Charlie Perry Takes Out Top Agri Award In Australia

Wagyu Beef Producer Recognised For Leadership, Vision And Humility

Leadership, vision and humility were the standout qualities that resulted in Charlie Perry taking out the 2022 Australian Zanda McDonald Award on Thursday night.

Perry, who lives and works on his family-owned and -operated wagyu beef farm at Gurya in northern NSW, returned to his passion for agriculture after a successful career in business consulting, and hasn’t looked back.

2022 Australian Zanda McDonald Award finalist Kate McBride

Since taking over management in 2016, he’s overseen substantial growth in the family business, despite some of the worst years of drought on record, with a focus on productivity gains, genetic indicators and sustainability. He also serves as president and chair of the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA).

The Zanda McDonald Award, now in its eighth year, supports talented and passionate young professionals in the ag sector from Australia and New Zealand. Zanda McDonald was a prominent identity in the Australian beef and livestock industry. He died in April 2013 at the age of 41, following a tragic accident on his Queensland cattle property. The Award is open to passionate and determined individuals aged 21-35 years who are currently living and working in the agri-business sectors in either Australia or New Zealand, and who demonstrate a passion for agriculture and natural leadership ability.

Perry will receive an impressive prize package including a professional development package that includes an all-expenses paid trans-Tasman mentoring trip to high-performing farms and businesses in Australia and New Zealand, $10,000 towards further education, and incredible networking opportunities.

Zanda McDonald Award Chair Richard Rains says “Charlie demonstrates all the key qualities that epitomises the Award, which stood him above an outstanding field of finalists.

2022 Australian Zanda McDonald Award finalist Jeremy Cummin

“His passion for agriculture is obvious, and has resulted in him significantly growing his family seed stock business, whilst being active in both his local community and industry associations.

“He has a clear understanding of the challenges that face both his business and the industry, and is providing cohesion and leadership through his involvement in the AWA.

“Charlie is an accomplished communicator, yet at the same time humble, and as judges, we’re really excited about his future.”

Perry was overwhelmed to receive the Award. “I’m so thrilled and feel very honoured to have this opportunity,” he says.

“The trans-Tasman mentoring trip in particular will be of huge assistance to me, and I know I’ll learn so much from that experience both personally and professionally. I’m keen to use the $10,000 education package to align with my skills gaps and growth, and also to improve my social media skills, so I can play an influential role through the stories I share and the work we do.”

The Award interviews and presentation were held in Orange, NSW at an intimate dinner on Thursday night, following the New Zealand award being announced the week prior.

2022 Australian Zanda McDonald Award finalist Gavin Rodman

Perry was initially named a finalist alongside Kate McBride, 23, fifth-generation farmer and station hand at Tolarno Station, and researcher at The Australia Institute, from western NSW; Gavin Rodman, 28, District Manager - Far North, Sugar Research Australia, from Cairns; and Jeremy Cummins, 34, owner and manager for feedlot and backgrounding business Bottlejac Trading Company in Gunnedah, north-west NSW.

The Award would normally crown one winner from across Australasia, but in response to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, an Australian and a New Zealand winner have been crowned this year. Rhys Roberts was announced as the New Zealand 2022 winner last week, and both Roberts and Perry will undertake their mentoring trips over the next 12 months.

The Award’s Australian judging panel includes Chair Richard Rains, a prominent beef industry identity who sold his majority stake in meat export marketing company Sanger Australia in 2013; Charlie de Fegely, a respected sheep industry identity who, along with his wife Lizzie and family, manage their sheep and cropping property at Ararat; Emma Black, the 2015 Zanda McDonald Award winner who, in 2019 co-founded farm data management IT company Black Box Co Software with 2019 Award winner Shannon Speight; Col Medway, Owner and Senior Director of sophisticated real estate agency and advisory firm LAWD; and Prue Bondfield, who, along with her husband David, operated Palgrove Charolais and Ultrablack Stud and associated commercial cattle enterprise on several properties across Queensland and NSW for over 34 years.