IT WAS an ankle injury – sustained while playing high school cricket – which helped put this year’s NSW Rural Ambassador, Samuel Martin, on the road to a career in agriculture.
Up until Year 10, Samuel had thought he’d be a chef.
Now 24, he is manager of the Halliday family’s property, “Mingary”, Walcha, which is home to the Ben Nevis Angus stud.
That year he was organised to undertake a work experience placement in a commercial kitchen, however, his ankle injury put paid to that plan so instead he took a trip to New Zealand to do work experience with an uncle who was a farm valuer.
“That week was really fun – we drove around looking at farms and I got to do some work on a couple which was when I realised how much fun a job in agriculture could be,” he said.
“There aren’t many jobs where you get to run about in a four-wheel-drive, chase cattle and play with dogs all day – as a kid I loved the idea,” Samuel said.
Samuel (pictured) was born in the United Kingdom to Kiwi parents, Trevor and Helen, who were working overseas at the time of his birth.
Trevor, who runs a company selling and manufacturing dental equipment, moved the family to Australia in 1994, settling eventually in North Turramurra, while Helen’s family has ties to the rural industry in New Zealand, in particular the dairy industry.
During his secondary years Samuel attended Barker College, and in Year 10 first tried his hand at design and technology before realising it was not one of his stronger subjects and switched to agriculture – a subject a number of his friends were also studying.
He soon joined the college’s agriculture club and started participating in judging competitions, showing cattle at local shows across the State, and working with the school’s steers and Square Meaters.
In Year 11 Samuel won a scholarship to the South Australian Allbreeds Heifer Show in Adelaide.
By now beef cattle had sparked Samuel’s interest, and through judging schools met Jen Jefferys from Weebollabolla Shorthorns, Moree, in 2007 who encouraged his interest and helped him set up his Shorthorn stud, Kawana Lea, in 2012.
With a view to a career in agriculture, Samuel started an agribusiness degree at the University of New England, Armidale, which he completed in 2012.
“Agriculture can be emotionally driven but it’s still a business and you need business skills to be successful in the sector,” he said.
While studying in Armidale Samuel crossed paths with Erica and Stuart Halliday and became involved in the Angus Ambassador program in 2008, with Erica his mentor.
He’s now been working for the Hallidays for seven years, the past two in a full-time capacity as manager.
Samuel also met his now fiancee, Jodie Gardner, formerly of Gunnedah, while the two were studying at UNE.
Jodie completed an accounting degree in 2011 and today the couple operate both the Kawana Lea Shorthorn stud and a commercial herd of 250 head of Angus on leased land at Walcha.
Due to the high costs associated with buying their own property Samuel and Jodie have decided to focus on breeding up their working capital with a view to buying a home block in the future but continuing to lease country to run their stock.
“There’s too much capital tied up in owning land, so we’d prefer to own the livestock and lease the land,” Samuel said.
Jodie’s family operates a mixed farming enterprise at Gunnedah, and she works as an accountant in Walcha.
According to Samuel, Jodie controls the finances – “she’s the brains, I just come up with the ideas; it’s a good match”.
Erica Halliday, then Steel, was the 1994 NSW Rural Achiever, and encouraged Samuel to enter the competition.
“I didn’t know what to expect – I was just hoping (during his time in Sydney) to establish a network of contacts and learn about the Royal,” he said.
With many city friends, Samuel is keen to develop relationships between the city and the bush in the year ahead.
“I hope to do my bit to help bridge the city-country divide – and I think I’m in a fairly unique situation to do this,” he said.
He’s also keen to help promote agriculture across the State with an emphasis on the local show.
At the end of his 12 months as the NSW Rural Ambassador, Samuel hopes to have helped show young people they don’t have to own land to have a career in agriculture – that there are other ways to be directly involved in the sector.
Samuel’s parents have always been supportive of what he wanted to do, but his mother is particularly happy with his career path.
“Mum grew up in town but spent a lot of time with extended family on their properties in New Zealand,” Samuel said.
“She encouraged my interest in agriculture from childhood – I’ve still got the toy farmyard figures’ set I played with as a child.
“Both my parents have always been been supportive, taking time off to drive me to and from show events.”
The Martins were also regular visitors to the Royal – the animal walk always a must, while Helen made sure they always made the trip through the cattle and sheep sheds and across to the District Exhibits.
A keen rugby player, Samuel has played the game since he was four, and as a child dreamed of playing for the All Blacks; he has played as a prop for the Walcha Rams for the past three years.
Samuel will attend next year’s Sydney Royal to compete for the National Rural Ambassador title.
