Committee

I am an experienced fourth-generation dairy farmer with over 40 years of experience in the industry. My wife Sam, our four children, and I run our dairy farming business in Larpent, South West Victoria, with 400 cows in a grassland-based system. Farming and milk are in my blood, and I am proud to be part of an industry that has supported my family for five generations.

Although the Victorian dairy industry faces challenges such as profitability, labour, and water, I am confident these issues can be overcome. I am determined to make a difference and give back to the industry I love. That is why I am involved with Dairy Farmers Victoria (DFV), working to ease the burden on dairy farmers and promote the industry's strengths.

My favourite quote is, "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end" Winston Churchill (1940), a testament to unwavering commitment and determination. I firmly believe that the Victorian dairy industry's strengths lie in its people, diversity, and DFV.

Apart from farming, I am a keen retired baseball player and a die-hard Ford fan. My experience, passion, and confidence make me well-placed to advocate for the Victorian dairy industry.

Evan Campbell - Yannathan

I grew up on a dairy farm in Yannathan, West Gippsland. After school, I completed a double degree of Engineering and Commerce, then worked in Saudi Arabia for a few years in the oil and gas industry. Whilst that was a bit of an adventure in the deserts of the Middle East, I returned to the family farm in 2015 seeking “greener pastures”. I have grown my career through various roles over the last decade, now sharefarming alongside my partner Kellie, milking 480 crossbred cows on a split calving operation. We have three young children and enjoy the challenges and opportunities that the dairy lifestyle provides.

I am a strong believer in continuous learning and development, both personally and professionally, for myself and others. The dairy industry has changed a lot in the last decade, and it will keep evolving at a rapid pace. We need to remain relevant, and that is why advocacy is so important to me, and ultimately why I am involved in Dairy Farmers Association of Victoria (DFV).

Thomas Sowell made the observation that “There are no solutions; there are only trade-offs.” Through consultation with our members and stakeholders, DFV will be advocating for the trade-offs which have the best outcome for the Victorian dairy community. DFV will be the loud, clear and rational voice, required to steer us through the storm of environmental, social license and employment issues that are brewing on the horizon.

My wife and I own and operate a farm in Dixie in South West Victoria.

We are third generation settlement dairy farmers.

Five years ago, we purchased the dairy farm from my parents. I have been dairy farming my whole life, in many different regions in Australia. Since purchasing the farm, we have put a lot of time and effort in to create a more sustainable, diverse and drought proof farm.

We currently milk 300 cows. The majority of feed is home grown and we stay focused on being a sustainable, profitable farm in the dairy industry.

I believe the dairy industry is the only agriculture industry where you can start with nothing and grow a business into something.

A quote I like is The past shapes you, the future makes you'

Craig Emmett - Stanthorpe

Together with my partner Erin and daughter Ophelia (1 in May), I farm in Partnership with my parents Gordon and Lynette at Stanhope, in Northern Victoria. We run a 300 head Jersey stud, Shenstone Jerseys in a Perennial Pasture based system.

I really enjoy the flexibility the dairy industry gives me and my family, particularly now that I have a little one. I get to spend lots of time at home that other dads miss out on. I love the satisfaction of growing feed from seed to harvest to feed my cows, while aiming to be as self sufficient and sustainable as possible. 

I’ve basically been involved in the industry my whole life, I’m the fourth generation on our family farm. I had some time off farm at university and worked as an agro for 2 years but have always had my heart in Dairy.

I am involved with DFV to ensure that there is an effective and sensible voice advocating for dairy. While some may take our industry for granted, I’m well aware that if we don’t stand up for ourselves, no one else will. 

The big issues facing the Victorian dairy industry at present include

1. Our Social license, more specifically, around animal welfare issues such as bobby calves, cow calf separation and dis budding. 
2. Labour
3. Increasing cost of production

At the moment, what is working in our favour is our ability to produce relatively cheap milk, while having a plethora of processors out there wanting our milk, particularly in nth vic. I also think the ability to balance work life choices is second to none compared to other industries. 

I’m a very keen footballer and cricketer, being a life member of both clubs in Stanhope, and plan to continue playing both sports as long as my body will let me. 

Ann Gardiner - Bamawm

I have grown up in most states of Australia, my father was in the Royal Australian Air Force. I finished up in Victoria in time to go to Melbourne University and study Agricultural Science majoring in animal nutrition, genetics, and animal production. I had planned to go back to Queensland and work in tropical beef production but started a job as a dairy extension officer in Echuca in 1982. The plan was to spend 12 months there but I fell in love with dairy and I'm still here.

My husband, Mark, and I left the department of agriculture and went sharefarming in 1989, milking 180 cows. We bought a farm in Bamawm, in northern Victoria in July 1990 and had our first child the day after we moved onto the farm. The farm business and the family both kept expanding. We now milk 900 cows and have 5 children and their partners and have welcomed our first grandchild. Our eldest son, Jacob also studied agriculture at Melbourne Uni and has joined the family business.

We have endured droughts and dairy downturns as well as personal tribulations including the loss of a baby son. However I believe that adversity makes us grow as people and teaches us humility and empathy.

Our business is constantly evolving to adapt to change. We are pasture based in autumn and winter and move on to a PMR system through late spring and summer. We enjoy growing pasture and having a grazing system but we need to be able to increase pasture yields for this system to be profitable in an uncertain irrigation water  future.

The biggest challenges for dairy in northern Vic are water/Murray Darling Basin policy changes: attracting, retaining and training a skilled workforce to support our growing businesses: and maximising our opportunity to grow and use our feedbase to drive profit. I've joined Dairy Farmers Victoria so that I can make sure that dairy has a strong voice in advocacy to keep dairying strong and profitable for those farming now and our future farmers.

In tough times I see dairy communities rally around to support each other. This is our greatest strength. I love being part of the dairy industry, especially the wonderful people I get to work with and share a common bond with.

Bruce Knowles - Tyrendarra

I currently run a family business Radnor Properties Pty Ltd (since 1996) at Tyrendarra, Southwest Victoria with my two sons milking a split herd operation of 1500 cows, 600 replacements on 750ha coastal property with 250ha irrigation. We employ fulltime ten staff.

I have been involved with Dairy Farmer advocacy at various capacities starting with New Zealand Young Farmers organizations in 1970s through Federated Farmers New Zealand and until recently actively with positions on UDV policy council and ADF National Council.

I have been very conscious with concern the wellbeing of a fractured degenerating Dairy farmer advocacy structure both at Federal and Victorian State level. At a State level we Victorian dairy farmers have gradually enabled the capitulation of Dairy advocacy policy control and its administration into the hands of the cross commodity VFF. So accountable representation for dairy farmers in driving policy with member participation is currently compromised. A structural representative governance fix is urgently needed to secure dairy farmer unity at both Federal and State level.

With an unacceptable ADF VFF relationship the need for the formation of Dairy Farmers Victoria set a pathway for gaining dairy farmer confidence with unity and commodity sovereignty, encouraged by Australian Dairy industry operatives Government and services. 

Jon Pethybridge - Whorouly South

I am a 3rd generation dairy farmer with my wife and business partner Elise, and our three children Owen 10, Molly 9 and Nora 5. We run a predominate pasture-based system with a small bit of irrigation for Maize silage and crops. We milk 300 cows mainly Holstein Friesian at Whorouly South in Northeast Victoria

I love the varied nature of dairying and the challenges it presents. Coming up with answers and new solutions to problems makes it an enjoyable industry. I love spending time with my family and where I live.

I was raised on the farm with 6 brothers, and at 15 I stepped up when my father passed away. I took on full time management at 18 and haven’t looked back.

The big issues in the Victorian dairy industry include the divide in understanding our food production, animal welfare and the pressure decision makers can put us under through changes in regulation and cumbersome slow action from government.

I am involved with DFV to ensure my area the North East has a voice and is represented when it comes to dairy specific issues which are different to many other agricultural industries. The industry has plenty of positives with strong support available with a considerable milk pool, we as farmers can band together to shape our dairy industry issues together.

I’m the First Generation dairy farmer and the only member of my family that work in the Agg industry, I left my health Career to follow my dream to work in Dairy and have done so now for 18yrs, I have worked with the same family for the whole time, starting off as a farm hand then Manager and share farm. We farm in South East Gippsland on 1000 acers and 450 registered jersey It’s a Grass-Based system.

The Industry has been very good to me with support and opportunity’s to seek and learn new skills which I am very thankful for. The High light for me so fair is completing the ARLP (Australian Rural Leadership Program) this was made possible from Gardiner Foundation, its important to me to give back to our industry which is the reason way I am involved in DFV. I would like to help and encourage the younger people in our industry and I believe DFV can achieve this.

My favourite quote is "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so". A quote from "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare. I think of this quote and I reckon its so like our industry we all having different ways of thinking and doing???? But guess what?? We are all in this together.

Outside of Farming I am a farther of 2 amazing daughters Lexi 11 Evie 9 these 2 are my world I’m also a keen cyclist and Runner and love the Mighty Bombers, when time allows I love to hook up the caravan and go see our amazing country.

Lachie Sutherland - Larpent

Together with my partner Rebecca we operate a 380-cow dairy located at Larpent 150km west of Melbourne. The dairy is operated on a dry land platform. 

I am third generation on this farm with my father and grandfather having previously been dairy farmers here. We have progressively grown through land acquisition and increased milk production per cow.

I believe in a strong voice for dairy in Victoria and that’s why I am involved with the Dairy Farmers Victoria. With all the issues the issues thrown at dairy business’s in Victoria, the states dairy farmers need to be heard with a clear voice.

With a decreasing milk pool in Australia its important that dairy is well represented and adequately resourced. This is not only through monetary means buts through leadership and policy advice. Just some of the issues both current and on the horizon that I believe will needed to be navigated for the dairy industry include animal welfare, energy, labour, ageing demographic, price risk management and environmental management.

Benjamin Vagg - Leongatha

Benjamin is a third generation dairy farmer in South Gippsland, milking 485 predominantly Jersey herd at Leongatha South. Throughout his life he has had a passion for knowledge development and technological advancements, leading to numerous study opportunities for the betterment of his farming career. This passion has led to giving opportunities and training young people in their journey through the dairy industry. 

Benjamin's advocacy journey was instigated by his time studying in new Zealand and the rapid country/city divide that happened over the 2010's and the impact that poor policy and poor regulation being imposed on an industry can have on the future opportunities of an industry. This has led him to Dairy Farmers Victoria, to reset and reinvigorate the dairy farmers of Victoria to take up the challenge of facing our own country/city divide and the policy impositions that come with it. Together, DFV can not only represent our industry, but also our rural communities.