“This has been something we wanted to do for while,” Hayley Pattison said.
What stops us for reaching for our dreams? When does a dream become a reality?
Hayley Pattison of Pattison Pastoral’s had a dream and attending a Wakool Agri-innovation Fund event helped her take the next step.
Hayley along with husband Matt and children Troy 7, Levi 5 and Zali 2, breed Poll Herefords and Angus Hereford cross, on the family’s 1700 hectare property ‘Minmi’, at Burraboi NSW.
The couple established Pattison Poll Herefords in 2017 after receiving their original herd as a wedding gift from Hayley’s parents Michael and Cheryl Rutherford of Stanford Poll Herefords, Bathurst NSW.
The Pattisons now produce 250 young cattle annually between ‘Minmi’ and an adjistment property. Typically, the young cattle go on to feedlots.
“Every year we had a couple of steers that were too heavy for the feedlot, I thought ‘how best to make use of them?’
“The Wakool Innovation Fund event came along and that has given me the push that I needed.”
Through the Wakool Innovation Fund, Hayley was able to work with Rose Wright, Managing Director of Regionality Pty Ltd.
“Rose Wright has been a key part of me being able to market myself correctly, making sure I’m on track, thinking more like a salesperson than a farmer.
“Most of us don’t realise what we have and what we take for granted. In the consumers’ eye what we have is amazing, from starry skies, to open paddocks with grass fed beef.”
The experience has taught Hayley a lot about marketing to consumers.
“When I buy steak, I’m so interested in how it is grown and bred and how it is killed.
“Most consumers don’t care, they just want a nice steak at the end of the day.
“We have to sell the sizzle and be more descriptive about what does make it a really good steak.”
Hayley first trialled her idea in October, selling beef to friends.
“The response was amazing and that encouraged us to go forward.”
The first beast was cut up last week with Hayley turning to another local business Bundarra Berkshires to help with logistics.
Orders will be placed online via a website that Hayley built herself pattisonpastoral.com.au
Hayley is planning to process a beast every six weeks and look to grow from there.
“Even if you haven’t got an idea, days like the Agri-innovation and working with Regionality will inspire you. They will help you identify spare capacity in your business, whether it is growing something, or just networking – it is all extremely valuable.”