How Cody overcame heartbreak and took over a beef farm

One of last year’s GenAngus Future Leaders Program participants has stepped up to host a key part of last week’s national forum based in Launceston.

Cody Best of Deloraine, who was chosen to attend the program in New Zealand last year, was asked to host one of Friday’s on-farm visits with just a week’s notice when the scheduled host was unexpectedly unavailable.

Designed to empower the next generation of beef industry leaders, the program brought together a passionate group of young individuals from across the country, with the aim of equipping them with the business and personal development tools needed to grow and future-proof their operations.

It was the first time it has been held in Tasmania since its inception in 2019.

Over the course of the program, participants explored topics such as mindset, business benchmarking, marketing, finance, succession planning, and risk management. 

The sessions were delivered by a diverse line-up of speakers, including industry professionals, leadership experts, and past program alumni, who shared their insights and experiences.

Participants had the chance to see first-hand how successful enterprises are applying best-practice business and production principles with farm visits providing an invaluable opportunity to see the theory from the classroom brought to life in real-world operations.

Cody manages Pleasant Vale Angus near Deloraine, and he said he was honoured but hesitant about mentoring the 14 visitors, including two from New Zealand, and showing them his farming operations.

However, he put in some long days, and nights, and went above and beyond to create an experience that really left an impression.

Cody turned the pool room into a history room, detailing where the enterprise started to where it is now.

He gave delegates a tour of the farm, showed them some of his own inventions, such as a calf catcher, and even put his background as a welder to good use, making metal keepsakes for everyone to take home and a special one signed by participants that he could keep on his farm.

“I figured this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to inspire others and I wanted to make it as good as I could for the group,” he said.

According to organisers his impact was both profound and inspirational, at times bringing the group to tears.

Cody told the story of his sudden change of career when his dad Chris died unexpectedly on the farm in 2017.

“I had no knowledge of agriculture at the time, and although I thought maybe one day when dad retired I might like to get involved and he could teach me the ropes, I certainly didn’t expect to take over running the business in my early 20s,” he said.

“I gave a presentation down by the river, talked about the farm’s history, about the hardship of losing the three most influential people in my life – my father, grandmother and grandfather in a seven-year period – and the challenges of farm life from animal health issues to weather and feed challenges.”

Now 32 and having embraced the learning curve, Cody has taken the 220ha stud his dad established in 2003 from 90 to 150 herd book-recorded Angus with his mum Tania beside him.

Focussing on fundamental traits of docility and structure to marry the physical attributes of his herd with the data he has increased both the size and value of his stock.

He recently attended the World Angus Forum in Brisbane in early May.

“We’ve struggled through two ordinary seasons but we’re really looking forward to some positives that are likely to eventuate over the next two years,” Cody said.

“One of the key messages I tried to give was how to embrace technology to make doing business easier.”

At Pleasant Vale Cody started by adding new weight scales which allow him to weigh the cattle constantly and make on-the-spot performance decisions.

“There’s been more than 500 sessions recorded since then with 1400 animals going through the system, each having around 70 sessions recorded against their profiles from weight in the yards to preg scanning to foot scores.

“This data can result in small tweaks that keep them going in the right direction, just little one per cent improvements that over time add up to overall growth.”

Cody has also introduced a Te Pari auto dose drench gun and as part of his presentation he looked at a session with 90 cows to show the cost savings made on avoiding under or over-drenching based on each cow’s weight data.” 

As his mentees gathered at the homestead, he also emphasised his successes, displaying his new heifers and celebrating the fact that his 27 first-year calvers had achieved a 100 per cent success conception from a six-week joining that involved two weeks of AI and one round with a bull.

His 15 weaner heifer calves were used to demonstrate some of the new genetics.

Dairy Australia acting extension manager Nancy Crawshaw said that overall the program was incredible – creating friendships and bonds that will endure.

“Our youngest participant was 20, the oldest 37, and they heard from keynote speaker and former SA