Andrew and Anna Raff.
Exceptional Angus breeders, the Raff family, were highlighted at the 2020 NAB Agribusiness Calendar launch in the Barossa Valley last night.
Celebrated for their story of resilience, the Raffs have achieved intergenerational success over many years.
NAB Agribusiness Customer Executive, Neil Findlay said the 2020 calendar is dedicated to the many faces and families of agribusiness, who are thriving in the face of adversity.
“Today’s tough times are throwing multiple challenges at many agribusinesses. Each month, the calendar highlights businesses that have outsmarted adversity, built strong business foundations through the generations or remained successful by developing new strategies to meet changing demands and challenges.
One thing many have in common is a belief that doing things as a family, often over the generations, is the key to agribusiness progress and longevity,” Mr Findlay said.
For Andrew and Anna Raff, the motivation to move over 500 prime Angus seed stock, their four kids and Andrew’s parents, David and Jill Raff, from Queensland to King Island, Tasmania, was one thing: rain.
In Queensland, the Raff’s business model was three years of labour, feed and genetic investment for a one-day-a-year bull sale.
The cost of production restricted their future as much as the irregular Queensland climate.
Planning and budgeting were all but impossible. Since arriving in Tasmania in 2015, the Raff’s have prospered – their herd has grown to 850 breeding stock. Their farm will be Certified Organic by 2021.
Optimism and entrepreneurialism clearly run in the family: the kids now run a free range chook egg business supplying local cafes and restaurants. Andrew and Anna also run sheep and are building farm-stay accommodation.