By Brett Price, Director, Agricultural Appointments
I suppose for many years I took for granted that I grew up on a family farm. Looking back now, I realise what a rare privilege that was and how deeply it shaped who I am today and the work I do in helping agribusinesses find great people.
My grandfather began farming in the 1890s, buying a small 40-acre block at Pyramul, between Mudgee and Bathurst in Central Western NSW. Over time, he acquired surrounding properties, eventually building a 3,000-acre enterprise renowned for producing superfine wool. The property remains in our family today, managed by the third and fourth generations.
Growing up on that farm meant being involved in food production from the time I could walk. At five, I was feeding the chooks and collecting eggs each morning. Not long after, I became responsible for locking up the calves at night so we could milk the cows in the morning. I learned to milk, separate cream, and churn butter with my grandmother. My parents were avid gardeners, growing all our vegetables, and we had an orchard full of apples, pears, peaches, and apricots. We kept bees for honey, and meat came from the sheep and poultry we raised ourselves. Looking back, it was a wonderfully self-sufficient life, one that taught me early on about hard work, resourcefulness, and the direct link between effort and reward.
The 1950s and 60s were an exciting time to grow up in the wool industry. Wool demand soared during the Korean War, keeping prices high, and the rural economy thrived. For a child, shearing each October was a highlight, as the farm buzzed with shearers and roustabouts, the air thick with lanolin and chatter. Lambing in early spring was equally memorable. Sudden cold snaps could be deadly, and mornings were spent rescuing frozen lambs, thawing them by the kitchen fire, then returning them to their mothers or bottle-feeding them. Those moments, though sometimes harsh, taught lessons in care, patience, and the cycle of life that have stayed with me ever since.
Our local primary school had fewer than a dozen students across all grades, so you quickly learned independence and adaptability. When I went to high school, I boarded in Mudgee, returning home only on occasional weekends, another experience that taught me resilience and responsibility.
With that background, it is probably no surprise that I went on to study agricultural science. My passion for the industry and fascination with food and fibre production have guided me ever since. Today, as Director of Agricultural Appointments, I draw on those early lessons daily. Recruitment in agriculture is not just about matching résumés to job descriptions. It is about understanding the people, the environments they work in, and the realities of life and business in the sector. Having lived it myself, I know the challenges employers face when trying to find skilled, reliable talent and I know what it takes to build a long, successful career in agribusiness.
At Agricultural Appointments, all our consultants share real agricultural experience, from farming and agronomy to agribusiness management. We understand the pressures and opportunities that make this industry unique, speaking with clients and candidates as peers who have lived it. If you are looking for the right people to grow your agribusiness, talk to a team that truly understands agriculture because we have lived it. Contact us today!
