DESPITE his accomplishments the head chef at a glamorous Sydney restaurant faced a nerve-racking challenge on Thursday night – to feed 32 of Australia’s and New Zealand’s best and smartest farmers.
His out-of-town dinner guests were celebrating their graduation from Rabobank’s Executive Development Program.
The group of 32 “elite” producers had spent an intensive week in Sydney building their strategic planning skills to grow their businesses.
Their operations – spanning beef, lamb, deer, wool, hay and fruit – formed the centre of the two year program in which each participant received expert guidance to plan and execute a project to develop their business.
More than 700 producers have now passed through the program.
For the first time this year’s program included sessions on innovation and agtech, with guest appearances from inspiring new businesses AgThentic and AgDraft.
A record 21 partners joined the program on the last day. As a group they underwent resilience and optimism training. They also learnt new conflict resolution skills.
Many partners, however, were busy manned their farming forts. Their efforts were congratulated too.
Kiwi sheep and cattle farmer Matt Irenmonger claimed the Dr John Morris Business Development Prize on the night.
During the past two years Mr Irenmonger and his wife Katy sold out of a long-term equity partnership to pursue new opportunities.
They bought into another operation called Kaiweka Farms at Waikari in the North Canterbury region New Zealand’s South Island. Mr Irenmonger sought off-farm work to sustain the operation.
He’s now the general manager of Willesden farms on the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch. There he works with a team of eight to run 25,000 stock.
“Our business is now more closely aligned to our goals. We’ve created some really long-term opportunities,” he said.
The program’s director Robin Stonecash said she’s constantly blown away by the participants’ willingness to “stretch” their boundaries.
“You’re not afraid to adopt something new as long as you can make it pay. I’m proud to know you and be associated with you,” she said.
By day Ms Stonecash leads the University of Sydney Business School’s executive education program.
Her line of work requires trips to the world’s best universities.
“In my travels it’s become clear to me Australian farmers are among the best innovators, and business people, in the world.”
Rabobank’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand Peter Knoblanche encouraged all participants to stay in touch.
