Young dairy leader celebrating the positives in industry.

At just 29 years old, Rachel McGrath has a plethora of achievements to her name, including Young Dairy Leader award winner. But she’s not finished yet.

Having been awarded a Young Dairy Leader award for her efforts on farm and in the community, Rachel McGrath is the first the celebrate the positives in the dairy industry.

Getting more young people involved in agriculture, and having fun with it as a career, is the driving force behind everything Orford’s Rachel McGrath does on farm.

At just 29-years-old, Rachael was recently awarded the Young Dairy Leader Award, an accolade she can add to her impressive list of achievements, including her involvement in the Dairy Australia Ambassador Program, the Western District Jersey Breeders Club, and the WestVic Dairy Young Dairy leadership team.

“I really like the idea of showing people that dairy is fun,” Rachael said.

“There are hard days, but the good days outweigh the bad, and if I can promote that to school leavers, and the industry, then that’s what I want to do.”

This fourth-generation producer works closely with her father and uncle, all striving towards the same goal of driving on-farm efficiencies without sacrificing quality of care, and quality of life.

“They (her dad and uncle) in their 70s, and I don’t see them stopping anytime soon,” Rachael said.

“Which is good. I need them.”

From being involved in a young leadership program, to showing dairy cows at competition level, Rachael has a genuine, unabashed love of the industry.

And it’s a passion she’s keen on passing along to the next generation coming through.

“I like being involved in the industry. So many people are so encouraging, and I want to give back, and encourage that,” Rachael said.

“Dairy has been good to us.”

Rachel McGrath wants to celebrate the good things about the dairy industry, and encourage the next generation to get involved in the industry. Picture: Nicole Cleary.

Milking 400 cows – a mix of stud Jerseys and Brown Swiss cattle – Rachael is focused on improving nutrients in the soil and streamlining efficiencies on farm.

“We got a grant last year to fence off waterways, put in trees, and with our pastures we’ve done mixed species trying to improve the health of the soil,” Rachael said.

“We’re dryland farmers, so no irrigation, and we’re trying to put some deep roots into the soil, and just use everything that we can.”

Originally milking around 1000 cows, the numbers have been pared back on-farm in an attempt to create some work-life balance, and to function in a sustainable manner.

“We’ll stay at the 400-mark. Purely because, when you start to get bigger … it gets to being a production line,” Rachael said.

“A lot of our cows have names. I’m able to do more care with them. And I’m not rushing from one job to the next.”