WHO SAID “IT IS ALL OVER”?

Ask most of the Australian population about the situation farmers find themselves in today through the effect of drought and they would almost without exception say “they’re stuffed”.

Be that as it may, it is all the more uplifting and refreshing to find three family’s who are “thinking outside the square” and making positive, and profitable, moves to not only advance their business but also add healthy food to the Australian dining table.

I refer to the group that trade as Drovers Choice Saltbush Lamb and their base of operations is at Coonamble on the north western NSW plains on the property owned by David and Jacqueline Strudwick.

There are also two supporting properties at Nyngan (Peter and Chris McKid) and Narromine (Andrew and Di Sippel) with all lambs being trucked to Coonamble for finishing on the Old Man Saltbush that grows prolifically in that area.

I came across them last Saturday here at the Bowral Farmers Market, they had their stand (along with refrigerated truck) selling direct to the public. Sam and I shopped for a while and then headed home and on getting back ere, I asked her is she would like some lamb fort dinner.

She said yes so back I headed and caught them just as they were about to drive off back to Narromine, about 300 miles away.

I then ended up buying a leg of lamb, chops, rissoles and other cuts and having a great discussion with Andrew and his son Stuart about the whole project.

They now have three trucks on the road with two doing Sydney deliveries and the other covering Farmers Markets in the near Sydney areas so deliveries are on a regular basis.

Here are three rural families who are gaining the benefit of “value adding” as against just having to sell their stock through saleyards and take what the market is offering.

Many years ago when I lived in the small NSW town of Grenfell (the “Golden Granary”) and which produces some of the best oats in that State, I often argued with my mates who were on farms that instead of selling the grain at the time it was harvested, we ought to “value add” and start our own rolled oats business a la Uncle Toby’s.

Needless to say, that never eventuated but as I am a great supporter of value adding in any business, the Drovers Choice story took my interest.

So now over to you.

Can you “value add” to your business? Have you ever thought of ways that you can?

I remember vividly having a conversation with Brian White, Chairman of the now international Ray White Real Estate Group, in Perth about 12 years ago when he commented to me that “he once thought all they did was sell houses”.

By thinking outside the square, he has now turned that into an international business that not only sells houses but also builds them, finances the, insures them and gathers investors to do likewise.

As is the case with Drovers Choice Saltbush Lamb, the internet is making much of this expansion possible, the question I would ask you is “is it doing it for you as well?”

Carpe diem

Tony

Tony Fountain

Auctioneer, Professional Speaker and Author

Bowral NSW Australia

tony@fountainandco.com

www.fountainandco.com