After three and a half decades in the industry, one iconic Eyre Peninsula stock agent is calling time on his career.
In 1988, Wudinna's Bill Sargent cut his teeth at Dalgety Bennetts Farmers - now Nutrien Ag Solutions - at Crystal Brook, and from there his career has flourished.
"I had been working on rural properties doing farm work - but I really didn't have a hard and fast career in my early days," he said.
"The job came up and I wasn't too sure what I was getting into, but after a bit of grounding and some hard slog, I really started to enjoy what I was doing and found my feet.
"Back then, there were many more sheep markets than there are now.
"It was tough work but it was really interesting and always busy."
Bill eventually worked as the Wirrabara representative for the Jamestown store, until he made the move to the Eyre Peninsula when he was offered the managerial position at the Wudinna branch in 1992.
Throughout his career, he saw countless highs and lows within the livestock industry.
"In the 1980s, the industry was quite challenging," Bill said.
"When I first joined, there was more or less a wool boom, but then the reserve price scheme crashed and everything started going backwards.
"Likewise in the livestock business, there was an oversupply of sheep and then the flock reduction scheme came into being and it wasn't a really happy time for anyone.
"But when things started to turn 15 to 18 years ago, we saw some buoyancy in the markets and it became quite stable.
"It was good to see the reward for the farmers who stuck with it and it was great to be involved in that."
In March, 35 years on from his start in livestock, Bill officially hung up his boots and was farewelled by clients and co workers from across the state.
"I was pretty overwhelmed to see everyone who came to my wind up," he said.
"It was fantastic, we had nearly all of our livestock clients there bar a few who just couldn't make it."
While Bill has retired from his livestock role, he says the region is in good hands with the addition of Wudinna's newest stock agent, Tyron Hilder, and the rest of the staff at Nutrien Ag Solutions Wudinna.
"I was really pleased to see the next generation take over the role," he said.
"Tyron is young, keen and has a lot of experience under his belt already and he's fitting in really nicely to the team and the community.
"He's had a great start and I'm looking forward to seeing him progress in the role."
During his time as a stock agent, Bill was also able to obtain his real estate licence, and he will continue within that role now in a semi-retired capacity now he has retired from his livestock career.
"I was lucky to be supported by John and Jan Dunn who owned the franchise at the time and helped me get my licence in the 1990s," he said.
"It was a natural progression in my career and it actually helped me with the livestock side of things as well.
"I'm grateful to the team at Nutrien Harcourts Wudinna and (the Sparrow family) to have the opportunity to stay within the business to look after the real estate side now."
Looking ahead, Bill says he looks forward to spending more time with his family, travelling where possible, and playing plenty of golf.
Katie Jackson
Journalist at Stock Journal. Born into a journo family in the state's South East, Katie made the move to the big smoke to join the team in early 2022 after seven years spent at various mastheads in the regions.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Born into a journo family in the state's South East, Katie made the move to the big smoke to join the team in early 2022 after seven years spent at various mastheads in the regions.
