Farmer Profile

Sam Pentelow

Sam Pentelow

 Willunga SA 5172, Australia
 South Australia
Southern SA, South West Vic
 1-2 days a week I work in my growing beef enterprise "SOUTHERN GRAZIERS" which is an Angus breeding and trading operation (200hd) based on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia. We sharefarm, lease and agist farms with the option of a herd equity model where retiring or aspiring farmers can join us in our business. It's a succession business model that is designed to adjust with a retiring farmers needs as they withdraw (at their pace) from full time farming, that allows some equity in the asset to remain in the family for future opportunities that may arise (succession does not always suit everyone at the same time...). By working with us these farmers can keep their options open, and realise lifestyle benefits at the same time. Find out a bit more here http://southerngraziers.com.au/
 I grew up on a 5000 acre 800hd operation in the Upper South East (Coorong) which was sold 12 years ago. I left the farm to study Agricultural business, then worked as an agronomist for several years before developing a career in heritage conservation, now a qualified builder and experienced project manager in my other business (of 18 yrs) STONEIDEAS PTY LTD. That's where I spend the other 3 days a week. The dream is to further develop Southern Graziers to the point where I can employ young aspiring farmers and help them get a start too.....

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-pentelow-5a079854/
 https://www.facebook.com/southerngraziers/
 http://southerngraziers.com.au/
 https://www.instagram.com/southerngraziers/
 25+ Years

Farming Preferences:

1 = no skill level, 4 = most skill level

  • Beef 4
  • Sheep 3
  • Other livestock 2
  • Chickens 2
  • Broad Acre Cropping 2
  • Market garden 1
  • Specialty Crops 1
  • Dairy 1
  • Goats 1
  • Viticulture 1
  • Other Farming Preferences: None

Farming Skills:

1 = no skill level, 4 = most skill level

  • Business Management 4
  • Livestock Mustering 4
  • Human Resources 4
  • Marketing 4
  • Animal Husbandry 4
  • Sales 4
  • Machinery Operation 4
  • Planning 4
  • Fencing 4
  • Accounting 4
  • Agronomy 4
  • Book Keeping 4
  • Cropping 3
  • Orcharding 1
  • Other Farming Skills: None

Farming Methods:

1 = no skill level, 4 = most skill level

  • Conventional 4
  • Organic 4
  • Regenerative 4
  • Grass fed 4
  • Urban 1
  • Biodynamic 1
  • Permaculture 1
  • Other Farming Methods: None

Farm Opportunities Sought:

  • Equity
  • Lease
  • Share Farm
  • Vendor Finance

What have you been doing to get farm ready?

We have forward contracts and are finance ready to expand our cattle breeding enterprise. We can offer our partners security in marketing with our network and experience from 40 yrs in the industry. We are mindful of providing the best returns possible from a low cost of production model and have fully costed gross margins prepared by accountants for your consideration. We would love to talk to you about your farm and what you would like to achieve in the near future. You may not have family that want to work the farm right now...but from our experience that can change with time. So keeping some equity in the farm now can be a great option that will be appreciated later. Of course you may wish to free up some livestock capital and step back from management for lifestyle reasons (you deserve that!). There's a number of ways we can help in providing your ideal succession solution.

Why are you passionate about farming?

I love the people. livestock and the land, there's a realness about it. Having worked in other industries I've enjoyed returning to the honesty and integrity that people from the land have. Secondly being specific about beef, and to be competitive with other proteins, we need to provide an excellent consumption experience for the customer. We are very passionate about eating quality, and use AI to source the very best marbling genetics we can buy. Thirdly succession is a very real challenge, with an average farmer age of 65+ and land prices so prohibitive for new entrants (and banks being very risk averse at the moment) we need to work on succession solutions that can work....in a respectful and satisfying way for all concerned. To keep rural communities vibrant we need to get young people farming without saddling them with high debt levels. That's why this Cultivate Farms model is so necessary....there's lots to talk about. Let's start with a coffee?

Best days of being a farmer:

My best days are early mornings, no wind, and you've just moved a mob onto fresh pastures.... and hearing that tearing of the grass as they mow into it. Best sound in the world! My dream is to expand on our current operations on the Fleurieu Peninsula or Upper South East of SA, where we would build equity with our partners in a breeding herd whose progeny we would grow out on grass and/or feedlot to 450kg + liveweight. We'd then market directly to the independent supermarkets chains to provide a well marbled magnificent eating experience for our customers. Our commercial landholder relationships would be sustainable both environmentally and financially, providing the flexibility for the families involved to retain interests in agricultural land , leaving succession opportunities for children and grandchildren alike. Not to mention providing employment and retaining young bright people in the industry and local communities. Sound ok? We'd love to hear from you.