General News
13 March, 2024
‘Townie’ helps new genetics generation
AFTER growing up as a self-confessed “townie”, Penny Welch has embraced the genetics industry and been rewarded for encouraging a new generation.
The genetics material export officer at Total Livestock Genetics has been honoured with a National Herd Improvement Association of Australia (NHIA) Young Achiever Award.
Penny, a former Warrnambool student, is the third female staff member from TLG to receive the award in the past four years, following in the footsteps of Emma Hallyburton and Helena Carter.
Penny’s dedication to supporting young talents and advocating for the herd improvement industry earned her the prestigious acknowledgment.
She was nominated by TLG’s operations manager Ruth Barber, who said Penny’s infectious passion for agriculture and her encouragement for the next generation was outstanding.
It’s a far cry from her teenage years when she was one of only a few girls in a class of 30 studying agriculture at school.
“I’m a townie by birth,” Penny said.
“I met a dairy farmer looking for a relief milker at an Emmanuel College open day. I had no previous connections. I started milking cows as a teenager and TLG came to the farm and flushed cows when I was about 17 and I thought it seemed pretty cool.”
She started working in the live export industry and moved into semen collection before exporting semen.
“I really enjoy the science behind it and what we can do to get bloodlines overseas to countries where they have never been,” she said.
Now aged 33 and living in Terang, Penny’s role involves working with colleagues to export product from TLG and private clients all around the world.
Penny was on the committee for the Western District Youth Camp which was revived in January 2024 after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re trying to get the next generation excited about the industry,” she said.
“There were a number of students who had never worked with dairy cattle before and it was good to give them a calf to raise for a couple of days.”
Penny also works with the Neil Porter Legacy.
“I’m always trying to showcase what the industry has to offer,” she said.
“When I started studying agriculture at Emmanuel College, I was one of three or four girls in a class of 30. When we ran the camp, it was mostly women. There has been a massive swing in the past 20 years.”
Penny is also a former winner of the Power of Women in Dairying scholarship.
This allowed her to travel to World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin, and she continues to work with the power of women to promote their contribution to the industry.
As part of her award, Penny has received funding for career development from NHIA has invested in the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program.
“I want to gain more experience to go the extra step in the industry and in the company if I can,” she said.
Penny said she was humbled by the award.
“It means a lot. It’s recognition from peers who I’ve looked up to my whole life which is incredible.”
NHIA also presented its inaugural award for outstanding contribution to industry to Christian Hickey, who has now retired from National Herd Development Co-op.
