Ashlea Cross grew up in suburban Warrandyte and went to school in suburban Ringwood but still found a way into agriculture.
It was Ashlea’s school that inspired her interest in agriculture and particularly breeding, which continues to grow as she takes on a new role as Genetics Australia’s southern beef representative. “If I didn’t go to the school I went to, I wouldn’t be working in agriculture,” she says. Ashlea attended Tintern Grammar and got involved with its agriculture and sheep breeding program from year 7, and by year 11 and 12 she was leading the program.
Ashlea’s immediate family has no connections to agriculture although she has family members who own cropping farms in the Riverina, but that and her city base were no limitation.“I often think about what got me interested and it was definitely from school,” she said. “I was only exposed to the agriculture field from when I was a teenager.”The genetics and breeding part of the course struck a particularly strong chord, giving Ashlea, 21, a good grounding for her new job with Genetics Australia.
“I’ve always loved animals and also enjoy biology and the genetics side of things. Animal breeding really appealed to me when I was at school and in the work I’ve done since, I love the stud breeding and genetics side it.” Ashlea is approaching the final trimester of her Bachelor of Agribusiness majoring in rural science at the University of New England and has had on-farm experience with Paraway Pastoral Company near Ballarat, and worked in the grain industry and with Nutrien Ag Solutions.
She is now looking forward to learning more about the beef industry and its farmers. “This job appealed to me for the opportunity to get out and meet producers and get to see the product of their breeding and to help them to advance their breeding.”
Along with her twin sister Olivia, Ashlea will also continue to develop her own sheep stud based in the Yarra Ranges.
“We enjoyed it so much that we decided to breed the same breed as the school and develop our own Romney stud,” she said. Ashlea has also judged numerous sheep and fleece competitions.
Ashlea will be based near Lake Bolac and servicing producers in Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia under the mentorship of John Gommers.
