Collins has sights set on long career in industry

At only 25 years of age, Mr Collins is clearly a future industry leader, having already obtained the title of livestock manager at Landmark Echuca.

Mr Collins finished high school in 2010, and had anticipated to study agribusiness at Marcus Oldham, Geelong, but was approached by Landmark to fill a casual position.

He jumped at the opportunity to get involved in the industry, which meant he got more experience, and didn’t have to accumulate a HECS debt.

This position was at the company’s Bendigo branch, but it wasn’t long before he was offered a full-time position at Echuca, which was more local to where he grew up in Tennyson.

Six years later and he is now immersed in the local community again, working with a solid clientele of local farmers.

Mr Collins’ responsibilities at Landmark are also increasing.

“We run both a fortnightly fat sale and a monthly store sale, and I manage both of those,” Mr Collins said.

“I’m also kept busy doing general livestock agency business in Echuca and surrounding areas.”

He said he looks forward to servicing the region into the future, as he develops his career in the industry.

At this point, he said he doesn’t have a preferred part of the business, he loves working with both sheep and cattle, and at stud sales as well as market sales.

In the long-term future, he said he hopes one day to return to his family’s farm.

Mr Collins is a third-generation farmer; his grandfather ran the Merrigrange Angus stud, and parents currently run Merribrook Angus and White Suffolk studs, in Tennyson.

“At a later stage in life, I’d love to go back home and work on the farm,” he said.

“I do enjoy breeding and carrying on the Merribrook name, to keep the brand alive in both the Angus and White Suffolk worlds.”

He said he particularly sees a lot of potential in the Angus breed.

“My sister and I have been participating in Angus Youth Round Ups since we were seven years-old, I really enjoy the networking, and meeting new people,” he said.

“I think there’s a big future ahead for the breed.”

He has also been able to network at Landmark.

“The biggest thing at Landmark is its national network, you can be buying sheep out of Western Australia, and selling cattle to Queensland, there’s just such a huge network of people, and I’ve made a lot of friends through it,” he said.

He credits Landmark’s Brad Caldwell and Ray Atwell as important mentors in his early career.

“I’ve had a lot of support from Landmark, and a lot of people who have supported me along the way,” he said.

“I’m very fortunate to be where I am.”

He is also a member of the local football club, which is another way he networks with the local community.