Legendairy days ahead for Echunga studmaster

At 17 years old, his passion has remained the same.

The Urrbrae Agriculture High School student is working to build up his own dairy stud, under the name Long Gully Ayrshires, with a goal to eventually break into the industry.

Andrew said he has been “obsessed” with the industry since a young age. He did not grow up on a dairy farm, but said his grandparents had operated one on the property where he lives with parents Ian and Susie.

A few years ago he went along to the Mount Barker Show to compete in the Jersey section with some borrowed animals. There he met Geelunga Ayrshire principal Greg Edmonds, Meadows.

Greg said he was impressed with Andrew’s interest and gave him a few pointers.

“He took to it like a duck to water,” Greg said.

After helping out with the Geelunga team at the Royal Adelaide Show, Andrew was gifted his own Ayrshire heifer, which helped him establish his own stud three years ago.

Andrew milks that cow, using a milking machine, with another six calves at home. He regularly tests the milk, with records on 300 milkings, with the product used for calf rearing.

During his holidays he works at different dairies to gain extra experience.

Greg says he is constantly impressed by Andrew’s drive.

“I don’t know anyone who has ever been so keen to be a dairyfarmer that hasn’t grown up on a dairy,” he said. “He’ll achieve it because he is so passionate.”

This year Andrew exhibited his own cow at the Royal Adelaide Show, with 18-month-old Geelunga Tsunami Nova claiming the second-place ribbon out of its class of 14 in the Ayrshire feature competition, standing behind the heifer that went on to be reserve juvenile champion.

Andrew said he was happy to be involved with the Ayrshire breed, praising its attributes and the strong community that surrounds it.

“It’s almost like a big family,” he said. “It’s competitive on judging day but afterwards it’s a family again.”

Andrew said he plans to keep building his herd, and also hopes to work on a larger farm as a milker and build his own cow numbers.

He is only in year 11 but is already considering his tertiary options, including studying business at Marcus Oldham College, Geelong, Vic.

He also has not let recent tough times in the dairy industry scare him.

“Agriculture is immensely important and it will stay that way,” he said.

“There’s going to be dairyfarmers and I want to be one of them.”