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17/10/2022
Growing up on a dairy farm, Luke Johnson is acutely aware of the strength of relationship required between a farmer and a rural manager, and it’s an area that has long piqued his interest.
“I’ve long had an interest in banking, the relationship between the farmer and the bank manager is very important, and I’m curious to see how this is managed,” Luke said.
Currently finishing a Bachelor of Business in Agribusiness at Marcus Oldham College, Luke has recently had the opportunity to experience rural banking first-hand, thanks to a $15,000 Rabo Tertiary Pathways Scholarship.
The scholarship also provided Luke a Rabobank mentor, a chance to complete an internship within a local branch, plus support completing a dedicated scholarship research project.
“My big dream is to own my own dairy farm, yet over the next ten years I want to work in a relationship management role between agricultural support businesses and farmers.”
“I grew up on a dairy farm in West Gippsland in a small town called Neerim South,” he explained.
“I would spend my weekends and school holidays helping on the farm which is where my passion for agriculture originated from. On farm we milked around 270 cows a peak and run a split calving operation.”
Consequentially, Luke holds a strong passion for agriculture and finding a way to excite the younger generation into agriculture.
For his research project, which benefits from the additional support of Rabobank staff and RaboResearch analysts, Luke is looking into the on-farm sustainability of employees and staff retention.
“Currently one of the biggest threats facing farmers is the labour crisis, I am researching ways that farmers can help source and retain quality staff for their business.”
Having recently interned in the Warragul branch, Luke said an on-farm visit with a relationship manager was the high point of the internship.
“The Warragul branch are exceptional people who hold a passion for farming and banking.”
“I highly value the time I have spent at the branch, as the team have really shown me what it takes to care for a farmer, and how best to maintain the relationships.”
Gaining a greater insight into the banking business was also clear benefit of the scholarship, and while Luke said the money certainly helped, the exposure to banking was invaluable.