Meet our Livestock Agent: Dustin Cross

What’s your background? 

I grew up in Horsham Vic on a 40-acre hobby farm which really started my love for Ag. In years 11 & 12  I did a part-time traineeship on a farm in Goroke working for the Grant & Bryce Hausler at JANMAC who run a mixed farm and PD & WS Stud. Then I completed my cert 3 in Ag and went to Longy Ag college to study an Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management. Completing that I spent a few months shearing around the local area before starting as a Livestock trainee in the spring of 2018. Now I live on Kangaroo Island working as a Livestock Agent. 

Why did you choose a career in Livestock? 

Growing up with an array of breeds of livestock (sheep cattle pigs) I always knew I wanted to work with them in some degree but it was really only after working for JANMAC and dealing with their Livestock Agent that I knew I wanted to do his job.  

What do you love about your job? 

Basically all the aspects to it! The actual livestock work i.e. drafting, weighing, assessing and networking but also being able to build key relationships with growers working with them to create the most profitable and sustainable product.  

What advice do you have for people wanting to apply to the Livestock Trainee program? 

Get involved, it’s a fantastic job and you don’t have to come from a farm to be a livestock agent. Listen and learn as much as you can from other agents. There is a world of knowledge within our industry and so many pathways that can take you to amazing places ( I.e Kangaroo island !) 

What do you do in your spare time? 

Well living on Kangaroo Island a lot of my spare time is spent at the beach or in the boat fishing / cray diving and playing plenty of sports, football in the winter and tennis in the summer. Plus and everlasting backyard renovation!

Find out more about our Livestock Trainee Program here.