencies will even help with resumes and cover letters. I would highly recommend Agriculture Jobs Auswide, Drover Ag, AG Workforce, and the famous Ringers From The Top End.
My other advice: own your value, match your skillset against the job criteria, and go for it.
Libbe Paton is a director of Future Farmers Network.
