Nominated by their State Branches, these are the Holstein Australia youth members who will be working on establishing the dynamic Holstein Youth movement.

Murray Polson, Oxley Island Via Taree, NSW

Murray currently lives with his fiancé Jane on his parents’ farm at Oxley Island near Taree in NSW. He works in conjunction with his father and two brothers-in-law running the 300-cow Oxley Vale Holsteins herd. He completed a Certificate III in Dairying at Tocal College, Paterson.
Murray has a natural love and interest for milking, breeding, showing and judging cows. He was the NSW Champion in the Sydney Royal Junior Judging competition, and is currently a member of the Holstein Australia judging panel.

“I started my own herd when I was 10 years of age – Mario Park Holsteins. Since then I have bred numerous VG cows and received three finalists in the All-Australian competition,” Murray said.
“I love being involved with Holstein Australia because I have gained so much back and made many strong friendships which extend all over the country. It is very important to have an outlet away from the farm which brings dairy farmers together to socialise and contribute to the dairy industry.”

Murray has had extensive involvement in encouraging the youth within the local sub-branch by organising an All-Breeds Calf Show, a judging school and numerous clipping and show preparation days. His interests include football, showing cows, skiing, riding motorbikes, breeding and judging dairy cattle.

Rachel Millhouse, Riana, TAS

Rachel's family moved to Riana on the north-west Coast of Tasmania in 1998 where her parents milked 120 Holsteins. A selected group of animals was kept after the herd was dispersed in 2004 and now continue under the "Mill Rob" prefix, owned with Rachel's sister Olivia and brothers Bradley and Liam.

Rachel's interest in stud Holsteins began in 1990 after winning a stud calf from her grandparents herd in a raffle. Rachel's aim is to breed her first Excellent cow and focuses her breeding program on show animals that produce well. In the past, Rachel has shown cows all over Tasmania, winning the State Junior Handlers Competition in 2006. She has also represented Tasmania at the Royal Brisbane show and won the 2007 National Junior Handlers Competition. Her parents, Murray and Leonie, encouraged her to show cows from a very young age.

Rachel currently lives with her partner, Matthew, who milks 200 Holsteins, including Rachel's small group of animals. Rachels other interests include spending time with family and friends and travelling. A highlight was a trip to Africa earlier this year, where she went on a 21-day safari, covering four different countries.

Vaughn Johnston, Mount Gambier, South Australia

“I enjoy all aspects of the Holstein Australia organisation whether it be at a show, sale or simply at home feeding the calves, because you get to have fun with likeminded people that have the same common goal in mind.”

Vaughn is the son of David and Glenyce Johnston, Segenhoe Park Holstein of Boorcan near Camperdown in the Western Districts. He has enjoyed working and learning at Total Livestock Genetics, Bette Hall of Plana Holsteins and Graeme and Elaine Hutchesson of Ellengra Holsteins.
“I was lucky enough to win the Semex/Holstein Victorian Youth fellowship in 2003 to Canada and USA. There I was involved in the Western Canadian Classic youth show and many other great farms and events.” This year Vaughn joined the Semex Team, looking after the South East of SA and Western Victoria.

Kerri Ross, Western VIC

Kerri has grown up on the family dairy farm at Bald Hills situated 10 minutes north of Ballarat in Victoria, where she today manages the dairying part of the family farm, milking a total herd of 200 Holsteins all year round.

Kerri has always had a keen passion for the dairy industry & got into showing cattle after the family herd were registered under the “Kelenmar” prefix 10 years ago. Then at the age of 13, Kerri started her own stud “Jaslana Holsteins” with her 1st purchase of a registered heifer from a local stud. Cattle showing & junior judging has taken Kerri around Australia & then in 2005 overseas after winning the GGI/ABS Youth Ambassador award at IDW.

Kerri also won the National Dairy Cattle Handlers Championship when she was 16 & has won 3 Victorian Dairy Cattle Judging State Finals also, just to name a few achievements that have come from being involved in stud dairy cattle.
Kerri has been a leader at the National All Breeds Youth Camp for the past 4 years, along with being an active member on the Royal Melbourne Show’s Dairy Cattle Committee.

Kerri completed her Certificate III in Agriculture at the University of Ballarat where she is now completing her Diploma in Agriculture.

Kerri is really looking forward to playing an active role within Holstein Australia on the National Holstein Youth Committee. Kerri truly believes the sky is the limit when it comes to where the Dairy Industry can take young people & is keen to help other young people achieve their goals especially when it comes to breeding & showing Holsteins.

Daniel Brown, Queensland

Dan is currently completing his fourth and final year of a bachelor of Ag science and rural management, at the University of Qld, Gatton campus. As well as studying full time Dan also works at Gerber Farms, an 800 cow farm at Lowood, where his employment will become full time at the completion of the uni year. His long term goals are to share farm and eventually take over farm ownership.

Dan’s been involved with the dairy industry since he started milking for a family member in primary school, and has been showing cows for 5 years. In this time he has both had success working with some of the elite studs in QLD and also been able to start his own Holstein stud, under the Obi View prefix. With a small team of purchased cows Dan has had early success winning championships at local shows and a supreme ribbon at Brisbane Royal.

A couple years ago Dan was the Qld youth representative that undertook a 3 week exchange to Western Districts of Vic, since then has worked at youth camps and sales in QLD and he is keen to become more involved in the industry that has shaped his life.

Tom Pearce (new youth representative for New South Wales)

Tom is set to become a 4th generation dairy farmer on the families “Warwick Farm” property located 10 minutes north of Bega on the NSW Far South Coast. When he is not traveling the world he is Herd Manager of 500 head of registered Holsteins that roam the property.

Tom has really grown a passion for registered Holsteins, and enjoys exhibiting at shows and working on the genetic side of things to try and breed the next great one. He registers his own cattle under the Progressive Holsteins prefix, currently dominated by progeny of the Currency family.

Tom has spent time on New Zealand, Canadian and USA dairy farms learning about dairy cattle and how they feed, breed, show and sell them. For the last 3 years he has also attended the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin – the ultimate for anyone interested in elite Holsteins.

In 2008 Tom won the NSW and then National Junior Dairy Cattle judging competition at the Sydney royal show. In 2009 Tom was selected as one of the seven NSW RAS Rural Achievers, in recognition for his involvement in rural Australia.

Last year Tom was a leader at the National All Breeds Youth Camp, and if time allows would like to continue this role. Tom is hoping his time spent aboard will help him get ideas to use in his Holstein Youth committee position on how to motivate other young people to make a career in the Dairy Industry.

He believes that if you are passionate and hard working, the Dairy Industry can take you many places and give you many opportunities.

Declan Patten, VIC

Declan lives in Sale with his partner Ellie, near the family farm, Ryanna Holsteins, in East Gippsland. He has grown up in the dairy industry and has had a lot of experience with registered Holsteins.

The Patten family have been breeding cattle for more than 30 years and were recently awarded Master Breeder status from Holstein Australia. Ryanna Holsteins milks around 200 cows, about 15 of which are from Declan's Lightning Ridge Holsteins stud.

After studying for an Associate Degree in Agriculture at Dookie College, Declan moved into a role with ABS Australia as Cornerstone Co-ordinator in Gippsland, Northern VIC and NSW. This role gives him the opportunity to travel extensively around the country working one-on-one with dairy farmers. Declan will also be working with the Progeny Test team at ABS.

In the past few years, he has achieved quite a few showing awards, the highlight being twice winner of the Victorian State Finals of Dairy Parading - in 2006 and 2008. More recently, Declan's family have exhibited the All Breeds Senior Champion Dairy Cow at both the Vicorian State Fair and the Melbourne Royal Show.

Declan looks forward to working with the Holstein Youth Committee, and enjoys working with the future of our dairy industry. "It is important that youth in Australia are given the right opportunities and have the opportunity to excel in their chosen fields," he says. "The dairy industry really can take you anywhere, around the country or around the world."

Brad Allott, VIC

Brad is a second-year dairy apprentice on his father's property at Stanhope in the Goulburn Valley. Dairy farming and milking Holsteins certainly run in the family because Brad is a third-generation Holstein Australia member and a fourth-generation dairy farmer.

Brad and his father Paul milk around 180 cows at their northern Victorian property, with most registered under the Waltopso prefix. Included in that total, though, are 20 head that Brad owns under his very own Waltopso Park prefix.

Brad is studying Certificate III in Agriculture at TAFE in Shepparton to help further his farming career. He hopes to become a sharefarmer and possibly eventually take over the family farm. In 2007 Brad won a two-week exchange to New Zealand which he thoroughly enjoyed. Highlights of that trip were staying at Tahora Farms and Fairview Holsteins as well as visiting many other top studs in New Zealand. Brad really made the most of this opportunity and made a lot of new friends along the way.

In Brad's spare time he plays Australian Rules Football for Lancaster Football Club and also plays an active role in the Stanhope Fire Brigade.

Brad is really looking forward to working with the rest of the Holstein Youth Committee members to continue developing the great network Holstein Youth has become.

Click Here for Committee Contact Details