Our business is most definitely a family business. Since the kids have been babes, we have involved them in all matters pertaining to production, land management, enterprise selection and wealth creation.

Whether it has been as simple as measuring the rain or out in the paddock looking at grass species and growth rate, manure sampling, pregnancy testing, weighing weaners, assessing fat cover or being around the smoko table discussing potential sell/buy trades on a heifer, steer, store cow or cow/calf unit, calculating the grass budgets or the importance of keeping overheads low and cost of production in check, the kids have been like sponges. While we haven’t ever paid ‘pocket money’, we have always encouraged responsible ‘tooth fairy’ money management. A couple of little pay checks for helping out an agistment client has meant the establishment of individual bank accounts, then a conversation with our big sister about share investment and the associated dividends, along with a prolific crop of pumpkins planted the idea to work on marketing skills. i.e. Sales

Our pumpkin harvest has coincided with a large contingent of caravanning tourists heading North and so they coerced Super Dad into ferrying them and their goods to the local caravan stopover. They’ve discovered the sales process is not just a mere transaction but a conversation and a meeting of the customer’s needs. Their genuine country charm and hand delivery of organic, homegrown pumpkins perfectly sized for a caravanning couple seems to have hit a sweet spot and their money tin has bulged. Supply issues were always going to be a longterm issue and so these little entrepreneurs have begun thinking about expanding their product range.

The girls knew of a bush lemon tree hidden in the creek with a handy crop ripe for harvest. Again, the less perfect ones were left for our kitchen, while the best of the fruit went to market.

More money for the kitty.

They noted the caravaners would light a fire at the campgrounds in the cooler weather and so more product development occurred.

Bags of cut firewood were sure to meet demand.

More money for the kitty.

The idea of building capital to invest in cattle was blossoming as the funds in kitty grew.

And they kept on looking for produce to sell.

The passionfruit rambling and ripening over the chook pen were not safe …..

….. and they were a little disappointed when I roasted the beetroot from the garden instead of donating it to their marketable produce.

They kept talking strategy around the smoko table, in between team building games.

What would be their cost of gain, how about purchase and selling costs, did they have a buy price set?

They also kept on working with Dad out in the paddock. More fencing, more hours pushing out lantana and more mustering.

With enough funds in the tin, on the last Tuesday of school holidays, they again coerced Dad to take them (in the body truck as all confident buyers do!) to our nearest store cattle sale.

After bidding independently at auction, the truck returned home with their first 5 cows and calves.

Input costs (such as eartags) have been secured from Uncle Bryce in exchange for 5 pumpkins and they threw in a few lemons to cover postage charges.

Seems these kids are officially in business.

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