Angus Youth
Leading in to the next generation Cheyne Twist, Communications Officer
Victorian beef producer Brodie Collins was selected for the GenAngus Future Leaders Program in 2020. While the 2020 program was postponed due to COVID-19, recently Brodie and his counterparts joined the 2021 cohort for a three-day intensive online workshop. Brodie Collins is a third-generation beef producer based in North Central Victoria. He works as part of his family’s operation, Merridale Angus, a seedstock operation with approximately 200 Angus breeders. Each year they host an annual on property sale. The Collins family have a long history with the Angus breed, dating back to the Merrigrange Angus stud founded by Phill and Gwen Collins in in 1959, at Tennyson, VIC. The Collins and Merrigrange cattle had a lustrous exhibiting career, claiming numerous championship awards for over twenty years. The Merrigrange herd produced the Vicky family, one of the prominent Angus lines in Australia. Mr Collins was an early adapter to artificial insemination, going against opinions of other Angus breeders at the time through getting his technicians certified to utilise genetic science to further establish his herd. With his father Peter, son of Gwen and Phill, Brodie assists in the running of the Merridale Angus stud, making the families stamp in the Angus breed multigenerational. An electrician by trade, Brodie couldn’t wait to get back on the farm and has now been working on property for a couple of years. When asked about his long-term contribution to the business in the future, Brodie looks to continue to build on the existing Merridale identity and product. “Having been back for a couple of years full time with the agriculture sector the way it is, the plan is to grow the business while being mindful of trying to improve the quality of our cattle at the same time,” said Brodie. “In the long run I’d like to take over the family business and have a positive influence on the way the Angus breed is in 30 years’ time.” When asked about the short-term plan for their business, Brodie highlighted a want to not only continue and build on the current objectives of the family business, but also his personal development and skill set. He credits his father and grandfather as pivotal pillars of knowledge for his development. “In the short term, I just need to learn as much as I can from my father and grandfather. I’m very fortunate that even at 93 years old Phill is still checking the farm, telling me what mistakes I’m making and where I can improve.” “The aim for me is to continually breed cattle that we think will take the industry forward and keeping our identity as producers that will continue to help our clients and the Angus breed wherever we can.” When reflecting on his time as part of the GenAngus Future Leaders Program and the insights it provided, Brodie had some specific take homes. “Although it was tough to look at a computer for three days, I took a lot out of the Future Leaders Program,” said Brodie. 64
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“Being on the farm with ample time to think, mindset is a big thing. Hearing what Peter Clark had to say was valuable for us young people trying to make our way into the sector.” Pete Clark of 21 Whispers gave a presentation on the power of the mind and the ability people have to control it if trained to do so. The attendees were given the chance to think laterally and learn about how their mindset influences what we see as well as other key messages such as trying to envisage seeing both sides of difficult situations and keeping focused on the gains, not the gaps in their challenges, a sentiment that resonated with Brodie. Furthermore, the different emerging methods for marketing cattle, particularly in the form of technology, were a highlight for Brodie, such as the presentation from Tim Gentle of Think Digital. During his presentation, Tim was able to showcase the latest virtual reality and augmented reality tools available to industry and where they might fit in showcasing businesses through to individual animals. “Hopefully introducing some of the methods from Tim Gentle from ‘Think Digital’ can assist to promote our type of cattle.” “I also found the advertising and social media sessions very interesting as the industry is adapting to a change into technology on farms. I feel the social media presence is nearly a full-time job. It gave me a nudge and some ideas for the future.” Going forth, Brodie looks to implement what he learnt at GenAngus into growing his confidence and leadership as a producer as he looks to step forward and lead his family business into the next generation.
