With great excitement, two new faces donned their pink shirts and joined the Elders Stud Stock team in January this year.
Elders Stud Stock manager for Queensland and the Northern Territory, Michael Smith, said freshly minted sales specialist Adam Geddes and sales support officer Eliza Connors, were brought into the fold to replace a couple of outgoing identities.
"Adam is replacing Robert Murray and Eliza is Sara Graffunder's replacement but in a slightly modified role. They started on January 1, and January 18, respectively," Mr Smith said.
"Adam will strengthen our team particularly in Central Qld working with Brian Wedemeyer and Anthony Ball. He has an extensive list of connections and has a very sound knowledge of the finer points of stud cattle. This along with the way he conducts himself, made him the obvious choice for the role," he said.
"Out of Rockhampton, Eliza will bolster our growing business by offering solid sales support and marketing assistance to our three Central and Northern Qld Stud Stock sales specialists. Her no fuss approach to the way she handles tasks, particularly new tasks, her hands on experience in agriculture in Central Qld, and her willingness to learn were her qualities that stood out to me."
Ms Connors path to Elders began when she'd just started high school and her family moved to a small property to help support her pony club and campdrafting interests.
"It was when dad took me to my first ever cattle sale to buy some cows and a bull for the farm, that I knew deep down I wanted to pursue a career in the industry. I studied Agriculture and Primary Industries in high school and then completed a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales," she said.
"After graduating from uni I sought practical experience in the industry. I worked at Goonoo Feedlot (AACO) for eight months where I learned the intensive side of beef cattle production as a stockhand. After Goonoo I worked for Cameron McIntyre at Mt Booroomen Station for a year and a half as a stationhand learning about the extensive side of beef cattle production."
She said she's looking forward to interacting with Elders Stud Stock clients.
"I think helping them to achieve the best results in all aspects of their businesses, will be a very rewarding experience. Being able to learn and work within a team full of professionals with a great deal of knowledge and experience in the industry will also be of great benefit to me."
Adam Geddes grew up in the livestock industry with his family owning cattle properties in Central Qld, and has been a livestock agent for the last seven years.
"I've always been heavily involved in our family run Droughtmaster stud, therefore moving into the stud stock area of Elders has felt like a natural progression for me," Mr Geddes said.
"Since I joined the Elders Stud Stock team, out of Rockhampton, I've been enjoying managing sales, orders and servicing our clients across Northern and Central Queensland," he said.
"I'm looking forward to working with new and existing stud owners and having the opportunity to view their cattle. I really like seeing good quality cattle and helping the vendors achieve good sale success. Also, having worked with our own stud and attending bulls sales over most of my life I feel as though I have a good network in the industry."
Mr Smith said the addition of Mr Geddes and Ms Connors to the team will provide a great blend of experience and youthfulness, enthusiasm, energy and professionalism to help Elders Stud Stock achieve the best possible results for clients.
"We have a very strong team going forward and I'm very excited about being at the helm of the best stud stock team in Australia."
