The old saying `the world is your oyster’ could be adjusted to `the world is your cow’ for Leah Dickson.
Earlier this year, Leah spent more than two months on farms in Germany, Switzerland and Untied Kingdom and now she’s heading to the United States for another short-term traineeship.
At 20, Leah might be the most travelled young farmer in the region, and she hopes to continue broadening her experience.
Apart from working on her family farm near Terang with parents Bryan and Jo, Leah is keen to learn from the world of dairy farming.
“You only live once and while I’m young, I might as well try to experience as much as I can,” she says.
“I just do it for the experience. It’s not just seeing the different systems, it’s the networking. The people you meet are amazing.”
Leah’s progression in the industry includes being selected to the Holstein Australia Young Breeders School last year, which led to the first overseas placement.
“One of the team leaders asked if I wanted to come over and help him at a show in Germany in February and it all went from there,” she said.
“He set me up with farmers in Switzerland, United Kingdom and I did another show in Germany with him.”
In Germany she stayed with the Lohmoller family, who originally suggested the idea of visiting.
Their Loh-An Holsteins has been described as one of the most extraordinary herds in Germany and is a winner of German National Champion titles.
In the UK Leah stayed with John Metcalf and Heidi Sowerby of Crossfell Holsteins and in Switzerland with Edwin and Britte Steiner of Sbro Holsteins, more herds acknowledged as among the best in the breed.
The overseas experience also gave her opportunities to fine-tune her cattle clipping skills.
Leah won the clipping competition at this year’s International Dairy Week and was second in a similar competition in Germany.
She doesn’t profess to be an expert clipper, but she’s improving with every experience.
“You’ve got to try to get your top line as crisp, level and natural as you can and try to hide as many faults as you can and enhance the good things about the animal,” she says.
Plying her trade in Germany created a different challenge, even though her second placing confirms she adapted quite well.
“The clipping was really different because they were all in barns so their hair grows differently.”
One of the drawcards of visiting foreign farms is experiencing those differences.
“I mostly learnt about clipping, parading and different styles of cow preparation for the show ring. They gave me so many opportunities to learn and grow,” Leah said.
“It was cool to see the different set-ups and experience how seriously they take their shows.
“It’s a completely different atmosphere.
“In the show scene the Europeans represent themselves so well it's incredible the atmosphere and scenery is insane.
“I’m pleased that Australia is starting to become more decorative in the show scene.”
Likewise, the farming systems are a new experience.
“It’s very different to us with all using barns and a lot of robotic dairy systems.
“The European systems suit their country. I think their system could be beneficial in certain regions of Australia but not all.
“Parts like home benefit more on a pasture grazing system rather than barn, however dryer regions could implement a barn system. Other than that, it's pretty similar.”
Leah attributes a lot of her success to the Young Breeders School.
“The team had to work together to represent Australia and also compete individually in clipping, parading, judging and marketing,” Leah said.
“The Young Breeders School helped me as it was where I met the Lohmoller family and how this year’s travels eventuated.
“Without Young Breeders School, I don't think I would be where I am today.”
Leah will leave for the US in mid-July for a traineeship with Michael and Julie Duckett in Wisconsin.
The US placement came about through one of the judges at IDW and has been privately organised, like her other traineeships.
Ducket Holsteins attracted the spotlight via their superstar show-cow Frosty, then helped develop an IVF embryo satellite facility which they now own, and more recently became partners in the bull-stud program Showbox Sires.
The US trip will finish at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. This won’t be Leah’s first experience of the Expo, having enjoyed a family trip three years ago.
“I just sat in the stands and watched cows; I was happy doing that,” she said.
Will the US trip satisfy her wanderlust?
No, Leah hopes to return to Europe in 2027!
She also has big long-term ambitions. ‘
“One day I want to have my own farm but I want to travel and see the world and meet lots of people whilst I am young and able to do it.”