ANOTHER smoke pea-souper has rolled in as I write this year in review and the news is full of stories of all-time temperature records about to tumble.
Summer in Australia is often a time of extremes - extreme heat, extreme storms, extreme eating on Christmas Day - but it's hard to ignore the fact this summer seems more extreme than usual.
When your cat appears to be developing a (bushfire) smoker's cough, you know something has gone seriously wonky.
As a market analyst, I'm used to examining the numbers, and there were plenty of interesting ones in 2019: from the high of $355 a head for extra heavy prime lambs at Forbes saleyards last winter to the young cattle peak of 534.25 cents a kilogram (carcase weight) towards the end of July.
But one of the true privileges of working for The Land is the range of people you meet and there are a few faces in particular who defined 2019 for me.
First, photographer Rachael Webb, who left The Land in December after six years of travelling the state from end to end - and always with a smile on her face.
Rach has been a constant in recent years as I indulge in my own new year tradition: covering the annual Wodonga weaner sales with a small but dedicated crew from The Land.
I started at The Land back in 2003, so I've seen many staff come and go, but I can honestly say Rach is one of the most relentlessly cheerful people who has ever graced the paper.
She has been a great sport with us journos, who put in all sorts of photo requests, and I'm going to miss her enthusiasm - particularly at Wodonga each January.
I don't know how many times she lifted my mood with a joke and a smile and gave me new energy to get back out among the saleyard pens for one more interview.
I'll also miss working with Peter Kostos, from The Land's sister publication Stock and Land.
I first came across Pete when we both worked for the National Livestock Reporting Service (Meat and Livestock Australia).
He was a reporter (also known as a livestock market officer) covering the Victorian sales, while I worked in the Sydney head office as an analyst.
As a youngster starting out, I always valued his feedback and market insights at the other end of the phone and, even later when he wrote the weekly market columns for Stock and Land, it was a great "background read" before I started to pen my markets column for The Land each week!
Pete left the business mid last year and I know his experience and thoughtful analysis won't just be missed by me at the Wodonga weaner sales in January.
Speaking of experience, I was fortunate enough to interview Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association chief executive Andy Madigan this year as he pulled stumps after a long innings at the top of the organisation.
Andy is not just terrific company - as anyone who has been lucky enough to be seated on a table with him could attest - he is also an astute operator who has steered ALPA through all manner of challenges and tests in recent years.
He also has a deep, genuine love of agriculture - and that's always a winning attribute no matter who you are.
Finally, I want to make mention of a group of people, rather than an individual.
In my role with The Land, I'm lucky enough to get the opportunity to cover a number of events that are not related to the markets and one of them is The Land's Sydney Royal Showgirl Competition.
I was privileged again during 2019 to be a judge at one of the zone finals and it was impossible not to feel optimistic about the next generation of young women who are taking the baton in their country towns.
The Zone 5 final hosted by the Mudgee Show Society featured another crop of smart, inspiring, forward-thinking leaders wanting to make a notable difference in their communities.
As a bonus, the weekend was put on by Zone 5 Showgirl co-ordinator Bianca Williams, who is also the president of ASC of NSW Next Generation - a young woman who made the most of her own showgirl experience and is now helping others do the same.
Of course, it wasn't all inspiration, satisfaction and fascinating conversation during the past year at The Land.
There were the usual challenges, including changes to the markets sections (though I was buoyed by the constructive feedback from readers), a change of ownership for the company and seeing the misery wrought by the aforementioned bushfires, heat and relentless drought.
But farmers - and all those who work in the agricultural industry - are optimists by nature.
If they weren't, why would they keep doing what they do in one of the toughest environments on earth?
I'm privileged to spend my days talking to so many of you: while covering a sheep or cattle sale, judging Zone Showgirls, attending stock and station agent or saleyard conferences or just chatting to farmers on the phone.
I want to thank all the readers for continuing to buy the newspaper each week, and our advertisers for trusting our masthead to communicate the value of your product.
Without your support, I wouldn't have the privilege of working in rural NSW covering some of the stories that matter to country people.
Wishing everybody a very happy new year that's full of good times and plenty of rain!
I might see you at a sale somewhere.
- Karen Bailey is The Land's markets analyst based in the Orange office.
