Celebrating 25 years of BestWool/BestLamb

The Glenthompson-Dunkeld BestWool/BestLamb (BWBL) group is celebrating its 25th year in 2023, along with Bairnsdale BWBL group. The BWBL network now comprises 45 groups across the state.

Russell Mitchell was the first producer representative for the Glenthompson-Dunkeld BWBL group and 25 years later, is still a keen and active group member.

We asked Russell to reflect on his 25 years with the group.

How did the group get started? What do you remember from that time?

We were part of a Paired Paddock Program (Triple P) run by the Grassland Society of Southern Australia (GSSA), and Jason Trompf had just finished his degree and was running the group for us. We were keen to continue as a group after Triple P, this was in 1998 when BestWool was about to start. We held a meeting in Glenthompson, and heaps of farmers turned up and decided to form a BWBL group, so we were one of the initial groups to be involved.

l was one of the youngest at the meeting and someone from the VFF, pointed at me and said ‘you can be the group contact’, and so l was. We employed Jason as our coordinator and off we went. Not only was l one of the youngest, but l felt quite inexperienced about a lot of farming practises, and l was like a sponge taking in everything without any preconceived ideas.

I found it interesting to see the conflict some had with new ideas against what they had done for years and believed in. What was pleasing was every practical thing we did was on-farm and backed up with our own data and evidence. This was a challenge for some, but it was great to see these farms move forward with new plans and enthusiasm.

Why is BWBL important to you? Why have you stuck with it for 25 years?

Over 25 years, we have had fires, drought, wet years and falling commodity prices, and the whole time the group has been there to lean on at time when we all needed support. We perhaps didn’t realise it at the time, but we were able to tap into everyone and share our worries. For instance, when we had a drought around 17 years ago, some of us built stock containment yards and we were able to share and help each other through that process as none of us had any real experience with these.

We have been lucky to be involved with pilot projects and one of the best was the Lifetime Wool Project. They were looking for farms to test and plan this new course and we gladly put up our hands to be involved, and it was brilliant. At the time it pulled together all the things we had learnt and wrapped it up into one course, which really made some major gains for the businesses in the group. Of course, this is now called Lifetime Ewe but we still refer to it as Lifetime Wool for some reason.

Being part of the BWBL group has also given us exposure to a range of new ideas and people who we would otherwise never meet or hear about. Just having Jason Trompf as our leader and a phone call away was so lucky for us and then to be around people like Charlie De Fegely and John Keiller just to name a few, has had a lasting impact in our area.

What has changed over 25 years?

There have been major changes to sheep productions systems over the last 25 years in our district. Our group has been able to support and help this transition and show members how it could be done and share the good and bad of the changes.

It is also interesting and pleasing to see the succession changes of the farms in our group. Over time farms have changed hands and children have moved home to take over the management of the business. I personally have moved from one of the youngest in the group to one of the eldest members.

What are you looking forward to with the return of the BWBL conference?

The yearly conference is always a great way to connect and catch up with other like-minded farmers and hear about the latest programs and research in agriculture.

It also leaves a lasting impact on me, and l find that when l come home from the conference I’m inspired and enthusiastic about the year ahead, especially as it’s the middle of winter - it gives me a kick along as we enter spring and the busy months ahead.