Young Aussie Farmers with Allan Savory

I know I have featured this before but I think it is so great it is well worth revisiting in 2012 Australian Year of the Farmer. Allan Savory was the guest of Graham & Cathy Finlayson in July 2011.
This is a great example of how young Australian farmers are seeking knowledge from Allan savory Father of Holistic Management.
Even though Allan has a lifetime of experience,he quite often would answer a question on that day by saying "I don't know I am still learning". That to me is a key to success,never close yourself off to learning.
This video is a short 12 minute video from our visit out in the paddock where Graham and Allan are speaking to a group of around 100 people.

Low Stress Stockhandling Photos

Jane and Jeff Rodgers hosted 21 people last week for a Low Stress Stockhandling school near Coonamble in NSW.
People travelled from as far away as Tenterfield to learn how to be more effective working both sheep and cattle.

Never Under Estimate the Power of 1 Man and his Wife !

Bud and Eunice Williams who dedicated pretty much their whole life to developing and teaching Stockmanship skills have received some great recognition recently.Whilst most of their life has been spent in North America,we were privileged to have them both visit Australia in 1999 and 2002 to share their knowledge on Stockmanship with Australian stockmen and stockwomen.

I believe it was no accident that we met them and had them stay with us on their first visit which consequently led me along with Rod and Jim to develop the KLR Marketing school with Bud's coaching and mentoring from his marketing school.

I have been teaching Low Stress Stockhandling Schools for 10 years where over 2,000 people have attended and when you add that to the other people training stockmanship based on Bud's methods,you realise the impact 1 person can have.

Now add to nearly 2,000 people who over the past 7 years have attended a KLR Marketing school that is quite something.I know what a difference both these programs have made for the lives of those people.

Bud and Eunice recently received an award from the University of Minnesota for their "Outstanding Contribution to the Livestock Industry"

In my mind the greatest recognition is when Bud and his Stockmanship skills made it in the

"Top 10 Innovations in the History of the Beef Industry in North America".

What is significant is these top 10 innovations were selected in a reader survey and includes

• Artificial Insemination
• Barb Wire
• Antibiotics
• Electric Fence
• The Rail Road
• Refrigeration
• Elimination of the Screw Worm
• Squeeze Chute
• Uniform Meat Grading
• STOCKMANSHIP

Now those that really know Bud,know that right beside him is his life long partner Eunice,who knows as much about Stockmanship as Bud.

Never under estimate the power of one Man and a good Woman right beside him to change the world in their chosen field.

Link to Article :

http://beefproducer.com/story.aspx/readers/choices/10/greatest/beef/innovations/14/49757

Bud Pen with Narration Video on You Tube

I have uploaded the same video as last night on You Tube to test any difference. The one difference is this one has narration, which was one thing that was sent in the feedback.
Still trying to get rid of the black lines though ??
What do you think ?

Press play and then pause to let it load.

Please comment to peneena@bigpond.com

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Loading a Truck using Bud Pen is Easy

One of the things I have been doing lately is learning a lot more about video on the web. It is an uncharted area in many ways even though youtube etc have been around for a while.
There are many stages where ou need to get it right from the camera to the editing,rendering,uploading and hosting players. One project is for National Stockyards Systems - http://www.nationalstockyards.com.au/ where we filmed the project and now are trying to get the right format.
The video below is me showing how the "Bud Pen" works loading a truck - I would be interested in your feedback,mainly on how long it took to buffer before playing and once playing did it stop or keep playing. Also comment on the quality - something has to be sacrificed and it is getting a balance. So pleeeaase email me with your feedback.

If it keeps buffering try pause to let it load more.

Email me at peneena@gmail.com

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4 Year old Katie shows how to do LSS

It has been an interesting couple of months, travelling nearly 10,000 kms, running 3 KLR schools and 3 LSS schools in Qld and NSW. Over 180 people attended the KLR school and 70 attended LSS schools. Travelling to new places and meeting new people is always a highlight and a pleasure.

We ran a LSS school at John and Rana Manns property, "Dijoe", Cobar where we had a special couple of days with everyone camping overnight. This is always a great thing as it allows a lot of sharing and networking in a community group.
Ben Hooper from "Clear Vision Imaging" came along and took quite a bit of video - here is a sample.

Press play then pause to let it load.

Select symbol 2nd from right for full screen.

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On the Road Again - 3 LSS schools

Last month it was back to Low Stress Stockhandling at Gladstone,Gunnedah and Cobar -

Last week we were privaliged to be guests of Rana & John Manns and their family - Simonne, Todd, Emily and Ethan. Thanks to Leah Arnold who did a great job of putting the school together.

Always good to get back to the Western Division, meet up with some old faces I hadn't seen for a few years.We were able to work goats,cattle and sheep and even though it rained we kept our powder dry.

Here is a video of a short slide show from the 3 schools - I have some video footage which I wil play once edited.

If video stop/starts, press pause to let it load,

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Gunnedah LSS School

Lucy and Rob Staughton hosted a LSS school on the weekend on their property near Gunnedah.
We had several family's there which is alway great. Young people learn quickly and absorb new information readily. Jemma Temple asked some great questions and showed a real interest in animals and their welfare. I hope to edit some video from the school to post soon.
Here are some photos :

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Calliope LSS school

Where has Grahame gone ? I seem to run out of puff at the end of each day.I am not going away, just time out.

Last week I went to Calliope near Gladstone in Qld where Rob & Sandra Waterson hosted a LSS school. They are a great family who with their manager Dan Carney and their sons are creating a sustainable landscape.I was lucky to go for a drive with Rob and look at the results of cell grazing since 1996 plus the work Peter Andrews had assisted with.

If you get a chance to visit I am sure they would love to show you around.

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Grahame chats with Bill Croll on Stockhandling

Every now and then you come across someone who has something to say that is worth listening to, Bill Croll works with his brother Murray of National Stockyards Systems as well as owning and managing several livestock enterprises.
Bill was telling me one of the most impactful 2 days of his life was attending a Bud Williams Stockhandling school in 2002 at Tamworth.

So I took the opportunity to have a chat with Bill when we were together recently filming the features of the National Stockyards Systems.We worked animals through various systems including a "Bud Pen", demonstrating Low Stress Stockhandling.

If video stop, starts press pause to let it load.

To check out the National Stockyards systems website :

http://www.nationalstockyards.com.au/

Clare McDonald Wins 2010 Royal Easter Show Girl.

Congratulations to Clare McDonald 2010 The Land Royal Easter Show Girl. I first met Clare a few years ago when she was still in year 11 at school and came along to a Low Stress Stockhandling school. Clare's passion for agriculture was clear back then - I could not think of a more deserving person to represent young people in agriculture - Well done Clare.

A Goat Catcher from Wanaaring in New York !!

Chris Ferguson and her husband Duncan have a station at Wanaaring NSW, where they have spent the last several years developing their goat enterprise.Chris was awarded a Nuffield scholarship this year and is off studying the industry around the world.

Chris and Duncan are KLR Mastermind members.

Chris is regularly blogging, here is an exerpt from a recent blog :

I’m now in Taos New Mexico with a couple of free days to explore and make my way up to Denver Colorado.
My visit with Bud and Eunice Williams in Bowie Texas was one of those landmarks in my life I guess. I went with them to the Waurika cattle sales in Oklahoma (tick another state off) where they bought about 60 head of cattle that were sent onto Kansas for either calving out or feeding. Bud is 78 this year and as he says, “we got no bisiness doing this, but it gets us outta’ the house.” Got to love them. I visited with them to learn more about keeping our goats in a mob to help with moving paddocks, and when I left, Bud said to remember one thing, “it is possible.” I know he was talking about a whole lot more than working livestock and it was just what I needed to hear at the moment.

To follow Chris's adventures go to :http://goatcatcher.farmnet.com.au/

Video of Lambs going into the Crate

I had a great couple of days with Nic this week running the LSS school at Pingelly WA.
Thanks to our hosts Kane and Bec Page and Kristy Glover for pulling this together.
Here is a short video of Nic's group letting some lambs into an old crate in the middle of the paddock.

If video stop/starts,press pause to let it load.

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Never Underestimate the Power of One Person

Never underestimate the effect you can have on one person and a community.2 years ago I held a small LSS school at Brookton,WA. I left thinking I would not hear from any of the participants again.
Little did I know the benefits gained by Kane and Don would develop into something bigger.
Kane had found Low Stress Stockhandling such a big breakthrough for his sheep and lamb business, he decided to host a school in his community.
31 people spent day 1 with us yesterday from mainly the Pingelly rural community and going by the energy of the group we are going to have a great day 2 today.
What difference could these two days make on the Pingelly community ? We'll have to wait and see ?

What can you do to bring something that will beneifit your community ?

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Nic Get's the Cow by the Horns

I have had a week off from the blog, but I'm back now that my new wireless connection has turned up.Nic & I are in WA running an LSS school at Pingelly.
Nic did not leave the airport before he was able to tme this cow.

It is dry over here but that is what you expect at this time o the year.I have posted some comments to the KLR Network site as well re trading.

Anyway look out for a post tomorrow on the LSS school.

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LSS Moving from One Yard to Another

I have been playing with my video editor, learning more so I thought you might like to see the video of moving from one yard to another at a recent LSS school.

This was recorded with a Sony camera with a Bluetooth mike which can recieve up to 100 metres.It is very sensitive as you hear my breathing and puffing !!

If video stop/ starts, press pause to let it load.

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Mel Tries Out the "Bud Pen"

Grant, Garry and Mel working sheep at Gilgandra LSS school.

I had the pleasure of runnig an LSS school at Ben & Michelle Hoopers property near Gilgandra,NSW.

Ben provided a variety of cattle,damara sheep and merinos for everyone to experience the different ways the stock worked. One feature was Ben's newly adapted yards to incorporate a "Bud Pen" - here is a video I took with my Flip video camera - Mel is trying out the "Bud Pen" for the first time.

If video stop/starts, press pause and let it load.

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LOW STRESS STOCKHANDLING AT MOLONG

It is always a pleasure to share Low Stress Stockhandling methods with young people entering the industry.We just finished a great school near Molong at James & Sally Morse's property.
There were quite a few locals from the Little River Landcare group as well as some young people who were looking to learn some new skills.

There are several schools coming up at Ebor,Hay and Gilgandra in the next 3 weeks, so if you would like to come along visit the website for more details and to download a brochure.
www.lss.net.au

If video stop/starts, press pause to let it load.

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RYAG Students Show How It Is Done !!

Wellington RYAG Stockhandling Group

I was invited to spend a few hours with the RYAG group at Wellington.This is a program run by Rotary, giving an opportunity for young people from regional NSW to learn how to break in and lead a heifer,make their own halter and many other things.

Ben Hooper asked me to if I would take some time to introduce Low Stress Stockhandling to the group, which I was pleased to be able to do.

After just a 1 hour introduction to the principles I let them loose on the stock, where in a couple of hours they let cattle from 1 yard to another, learnt how to yard up using the "T" plus walking 5 head around 2 obstacles in single file.

Amazing considering it takes 2 days to get adults to achieve the same result.

I was very impressed with these mature young adults, they all were able to share with me the career they desired.

The below photo shows 22 RYAG students sitting on the fence in the gateway while 3 of the students let the cattle into the yards. I'm impressed - what about you ?

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FARM READY TRAINING - JUNE 30 DEADLINE

Farm Ready has contacted me and asked if I could pass on the following information.The bottom line is the Farm Ready Training grants of $1500 per financial year are available to bona fidi primary producers.

Over 230 people have already taken advantage of the Farm Ready scheme this year to attend the KLR Marketing school and KLR Advanced Workshop.

You are eligable for up to $1500 in this financial year to attend a training program by approved training providers. If it is not used before June 30 then it will lapse and a new year starts.
To find a program that suits your needs visit the farmready website to see when the training provider is next running a course in your area.

KLR Marketing and Low Stress Stockhandling are both registered training providers of Farm Ready training.
KLR Schools prior to June 30 :
Orange 16 -17 June
Roma 29 -30 June

We have applied for and hope to have approved our new program "Unleash your Marketing Genius" soon.
Unleash your Marketing Genius prior to June 30 :
Orange 18 June
Roma 1 July (I will check to see which year this fits as payment is due prior)

Register Here for these KLR Programs

Low Stress Stockhandling

Several in NT & WA - visit www.lss.net.au
We would like to hear from people who are interested in hosting a school.
Register interest by clicking the link and filling out the form.

Register LSS Interest

FARM READY ARTICLE :

FarmReady Reimbursement Grants

Let FarmReady work for you!



Since FarmReady was launched in February, more than 1000 primary producers from all around Australia have attended training with the support of FarmReady – and that’s just the beginning.

FarmReady, part of the Australian Government’s Australia’s Farming Future initiative, assists primary producers to learn skills and strategies to help combat the impacts of climate change. FarmReady focuses on areas such as understanding the implications of climate change, whole-farm planning, and business and risk management.

In the last months of this financial year, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry reminds training providers that individuals who access

FarmReady support for approved training before June 30 will remain eligible for a further $1,500 in funding support in subsequent financial years for the life of the program. So, you should spread the word and let individuals know there is no reason to delay training.

DOWNLOAD FARM READY BROCHURE

www.farmready.gov.au

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