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Fourth-generation cattle and sheep farmer Claire Templeton, 25, recently returned to her family’s farm at Nar Nar Goon in West Gippsland. Picture: Dannika Bonser
1/30Fourth-generation cattle and sheep farmer Claire Templeton, 25, recently returned to her family’s farm at Nar Nar Goon in West Gippsland. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire studied animal science at Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga. Pictured with Kelpies Meg and Pepi. Picture: Dannika Bonser
2/30Claire studied animal science at Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga. Pictured with Kelpies Meg and Pepi. Picture: Dannika Bonser
The saddle Claire uses for stock work. She manages her family’s 80-hectare farm and uses a low-stress stock handling appraoch. Picture: Dannika Bonser
3/30The saddle Claire uses for stock work. She manages her family’s 80-hectare farm and uses a low-stress stock handling appraoch. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire’s Kelpie Pepi. Picture: Dannika Bonser
4/30Claire’s Kelpie Pepi. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire launched her own business, Square Mile Meats, to take more control of the day-to-day running of the farm. Picture: Dannika Bonser
5/30Claire launched her own business, Square Mile Meats, to take more control of the day-to-day running of the farm. Picture: Dannika Bonser
She delivers beef and lamb to customers in Melbourne and across Gippsland, as far east as Trafalgar. Picture: Dannika Bonser
6/30She delivers beef and lamb to customers in Melbourne and across Gippsland, as far east as Trafalgar. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire uses a rotational grazing system to manage a herd of about 130 Black Angus steers of different weights and ages, as well as crossbred sheep. Picture: Dannika Bonser
7/30Claire uses a rotational grazing system to manage a herd of about 130 Black Angus steers of different weights and ages, as well as crossbred sheep. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Her boxed meat packs start at 8kg, and go up to 20kg packs that will “fill your freezer”. Picture: Dannika Bonser
8/30Her boxed meat packs start at 8kg, and go up to 20kg packs that will “fill your freezer”. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire’s stock horse Lulu is one of her loyal on-farm work colleagues. Picture: Dannika Bonser
9/30Claire’s stock horse Lulu is one of her loyal on-farm work colleagues. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire documents her on-farm activities on social media to help customers form a connection to where food comes from and the rural lifestyle. Picture: Dannika Bonser
10/30Claire documents her on-farm activities on social media to help customers form a connection to where food comes from and the rural lifestyle. Picture: Dannika Bonser
“One night I was having tea with friends I went to school with and I said I was back farming full time,” Claire says. “They had no concept of what farmign looked like on a day-to-day level.” Picture: Dannika Bonser
11/30“One night I was having tea with friends I went to school with and I said I was back farming full time,” Claire says. “They had no concept of what farmign looked like on a day-to-day level.” Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire is striving to educate consumers about the fact that price is not the only important factor when it comes to buying meat. Picture: Dannika Bonser
12/30Claire is striving to educate consumers about the fact that price is not the only important factor when it comes to buying meat. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Angus steers are processed once they reach 520kg. Claire then sets the available number of meat packs based on the stock that is ready to process. Picture: Dannika Bonser
13/30Angus steers are processed once they reach 520kg. Claire then sets the available number of meat packs based on the stock that is ready to process. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire takes care of every step in the supply chain, including animal handling, transport, butchery, packaging and delivery. Picture: Dannika Bonser
14/30Claire takes care of every step in the supply chain, including animal handling, transport, butchery, packaging and delivery. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire planned to put her business plan into action in about 10 years’ time, but once she took initial steps, launched much sooner than she had thought possible. Picture: Dannika Bonser
15/30Claire planned to put her business plan into action in about 10 years’ time, but once she took initial steps, launched much sooner than she had thought possible. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Square Mile Meats is named after Maryknoll, the small community in West Gippsland that her grandparents helped establish. Maryknoll was mapped out on a square mile. Picture: Dannika Bonser
16/30Square Mile Meats is named after Maryknoll, the small community in West Gippsland that her grandparents helped establish. Maryknoll was mapped out on a square mile. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Kelpie Pepi helps Claire manage the family farm. Claire also works for her family’s Graham’s Seeds business.
17/30Kelpie Pepi helps Claire manage the family farm. Claire also works for her family’s Graham’s Seeds business.
Claire’s Black Angus are pasture fed. She believes there is a strong correlation between low-stress animal handling and the eating quality of the meat. Picture: Dannika Bonser
18/30Claire’s Black Angus are pasture fed. She believes there is a strong correlation between low-stress animal handling and the eating quality of the meat. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Kelpi Pepi with a Square Mile Meats pack. Claire customises packs to suit her customers’ needs. Picture: Dannika Bonser
19/30Kelpi Pepi with a Square Mile Meats pack. Claire customises packs to suit her customers’ needs. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire’s Square Mile Meats ute does solid kilmoetres on delivery days. Picture: Dannika Bonser
20/30Claire’s Square Mile Meats ute does solid kilmoetres on delivery days. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire processes livestock at Radfords abattoir at Warragul. Picture: Dannika Bonser
21/30Claire processes livestock at Radfords abattoir at Warragul. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire thought sausages and mince would be the hardest cuts to sell, but has found them the easiest to shift. Picture: Dannika Bonser
22/30Claire thought sausages and mince would be the hardest cuts to sell, but has found them the easiest to shift. Picture: Dannika Bonser
Claire says its the idea of the “conscientious omnivore” that she is trying to communicate through her use of social media. “You don’t have to feel bad about eating meat if you know where it has come from and it s been down properly.”
23/30Claire says its the idea of the “conscientious omnivore” that she is trying to communicate through her use of social media. “You don’t have to feel bad about eating meat if you know where it has come from and it s been down properly.”
Claire Templeton, 25, Nar Nar Goon, with her new stock horse Lulu. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
24/30Claire Templeton, 25, Nar Nar Goon, with her new stock horse Lulu. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
Claire Templeton, 25, Nar Nar Goon, with her new stock horse Lulu. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
25/30Claire Templeton, 25, Nar Nar Goon, with her new stock horse Lulu. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
Angus weaners sold in Claire Templeton's Square Mile Meats business, on her family's block at Nar Nar Goon South. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
26/30Angus weaners sold in Claire Templeton's Square Mile Meats business, on her family's block at Nar Nar Goon South. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
Gate of the Templeton's farm at Nar Nar Goon South. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
27/30Gate of the Templeton's farm at Nar Nar Goon South. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
Gate of the Templeton's farm at Nar Nar Goon South. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
28/30Gate of the Templeton's farm at Nar Nar Goon South. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
Claire Templeton, 25, Nar Nar Goon, runs her own business Square Mile Meats. Pictured at her family's farm at Nar Nar Goon South with dog Pepi. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
29/30Claire Templeton, 25, Nar Nar Goon, runs her own business Square Mile Meats. Pictured at her family's farm at Nar Nar Goon South with dog Pepi. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
Claire Templeton, 25, Nar Nar Goon, runs her own business Square Mile Meats. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
30/30Claire Templeton, 25, Nar Nar Goon, runs her own business Square Mile Meats. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER
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Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/farm-magazine/square-mile-meats/image-gallery/1ef5e515625a02b44cee0b6cd6f6ddcc