A rising star for Farmer Smith

Jen Smith has received national recognition for her contribution to her local community and the wider agricultural industry

By Lia Spencer

JEN SMITH

For Jen Smith, farming is her passion- but it hasn’t always been that way. The East Gippsland resident grew in a farming community and she vowed never to marry a farmer. Twelve years ago, she ate her words when she walked down the aisle to her love, Brad Smith.

Now, the parents of two young children also run successful sheep and beef production enterprise at three properties in Clifton Creek, Sarsfield, and Tambo Crossing near Bairnsdale. Jen is also the General Manager of Gippsland Agricultural Group, a farmer-led group which operates the Gippsland Research Farm, trialling and demonstrating projects to assist the region’s producers to unlock their production potential.

Besides running a household and a successful business, Jen is currently studying her MBA at Federation Uni, and already holds qualifications in Youth Development, Conservation and Land Management and Environmental Science.

All this, and Jen still found time to play a major role in helping the region recover from the 2019 bushfires which devastated her own properties.

Jen’s outstanding efforts and ambitious drive landed her a nod from the Cattle Council of Australia and National Australia Bank (NAB), who recently named her as one of seven state and territory winners of the 2021 CCA NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion Initiative.

For the past decade, Cattle Council has held the annual NAV Agribusiness Rising Champions Initiative, to foster up and coming leaders within the Australian Beef Industry.

The program selects one winner from each state and the Northern Territory to travel to Canberra for intensive training and mentorship over several days, culminating in a cocktail event at Parliament House to network with decision-makers and to acknowledge the success of the champions.

Jen said that whilst her participation in the Cattle Council NAB Agribusiness initiative has only just begun, it’s been great to connect with the other state representatives. She said that their passion and vision for what’s possible in Australia’s agricultural industry is inspiring and refreshing.

“The initiative will expose me to organisations and systems that are driving the policy and decisions being made that impact farmers in our region every day,” Jen said. “Understanding the process and how we can influence practical meaningful outcomes for grass roots producers will be valuable for me as a beef producer and in my role with the farmer led Gippsland Agricultural Group.”

And whilst the recognition of being a Rising Star was appreciated, Jen said the real reward was from the work she loved doing every day.

“Farming and living in a rural community is what I am called to do. Connecting and contributing is in all our DNA’s. I love the diversity and dynamic nature of running a business and working in community,” Jen said. “It’s great to get up each day and work on making the piece of land we call our farm a bit better; and it’s great knowing that what we do will produce something by the end of the day. I appreciate working with Brad, and the kids get stuck in with us as well.”

Jen said she also loved being able to work in and contribute to her regional community.

“I love living and working in an area where if you don’t turn up, you’re missed,” she said. “I also appreciate the opportunities available to me in the agricultural industry, and I appreciate the opportunity to contribute back.”

Arguably, one of the biggest shows of community support came after bushfires ravaged the area in 2019.

“The Black Summer Fires affected the way I experience and understand the Australian spirit and the value of being connected in regional community. The fires threw up many challenges for our communities and our farming business,” Jen said.

“All three of the properties we operate were impacted by the fires. Off the back of several years of drought, losing pastures and infrastructure and selling off livestock because we couldn’t feed them was a bitter pill to swallow; however, the support we received from our family, our community, the agricultural industry, wider Australia and our government were a blessing and buffered the impacts.”

Jen said that following the fires, she was left inspired and in awe of the people she knew and the land she lived on. “It’s been inspiring to see how nature responds and recovers- and equally it’s been inspiring to see how people respond and recover,” she said. “Before, during and after the fires, our communities stood together to fight, lead their recovery, and build back stronger for next time. Being a part of this collective has been rewarding and empowering.”

Besides having a strong sense of community, Jen said surrounding yourself with a great team of friends and family was vital for achieving success and personal well-being.

“Brad is my biggest enabler - along with my friends, my parents, and parent-in-laws,” she said. “They shake their heads at all that I involve myself in, but at the end of the day they cheer me on, provide practical support and end up joining in themselves.”