'Doing the basics right and doing them well’: What success looks like at Coleambally
One of our 2025 National Excellence in Agronomy Award winners Brett Hay, runs a small team in ‘Colly’ but it’s their focus on autonomy, accountability, ‘doing the basics right and doing them well’ that saw the team recognised as one of the best performing branches in 2024.
With Jorian Millyard operating as the Senior Agronomist, Rachel Beer managing merchandise and Elli Hay supporting in sales and merchandise, having a presence in the community and always trying to improve individually and as a team remains a big focus for the branch.
We sat down with Brett to hear about some of the lessons, focuses and priorities of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Coleambally Branch.
Can you tell me a bit about your area; your key agricultural commodities and client base?
Coleambally is predominantly a cropping region and therefore we are majority a merch and fertiliser business. We operate in a town of 640 people, where we see a 60:40 split between summer and winter crops. Crop mixture is all winter crop varieties in addition to summer perennial nut crops, cotton, rice and corn. Here at the Coleambally branch, we service family right through to corporate businesses.
How would you describe the culture at your branch in three words?
Customer service focused -we provide a high level of service, fee for service advice and fee in drum advice/service.
Are there any new initiatives, products, or services that you believe have contributed to your success?
I think our service model has been the strength and has bought new clients to our business. There is still room for improvement with our finance and insurance offerings to add more of an all-round service but it’s a well serviced area also in that respect.
How does your branch build strong connections with your local community and customers?
We are a reliable and experienced team. The benefit of operating in a small town is you can be a large presence in the community among local schools, football/netball clubs and community initiatives. I focus mainly on sponsoring junior sport to show we are invested in the future of the community as well as the more rewarding events locally. Our staff are also involved in local sporting competitions and on committees which I believe is important.
What’s a ‘small focus’ that’s had a big impact on your branch operations and culture?
We have put a big focus on running as autonomously as possible within the branch. Accountability with a small team is critical and everyone knows their roles. Weekly meetings and stocktakes are a must to control the controllables and safety is the first topic in every weekly meeting.
If you could give one piece of advice to another branch hoping to lift their performance, what would it be?
Do the basics right and do them well. We still have room to improve and are always trying to better our branch and I think it’s vital to chat among other branches and businesses to share ideas, successes and see what could work in your patch.