Annie Pumpa: from Billabong High to global beef genetics guru
Rising star Annie Pumpa shares how the “devastating” sale of her family farm helped transform her from a “quiet and timid” school kid into a global beef industry leader.
The irony that meat company ABS Global’s beef sales and InFocus supply chain manager Annie Pumpa was terrified of cows as a youngster is not lost on her.
The 24 year old, who grew up on a family farm in the Riverina, said her fear of cows was genuine until she started at Billabong High School where one of the teachers Stephen Trickett gave her a show steer to lead, and she “didn’t look back”.
Annie began to help on the family farm and revelled in animal health and management. She also developed a love of showing cattle.
“I was always that kid that was quiet and timid so from a confidence perspective, heifer shows is where I gained a lot of confidence,” Annie said.
In 2016, the family farm was sold, and while it was “devastating”, Annie reflects how it gave her more drive to stay in the industry and the gift to explore new pathways.
FROM HERE TO WHERE
At first, Annie grappled with the life decisions most school leavers make at the end of Year 12.
“I had no idea what I wanted to do. School teaches you that you should go to university and do a business degree so I applied for uni,” she said.
“I wanted to do a GAP year and go to Canada but I needed to fund it so I went and worked at a free range pig farm for nine months. Then I went to Canada and worked on a ranch and met a lot of people and gained a lot of experience,” she said.
Annie came home and worked for Nutrien at Geelong but knew her passion was elsewhere.
“I knew I wanted to be in the beef industry but I didn’t know where,” she said.
Annie was introduced to ABS beef product manager Bill Cornell.
“I shook Bill’s hand and 12 months later I was given a contract to sign,” she said.
“We’ve gone through a succession plan. My role changed and developed…and now almost three years on I’m doing one of the greatest things I’ve ever done.”
BREEDING TEAM EFFORT
Annie provides genetics advice and assists farmers in building nucleus herds to breed bulls.
She also helps host events, works with 13 different breed societies and attends sales around Australia.
“I go to the saleyards sometimes and make sure I have my eye in on the commercial industry,” Annie said.
“This autumn we will be on the road for 15 days and we’ll see over 100 seedstock producers and meet with hundreds of people and see thousands of bulls.
“Our philosophy at ABS is, if there is a bull out there and we need him we will try our best to find him and buy him. We have a huge criteria about how we find that bull but we want that one per cent.”
“Genetics is a very interesting space and I love working in it because you can have a direct impact on the supply chain right at the start. Creating a sustainable food chain starting at genetics,” Annie said.
“I think back to some of the first people that I helped and those calves are the next generation now being bred. I get so many endorphins from speaking to customers – their success is my success.
“Even though I was devastated not to breed my own 150 cows (on the family farm) I now get to breed thousands of them and it doesn’t cost me a cent. It makes you feel humbled to be part of the industry.”
BACKING BREEDS AND BRANDS
Annie was president of the Herefords Australia National Youth Committee for three years and secretary for two years. She was chairman of the Angus Youth National Roundup last year, has recently joined the board of Herefords Australia and was the NSW winner in Cattle Council Australia’s 2021 Rising Champions Awards.
“What opened my eyes at the Cattle Council awards was how important the grass-fed industry was in the beef sector,” Annie said.
“As we start to move forward with the key performance indicators that the Red Meat Advisory Committee set by 2030 and having those conversations about becoming more sustainable, having more longevity in our cattle, weight-for-age and do-ability, and how we can create more sustainable genetics – bigger ideas that ABS already promote around the world – Herefords have a lot to offer in that space and that’s why I do back the brand and product.”
While being on the board of HAL is a big commitment, Annie has the backing of ABS.
“What I can bring to the table of Herefords Australia is not just a perspective of my thoughts but what the commercial industry needs are and what it has to offer,” she said.
Annie said at times it felt surreal to be working at such a young age for a global company with a footprint in 80 countries.
“I never thought at the age of 21 I would get this huge opportunity and have the impact I do in the industry,” Annie said.
“If you have the work ethic, passion and drive to do it, the opportunities will come your way.
“I don’t think it has been a challenge being a female, I think my age has, as they see you as a young person. What counteracts that is my communication with customers and my work ethic and making sure their needs are addressed and understood.”
SHOW OF SUCCESS
Annie credits involvement with heifer shows for much of her success.
“I can’t express how much a heifer show is so much more than showing cows,” she said.
“You don’t just wash them and fluff them up. A lot of people forget what it is doing for that kid. It teaches you so much more than just looking after an animal. You can put that down to responsibility but it upskills people, communication, networking opportunities. I don’t think I could find a four day program in any sector that gives the personal growth of one person.
“I’m always on cloud nine coming out of a heifer show watching 100 kids from day one who wouldn’t speak to people and at the end a bunch of eight and ten year olds who end up as friends and have the best time.
“It pushes you outside your comfort zone and from a personal growth perspective, the reward is unlimited. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t do heifer shows.”
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