Executive Committee Profiles
Shane Oster
Associate Member - Chairman
Shane has a farming background, however operates his own consultancy based business in the Keith region. His primary focus is on lucerne seed production, but also has an extensive client base for winter cropping production.
Lisa Charlton
Associate Member - Vice Chairman
Lisa has lived and worked as an agronomist in Tintinara for 11 years, specialising in dryland lucerne seed, broad-acre cropping and pasture renovation. Working in the agricultural industry and being able to work with farmers and their families within their different enterprises has been a highlight which Lisa enjoys immensely. She is a very motivated and enthusiastic executive committee member and works hard to increase communication between those involved in the industry.
Mark Kester
Grower Member
Mark left school in 1986 to work on the family farm at Benayeo (Victoria) producing prime lambs, beef cattle, sub-clover and raising friesian heifers for sale to dairies. In 1991, they bought a property at Kybybolite to diversify their operation and in 1993 started growing apples. They have a 25 hectare orchard consisting of Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Granny Smith and Sundowner varieties. In 1995, they planted lucerne "Siriver" and today the grazing, hay and seed from their lucerne is an integral part of their farming operation.
Warrick Thorpe
Grower Member
Warrick grew up at Meadows in the Adelaide Hills where the family-owned business runs a dairy farm. The business has since expanded to Willalooka, where beef cattle and dairy young stock are grown out. Recently, a lucerne property at Coombe was acquired to help fill the feed gap of the other two properties due to recent drier seasons. Warrick has entered the lucerne industry with an open mind, enjoying the challenge of growing lucerne for feed, hay and seed and is a valuable contributor to the industry as part of the Lucerne Australia team.
Brett Wegener
Associate Member
Brett has been involved in running the family business of Kongal Seeds since leaving school in 1996. The business has been in his family for nearly 30 years and is located between Keith, Bordertown and Padthaway. Kongal Seeds process, dry and pack all types of seed and grain for export markets, with lucerne being their main commodity. Brett brings to Lucerne Australia his knowledge as an experienced seed processor with expertise in certification standards, purity and germination criteria.
Guy Cunningham
Grower Member
Guy farms with his wife Sarah and family near Willalooka. The business comprises a 300-cow stud beef cattle herd, dryland winter cropping and lucerne production, mainly aimed at seed with some hay sold off farm. He believes lucerne production is uniquely suited to both value-add livestock operations and as a stand-alone enterprise. He is interested to examine ways for lucerne producers to reduce production and marketing risk.
Owen Croser
Grower Member
Owen has farmed at Keith since 1983. The farm consists of 340 hectares where he and his family grow wheat, barley, beans, canola and triticale. There are also beef cattle, sheep and a small feedlot. They have 93 hectares of flood irrigation and grow lucerne for seed and hay production. Owen is involved as steward and councillor of the Royal Adelaide Show, he is past chairman of the Keith Branch of the South Australian Farmers Federation and is a committee member of the Grain Research and Development Corporation’s South-East Research Advisory Committee.
Adam Desmazures
Grower Member
Adam runs the family-owned business with wife Michelle, a young family and his parents. It is a mixed farming enterprise currently running a self-replacing Merino flock, 1st and 2nd cross lambs and beef cattle, as well as 400 hectares of dryland lucerne for hay and seed production. Adam has a strong interest in research and technology and in 2010, he was successful in gaining a Federal Government grant to conduct a trace element study on their dryland lucerne. This involved regular sap and tissue testing through the growing season and was a valuable learning experience.