Sallie takes on rural leadership challenge
Warragul dairy industry advocate Sallie Jones is joining the renowned Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) as a recipient of the Gardiner Dairy Foundation scholarship.
The program’s 30th cohort will come together this month.
As co-founder of Gippsland Jersey – an independent, farmer-owned premium milk brand that ensures farmers are paid a fair price for their milk – Sallie has already walked an extraordinary leadership journey.
It was in the midst of the milk price crisis of 2016 that Sallie’s second-generation dairy farmer dad, Michael Bowen, died by suicide following a departure from the family farm and a spiral into depression and ill mental health. Sallie turned the grief that followed into a quest to build something that would honour her dad.
“Gippsland Jersey started in the very early days after dad died,” Sallie said. “We had milk in a bottle six months after his death.”
Together with business partner and Gippsland dairy farmer, Steve Ronalds, Sallie has spent the past seven years at the helm of a rapidly growing grass-roots dairy company built on three pillars: a fair price for farmers; tackling metal health stigma; and practising kindness.
“I was fortunate to have a very strong conviction that dad’s death doesn’t shame my family and it doesn’t shame me,” Sallie said.
“The fact that I’ve been able to write this second chapter off the back of dad’s work and legacy – there’s no way we could have done this without him forging the way… Dad was opinionated in a way that meant he always stood up for what he believed in. He knew dairy farmers should be paid more… He had such a strong constitution, and it has equipped me to have a crack.”
With dairying in the genes, and her dad’s principals and passion spurring them forward, Sallie and Steve have grown a powerful business model in an industry where dairy farmers often struggle as ‘price takers’.
As Gippsland Jersey prepares to mark seven years in September, Sallie is ready to embrace the ARLP and all it offers.
“I applied because Andrew Bulmer, who owns Bulmer Farms, has done the ARLP (Course 24) and has spoken so highly of it. We’ve also hosted the last two ARLP cohorts at our factory in Lakes Entrance. Through that I’ve gained some insight into the program and the calibre of people who do it,” she said.
“I understand that having the power of a network is such a big thing when you want to create change – doors open doors. ARLP leaders are all doing incredible things in their industries. I’m fascinated for myself, because I do want to see if I can extend and deepen my understanding of leadership and of how I can do better moving forward.
“I think 90 per cent of success in leadership is about how we deal with people. I am fortunate to be naturally intuitive and empathetic, and that’s how I’ve managed to get through. I certainly don’t hold all the skills and I’m not the most qualified in so many areas, but I can identify the people who will create a strong team.”
In less than a decade Gippsland Jersey has grown from a fledgling business processing milk from one herd to an operation with a staff of 20, supplied by four dairy farms, distributing to around 400 stockists almost exclusively brought on board by Sallie, including Coles, IGA and Woolworths.
“We’re getting some maturity about us. We are an agile company and a little brand that keeps larger companies on their toes. We don’t have big boards to report to, and no stifling of our ideas and energy, which I absolutely love.
“Because the brand has been built so much on my own personal story and identity. I won’t lie, I’ve put everything I have into it. I’ve done that grieving and I don’t have that adrenaline surge any more. Things mature and calm down and you hit a routine, so now I really have to watch my batteries. I’m very mindful of making sure I look after myself.”
“I don’t think I know any other way. I’m excited for the ARLP so that I can learn a few more tools to equip myself with as a leader and continue to grow,” Sallie said.