Listed: Ten of SA’s top up-and-coming livestock agents
They’re the future of their industry with a slew of achievements behind them and a lot more to go. Meet SA’s young-gun stock agents dominating their fields right now.
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They’re an integral part of Australia’s agriculture industry, connecting with farmers and their livestock to ensure our fridges stay stocked with well-cared for, homegrown produce.
From weighing and assessing livestock, conducting and attending auctions, building relationships with clients and striving for the best prices, there’s much more to the 9-to-5 of a livestock agent than meets the eye.
And there’s a whole new crop of young agents literally entering the field ready to carry on the legacy of this utmost important role.
We reached out to some of the top livestock branches in the state and asked them about their up and coming stock agents, read on to learn more about these SA young guns below.
Georgia Sergejevs – Nutrien Ag Solutions Kimba
Visiting the local saleyards with her grandpa during the school holidays was where a young Georgia Sergejevs first discovered her desire to work with livestock one day and began thinking about maybe becoming a stock agent.
“On our way home (from the yards) one day (we) were chatting about my future and I said, ‘I reckon I want to be a stock agent actually’,” Georgia said.
“I distinctly remember him replying, ‘whatever you do, don’t become an agent’.
“So fast forward a few years and I’m doing exactly what he told me not to, but he’s come around to the idea and I know he’s actually pretty proud of me now.”
Georgia’s path to becoming a stock agent was far from simple though, having to deal with several rejections before she got her foot in the door.
“I got turned down for from a few traineeships and jobs for my lack of experience and no uni degree,” she said.
“So I did a bit of sheep work around Australia, came home, started going out to the saleyards every week and dropping my resume into our local Nutrien. They eventually worked out I wasn’t going away any time soon and figured they may as well give me a job.”
Georgia started out in the office as a livestock admin and slowly built her way up into becoming an agent from there.
“There were two stockies at my branch who I owe a lot of credit of where I am now,” she said.
“They took me under their wing and trained me up while I was still in my admin role. It started out with them taking me out one day a week, to pretty much full-time on the road.”
In July, a job opportunity came up in Kimba and Georgia decided it was time for her to “give it a go on (her) own”.
Now as the only stock agent in the Kimba branch, Georgia has her own client list she is trying to build up and still loves spending time in the saleyards.
“They’re a hub of knowledge,” Georgia said. “You can learn a lot by being quiet and observing the market, mates chatting and agents talking about all things livestock.
“We work for the farmer so the saleyard is a great place to have a chat with them and learn all about how different farmers and livestock managers operate.”
Georgia said that her experience getting into the industry has taught her that “if you really want something, you need to come at it with everything you’ve got”.
“Don’t back down just because someone says no or turns you down for a job,” she said.
“Every experience you have like that will make you more grateful for what you have when you eventually get it.”
Daniel Griffiths, Spence Dix & Co, Mallala
While in school at Xavier College, Daniel Griffiths, now 34, completed a work experience stint at PPHS at Naracoorte, which provided invaluable insight into the agricultural industry and what’s required to be a good stock agent.
Daniel said it was always his “end goal” to become an agent one day.
After school he worked as a shearer, building up a solid client base, which he said provided him with a great starting point when he rejoined the stock agent industry.
“Ultimately, the main goal of the job is achieving the best results for clients,” Daniel said.
“This gives me the greatest satisfaction, along with building genuine and long-term relationships with them. A high number become part of the family – we see their kids grow up, helping in the yards.”
He said himself and others in the industry have had to face multiple challenges over the past few years, with the last two being “by far the most difficult”.
“But being able to maintain and continue to grow relationships with clients, buyers and processing companies has been very rewarding and fulfilling – knowing that we have got through some of the industry’s most challenging times,” he said.
Going forward, Daniel said he hopes to continue working on and improving his craft as both an agent and auctioneer – something he’s very passionate about.
He said he’d like to more people realise the opportunities and benefits that come with being involved in the industry.
“It’s an extremely rewarding job,” Daniel said. “You 100 per cent get what you put in and meet some lifelong friends, families and amazing colleagues along the way.
“It’s a chance to meet so many great people and tour the countryside doing it.”
Tyron Hilder – Nutrien Ag Solutions, Wudinna
Wanting to work with livestock ever since he was little, Tyron Hilder, 21, originally from Willippa Station in the Flinders Ranges, got a chance to pursue his childhood dream when the opportunity to work with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Port Augusta came up at the start of 2022.
“I took the opportunity and really enjoyed it and have been with Nutrien every since,” Tyron said.
Moving to Wudinna with the company at the start of 2024, Tyron said the best part of his job was working with the livestock and seeing a happy client after all the hard work was done.
“Although it has been a tough couple of years with livestock prices, you just need to remain positive and keep your customers satisfied,” he said.
As well as providing exceptional service to clients, Tyron said the job provides some great social benefits as well, particularly when working at local markets.
“I have really enjoyed helping out at monthly store sales at the Jamestown market,” he said.
“(It gives you the chance to) catch up with other local agents and talk about what they have been up to and if they are interested in buying stock or what they have coming up to sell.
“It is a good catch up socially as well, especially when you are a lone agent in an area. It’s always good to have other to have a bit of fun and laughs with others, as well as bounce ideas around.”
Josh Pahl – South Australian Livestock (SAL), Naracoorte
Coming from a farming background and having a lifelong passion for livestock and working with people, pursuing a career as a stock agent was a “no-brainer decision” for 25-year-old Josh Pahl.
“I come from a farming background and have been working as a livestock agent for three-and-a-half years now,” Josh said.
“I have always had a passion for livestock and working with people, so it was no-brainer to go down the path of an agent to make that passion a reality.
“I love what I do and I’m very proud of the job. Every day is different – no day or job is ever the same.”
On October 14, Josh took out first place at the 2024 ALPA South Australia Young Auctioneers Competition, narrowly beating a former two-time winner.
Following this achievement, his career goals are to continue to build and expand his client list and his auctioneering skills.
“I love working as a team and working alongside my clients to best achieve the best possible result for their livestock,’ he said.
Jack Guy, Spence Dix & Co, Bordertown
Originating from Mt Compass, Jack Guy, 23 has been a livestock agent for seven years – first starting his career with Landmark as a student-aged trainee after leaving school in year 11.
“I did work experience with a company in Mount Compass and spent a day with a stock agent which was when I thought basically, ‘yep this is it, this is what I want to do,’ Jack said.
“I love meeting with all the clients and watching them succeed.
“I love feeling like a part of their family – you’re with them through the tough times and the good times and get to hear about their kids’ success and their success and yeah, most of the time you end up forming a really nice bond with them which is good.”
Jack said over the past seven years of his career, one of his proudest memories was of selling and auctioneering at Nutrien’s Christmas Calf Sale when he worked with them.
Aside from those kind of milestones in his career, Jack said his job was “all about the little wins” as well.
“Looking back at where you started compared to how far you’ve come -all the clients you’ve helped, the jobs you’ve done – is pretty surreal.”
Like others on this list, Jack was one of four finalists at this year’s 2024 ALPA South Australia Young Auctioneers Competition.
Jack said he hoped to continue growing himself as an agent and continue to deliver high-quality service to his clients.
“I’m only 23 at the moment so my goals are to really continue growing myself as a stock agent and push myself to the limits to achieve the best I can,” he said.
Cody Benson – Nutrien Ag Solutions Mount Gambier
Originally from Kangarilla in the Adelaide Hills, 22-year-old Cody Benson joined the team at Nutrien Ag Solutions Mount Gambier following the suggestion from a fellow stock agent he worked with on a farm just outside of Langhorne Creek.
For Cody, his favourite part of the job was working with others to get the best results for his clients and developing his skill set to ensure he can continue to do so well into the future.
He said his proudest moment on the job so far was selling his first load of stock for his first own client, as well as when he sold his very first run of cattle as an auctioneer.
Cody was also one of four finalists at this year’s 2024 ALPA South Australia Young Auctioneers Competition.
He wants to build his business to best it can be and while continuing selling and developing his auctioneering skills.
Sabrina Andrews, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Kingscote
Growing up on Kangaroo Island, Sabrina Andrews, now 28, completed two weeks of work experience at Nutrien Ag Solutions Kingscote branch and became hooked, applying for a job with the business straight after.
She said her favourite part of being a stock agent include carrying out market research, handling livestock, meeting people, seeing the countryside and learning more every day.
“It’s too hard to pick a very aspect or memory from the job, there’s never a dull moment,” Sabrina said.
“This country was founded on the sheep’s back, so remember to wear wool and eat Australian beef and lamb.”
Tyson Fechner – Elders Roseworthy
While working on a Merino stud in the Barossa Valley as a high school student, Tyson Fechner, from Nuriootpa, was always intrigued by the stock agents that came out to the property.
One day he struck up a conversation with an agent at a ram sale and became even more interested in the role than before.
That led to work experience stints – one at Murray Bridge and one at Roseworthy – which helped him get a foot in the door with Elders, he said.
After that, he started working in Bordertown under the Elders trainee program, then moved to Kangaroo Island for a bit, before eventually securing a full-time role based out of Roseworthy
“The thing I enjoy most about the job is the variety of work and the country we get to see,” Tyson, now 23, said, “No two days are the same.
“I love being a person my clients can trust and not only chat about farming but also life in general. We get to know them on a much deeper level and really understand their livestock enterprise and also where they see themselves in the years to come.”
Tyson said he’s had a lot of memorable moments over the past five years, one of the biggest standouts this year when his team picked up a new client and worked with them to put two rams in the Adelaide Show Merino Ram Sale.
“They managed to produce the top price ram sold on the day, which is an outstanding effort considering it was their first year in the sale,” Tyson said proudly.
He hopes to keep growing as an agent and continue to mingle with agents from different areas and states to learn as much as he can.
“I look to continue to grow my business put forward new options and opportunities to my clients to stay ahead of the game,” he said.
Grace Teate, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Jamestown
After years of working on the production side of farming, being a livestock manager on various properties and a general farmhand, 28-year-old Grace Teate from Naracoorte saw an opportunity to become a stock agent with Nutrien Ag Solutions through its trainee program and grabbed it with both hands.
“I loved the idea of being more involved on the marketing side of animal production as well being able to help farmers get the highest prices and best markets they can which obviously has a positive impact on their business,” Grace said.
“I’m also very much a people person so I think building relationships with clients is a special part of the job for me.”
Along with getting to socialise and build relationships with clients, Grace said she also loves working as part of a team, learning new things, and getting to be outdoors carrying out hands-on work.
“You’re always learning new things and sometimes you’ll learn a different and easier way to do something you hadn’t thought of before,” she said.
“I particularly love working with stock and going out to stations for days on end drafting cattle and sheep.
“I also really enjoy who I work with – I’m very lucky.”
Grace said she’s incredibly thankful to Nutrien for the opportunity the company provided her with, as well as the support of the “amazing” team she works alongside of.
“I’m learning so much and having an absolute blast while working with them, find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, right?”
Simon Lehman, Spence Dix & Co, Mallee Region
Simon Lehman, 32, originally from Keith in the state’s upper South-East, said he’d always had a passion for the livestock industry since growing up on a family farm, so when he was presented with the opportunity to cover the Mallee region as an agent for Spence Dix & Co, it seemed like the perfect role.
“Building relationships whether it be with clients or other agents is one of the things I enjoy most about the job,” Simon said.
“That and helping my clients run their livestock operations successfully and providing new ideas in a developing industry.”
Simon said one of the most memorable moments from his time in the job had been rebuilding the Spence Dix & Co Karoonda Sheep Sale over the past four years. Before that, the sale had not operated in the area for a quarter of a century.
He wants to keep building on the Spence Dix & Co Brand and to keep becoming the best agent he can be through hard work and providing multiple selling options for his clients, all while enjoying the ride.
“I have been with Spence Dix & Co for seven years and the support I receive from all the company, livestock agents through to the ladies in administration have made me the agent that I am today,” Simon said.
“I find this industry to be very rewarding and I look forward to future progressions with Spence Dix & Co and the team.”
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