Opportunities open for young farmer

"If you say no too often, people stop asking," she said. "Sometimes you have to make things happen."

This philosophy has seen her travel overseas and interstate, make international connections and meet policy makers. It also saw her become a finalist in this year's inaugural DairySA Young Dairyfarmer of the Year competition.

Ollie grew up on a dairy farm at Marrawah, Tas.

After a foray living in Queensland, she moved to Mount Gambier for a "change of scenery" and there met up with Guernsey breeders Lyndon and Joyce Cleggett, Glencoe, who she knew from the world of showing.

Eventually, she took on the role of herd manager at the Cleggetts' registered stud Brookleigh.

Ollie said this partnership opened up a new world.

Mr Cleggett was involved in a number of committees, and would take her along to meetings.

"Originally it was to meet people, but then I started to get jobs and get involved," she said.

After finishing her Certificate III in Agriculture through an apprenticeship, she is working to gain a Certificate IV.

An injury encouraged her to think about other options and she began studying a Bachelor of Agriculture through Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, via distance education.

She has travelled to Guernsey Island, off the coast of France and England, to be part of the World Guernsey Cattle Conference, and is working to build contacts through her dealings with stud breeders in the United States and United Kingdom to advance the Brookleigh name.

Ollie said as she got more experienced she was picking up more challenges in her role as herd manager at the stud. She said this include some marketing to get the stud name out there.

"But you cant promote the name without the genetics to back up so the breeding is important too," she said. Ollie was involved in the steering committee of the inaugural National Dairy Challenge, held late last year on Fleurieu Peninsula.

"It came together really well," she said.

She was involved in coordinating the pasture management and said the experience had many benefits.

"For me I also learnt a lot by organising and putting stuff together, and spending time with the participants," Ollie said.

"Some would know more than me, and I'd get information, and others would know less, so in taking the time to explain it, it would help me too, so I'd learn both ways."

This attitude has seen her take on the role as local advocate, speaking with students about the dairy industry in the Cows Create Careers program.

"It's fun, because kids are funny," Ollie said.

"I get a bit defensive about animal welfare issues so this is a chance to go and talk to the kids and say 'I treat my animals properly'."

She said it was a way to break some of the stigma of dairy, and agriculture in general.

"Gone are the days when people left school and went home to farm; farmers are educated," Ollie said.

"And talking to kids about how many jobs there are in the dairy industry I love that side.

"They can see there is more to the industry than standing behind a cow and putting cups on."

In August, Ollie was part of a group of young farmers who travelled to Canberra for the Future Farms Youth Ag Council. She was the sole SA representative.

"It was a really great experience looking at the policy side," she said.

She had the chance to meet with politicians such as Tasmanian Senator Richard Colbeck and Opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon and hear about the long-term issues in the industry, ways to manage drought and access to capital and finance.

"I went to that and it got me thinking long-term," Ollie said.

"My goal for the next few years is to get financially literate so I can prove to a bank I know what I'm doing.

"Technology changes have made it easier for a girl to think I can take on a dairy farm all on my own."