Executive Committtee Profiles
Shane Oster
Associate Member President
Shane has a farming background, however operates his own consultancy based business in the Keith area. His primary focus is on lucerne seed production, but has an extensive client base for winter cropping production also.
Joe Cook
Grower Member Vice President
Joe has been farming in a family business since 1999 in a truly mixed farming situation, producing lucerne seed, lucerne hay, winter crops, lamb, beef and wool.
Joe is an active member of the local Keith community and is currently the secretary/treasurer of the Brimbago farm group and captain of the Keith reserves football team. Joe has a diploma in rural business management and is a graduate of the PIRSA South Australian Rural Leadership program.
Charlie Crozier
Executive Officer
Charlie is a local farmer whose primary agriculural enterprise is prime lamb production. Charlie brings skills to the position in the field of grant application and agribusiness. He has had experience in consultancy work and has worked in Regional Development. After relocating to the family property in 1997 Charlie was unable to continue full time Regional Development work, however has seized the opportunity to take on the Executive Officers position for Lucerne Australia.
Charlie Hilton
Grower Member
Charlie's property is in the Wirrega area south east of Keith. Charlie runs a mixed enterprise with sheep, cropping but specialising on irrigated lucerne seed production. One of Charlie's highlights has been involvement in the Nuffield Scholarship program.
Rob Sanders
Associate Member
Rob came to Tintinara in 1965 to work on the family farm. In that year the total production of lucerne seed in the south east was 600 tonnes, all of it Hunter River lucerne.
The family ran Merino ewes for production of BL x Merino lambs, and a small beef cattle head and produced lucerne seed. This year is the 46th consecutive lucerne harvest for the farm, which is now managed by Rob's son, Scott.
in 1989 they diversified their operation by beginning Tintinara Seeds, a retail and wholesale pasture seed and seed grain business. To enable them to focus more fully on the marketing of pasture seeds, principally lucerne, they sold the feed grain business in 2001.
Rob aims to be a useful and productive member of Lucerne Australia and to continue to promote and strengthen the SA lucerne seed industry.
Mark Kester
Grower Member
Mark left school in 1986 to work on the family farm at Benayeo Victoria producing prime lambs, beef cattle, sub clover and raising Friesian heifers for sale to dairies. In 1991 they bought a property "over the border" at Kybybolite to grow more sub clover and diversify more. In 1993 they started growing apples on the property. Their orchard is currently 25 Ha consisting of Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Granny Smith and Sundowner apples.
1995 saw the first planting of lucerne "Siriver" another challenge, another opportunity.
Today the grazing, hay and seed from their lucerne is an integral part of their farming operation. Mark looks forward to representing and meeting other lucerne growers who are hopefully as passionate about Lucerne as Mark is!
Simon Allen
Grower Member
Simon is involves in a family owner and operated mixed farming business south of Keith with a strong emphasis on lucerne seed and hay production from both irrigated and dryland production systems.
After completing his education in 2006, Simon has entered the industry with enthusiasm and open minded approach. With the long term sustainability of local communities and their resources held firmly as the number one priority, Simon will endeavour to assist the Lucerne Australia Executive Committee in providing a professional and complete service to Lucerne Australia's members and the lucerne industry as a whole.
Jamie Tidy
Associate Member
Jamie is part owner of Naracoorte Seed and has been working in the seed business for the past 7 years. James has increased the contract cropping for the company with lucerne, white clover, sub clover and cereals being the primary crops grown.
Jamie is a people person and is looking forward to building new relationships and working with Lucerne Australia and growing their membership base. Jamie is also looking forward to the winter challenge of beating Keith at football this (and every) year!
Warrick Thorpe
Grower Member
Warrick grew up at Meadows in the Adelaide Hills where the family owned business still runs a dairy farm. The farm at Meadows has since expanded to Willalooka where beef cattle and dairy young stock are grown out. Recently a
Warrick enters the lucerne industry with an open mind enjoying the challenge of growing lucerne for feed, hay and seed. What amazes Warrick about the lucerne plant is its ability to reset itself when you get things wrong. When you cut its head off and it starts
out fresh with the potential to be very productive when monitored correctly.
Being new to the industry Warrick feels there is a lot more to learn about this amazing plant and looks forward to contributing to the industry while part of the Lucerne Australia team hopefully for everyone’s success.