Little Big Dairy: Dubbo dairy farm celebrates achievements on decade long anniversary

From what started as a family-run business selling a handful of products at local markets to leading the sustainability movement in dairy farming, a Central West dairy company celebrates its first decade.

What started as one-ute servicing local markets to stocking products across the state – a sustainable dairy farm in the state’s central west has celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

Little Big Dairy, on the outskirts of Dubbo, is a family-run business with more than a century of history, stocking to cafes and retail stores predominantly around NSW.

Director Emma Elliott told The Dubbo News when she graduated university in 2012 and returned to the family farm, milk was being sold for less than the cost of production.

“Dad said ‘well girl ... we better build a factory’ so mum and I got to work researching and doing numbers,” she said.

The farm is led by her father Steve Chesworth, who is a fifth-generation dairy farmer, along with his wife and their children.

Emma Elliott and her mother Erika Chesworth. Photo: Clancy Paine.

The boys. Photo: Clancy Paine.

“The way Little Big sustains the generations to come is by the way a fair milk price enables us to farm and do business,” Ms Elliott said.

The direct-to-customer relationship we have allows us to be paid fairly for the milk.

“A price that enables investment in new technology and on-farm improvements.

Not just to survive but do business with a considered approach to our cows, community and conservation.”

Over the past decade, the company has welcomed additional staff, opened multiple distribution centres, increased the production of milk and butter and released a limited-edition strawberry milk flavour to celebrate the milestone.

Emma at breakfast club. Photo: Clancy Paine.

“As our team grows, it is important that we hire cultural fit over work ability, we believe someone can always learn how to do a job, but you cannot change someone’s personality,” Ms Elliott said.

“Our core values are lived through each and every employee, we are one team and if someone doesn’t pull their weight then it affects our entire company.

“As a family, we all work across different roles in the supply chain - I think this makes us successful.”

In 2014, the company started donating spare milk with a shelf life of fewer than seven days to Buninyong Public School for their breakfast clubs, to now donating 12 thousand litres of milk a year to the community.

Emma with students from Buninyong Public School. Photo: Clancy Paine.

“While we rarely have short, dated milk these days, we are still as passionate and excited to see our milk being used in breakfast clubs across the state.

“Milk donations are a tangible way for our dairy to contribute to our community.

“Milk is such a valuable food group especially for those kids utilising breakfast clubs.”

Ms Elliott thanked customers who have supported the growth of the community and is looking forward to more opportunities in the industry.