For the sixth time in just ten years, Ray White Rural SA joint director Geoff Schell has been named as SA's Regional/Rural Salesperson of the Year.
Mr Schell was presented at the Real Estate Institute of South Australia awards, held in Adelaide late last month, and was grateful for the recognition.
"The Rural Industry is a fantastic industry to be a part of, it's an honour to win and I'm very pleased," he said.
The award, which Mr Schell also won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018 and 2019, recognises the profession's most accomplished and respected rural salespeople specialising in rural property sales.
Having previously been a Senior Lecturer in Farm Business Management with TAFE, based out of Clare, Mr Schell made the switch to real estate 13 years ago, and said dealing with rural people was the highlight of his job.
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"I've also owned and operated a sheep and cropping property near Burra with my family for nearly 30 years, I love agriculture and have had a passion for agribusiness for many years, so I relate strongly with people in rural communities, particularly those in farming," he said.
Mr Schell's business partner with Ray White Rural SA is his son Daniel, who is also a previous recipient of the award, having received the top gong in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
"Dan and I have a great relationship, we're both competitive and challenge each other, but we're really good mates and good business partners," Mr Schell said.
Mr Schell, who was a 2012 inductee into the REISA Hall of Fame, said rural SA properties had been selling particularly well in recent times.
There is some really strong demand in the SE, again because of that reliable rainfall.
- GEOFF SCHELL
"Despite tough conditions for a lot of the state in the past few years, we've had huge success with rural sales in the last 12-18 months," he said.
"We have conducted eight rural auctions so far this spring, and sold all eight properties, four of which set record prices for their area. It's a positive indicator for the industry in really tough times."
"We're seeing inquiry for larger scale properties out of the corporate sector for investment in agriculture, but many of the transactions that occur throughout SA, are farming family businesses looking to expand their operations.
"We're getting some really good inquiry out of NSW and the pastoral areas of SA, for reliable rainfall country to secure fodder and feed, and also to help to retain breeding stock, it's certainly highlighted the more reliable rainfall areas of SA.
"There is some really strong demand in the SE, again because of that reliable rainfall."
Mr Schell believes the future is bright for agriculture in SA.
"I genuinely think we're heading into one of the most positive times I have ever seen for Australian agriculture," he said.
"There are many areas suffering, but if we can return to more average rainfall conditions, there will be good times ahead."
He said investing in contrasting farming environments was a good step to take, if financially possible.
"There's no question that if you can get into reliable rainfall areas, if you can mix that country with pastoral country, they back each other up really well," he said.
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