A testament to the power of strong relationships

With one foot in the city and one in the country, James Ristrom’s path could have followed any number of directions, yet it was the pull of agriculture that emerged triumphant.

James was fortunate enough to grow up on beef operations in both the Mornington Peninsula and West Gippsland whilst his father worked professionally outside the ag industry in Melbourne

“Despite being from the city, my parents identified the opportunity in agriculture and I’m so grateful to have had that exposure,” James explains. “We straddled two worlds, and I guess I could have gone either way, but in my heart I was always a farm kid.”

Running beef cattle and stud stock on their farms, James embraced agriculture from a young age, and continued to show cattle at national agricultural shows in Melbourne and as far afield as Sydney and Brisbane well into his 20s.

Recently joining Rabobank as a rural manager in the Sale branch, James believes it’s a role that perfectly fuses his career experience thus far with his passion for agriculture – and he credits the close-knit and supportive industry for guiding him towards this career culmination.

A value on relationships drives career success

A degree in agriculture at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Marketing at Deakin University set James’s course, and he’s grateful for the strong personal connections that have underpinned his journey thus far.

“Maintaining long-term relationships is really important to me, and throughout my career I’ve experienced first-hand how good networks – particularly in a relatively small industry like agriculture – can open a world of opportunity.”

In a testament to the power of strong connections, James’ first career break came when a neighbour offered him a job in his agricultural specific marketing agency.

“It probably wasn’t an avenue I would have considered otherwise, but it was a role that provided me with so much knowledge and insights into the industry.”

“My clients ranged from major dairy industry processors, to irrigation infrastructure projects on the Murrumbidgee, so it was a terrific introduction to the industry and all its complexities.”

Sales and operational management roles with the Dairy Herd Improvement Co-op and then Browns Fertilisers in Gippsland followed, further expanding James’s knowledge and skills.

With past roles very much client facing, they also supported James’s passion of working with farmers for genuine trusted relationships.

“In sales roles trust is paramount, you get found out pretty quickly if you aren’t able to maintain relationships with integrity, and I genuinely loved helping my clients – whether it was helping them grow their best pastures or contributing to their herd fertility, seeing their success was extremely satisfying.”

It was during this time that James also formed his most significant relationship, the one with his partner Laura.

With Laura a Maffra local, and the couple expecting their first child, they had been on the lookout for an opportunity to settle closer to Laura’s family for some time.

Their fork in the road - and path to Sale - was again underpinned by another fateful long-term connection, with James and Rabobank Area Manager Hannah Sturgiss having attended university together.

“Hannah and I got in touch and I decided to apply to for a role at Rabobank, and I’m so grateful to now have this opportunity,” James explains. “There are so many synergies between my previous roles and my Rabobank role, particularly when it comes to supporting clients, and I feel so privileged to be working with so many terrific farmers from across the region.”

Making networks in a new region

With James and Laura welcoming their new addition, a daughter Charlea, four months ago, James said his first six months in Sale have been some of the best he’s enjoyed.

“It feels wonderful to be settling into a community with our first child, and we love everything Sale has to offer – there’s enough of everything, but it still has a small country town culture.”

A couple passionate about health and fitness, the diverse landscape the region provides is the perfect canvas for their weekend endeavours.

“We love camping, and we love the beach, and Sale has it all. If you turn right you’re at the beach and you turn left you’re in the high country, it’s a magnificent and unique offering and we’re very much enjoying exploring the region.”

Within his new role James is also enjoying connecting – and often reconnecting – with clients.

“It’s always great to reconnect with clients, and already having that established trust is a real benefit. I never take for granted the trust my clients have in me, and it’s so satisfying helping local farmers work towards their goals, it’s a really exciting role.”

One of 13 in the region, between the Sale and Leongatha branches, James was enjoying working in a strong, large team all focussed solely on rural clients.

“Everyone in the branch has been so supportive, there’s a great culture – which is typical of ag – and there’s a diverse mix of people and expertise.”

”As Rabobank is focussed only on agribusiness clients I also get to spend plenty of time out on farm, face-to-face, building strong relationships, learning and understanding each business to work together to add value and achieve client goals – which is what I love.”

A focus on community

Next month Rabobank will host Mary O’Brien of ‘Are you Bogged Mate’ in Sale, providing a valuable opportunity for the community to check in when it comes to their wellness and mental health.

Centred around boosting awareness and conversations with the broader community around depression and mental wellness amongst rural men, ‘Are You Bogged Mate’ is just one of the grassroots community programs supported by Rabobank’s Client Council.

The workshop will be held in Sale on March 12, and in Trafalgar on March 13, and is a cost free event open to the whole community.

In May, the region’s next-gen farmers will also benefit from Rabobank’s Financial Skills Workshop, an interactive workshop designed to provide practical, hands-on advice for understanding financial statements and banking requirements, and understanding key components of a business’s financial profile.

The Financial Skills Workshop will be held in Warragul on May 16, and Leongatha on May 17, and is again open to the whole community and free of cost, however spaces are limited.

James said the opportunities to value add to rural businesses, and the community, is what truly sets Rabobank apart.

“I’m always inspired helping support our young farmer become tomorrow’s leaders, and helping make sure our regional centres remain vibrant and strong, and Rabobank places enormous value on this also – it’s always exciting to help deliver some of these initiatives directly into our local communities.”

James and Laura are embracing being part of the local community, and particularly the sense of camaraderie and purpose contributing to a region that has endured so many recent hardships, including destructive storms, floods and fire.

And while the couple has aspirations to farm in the district one day, in the meantime they’re proud to be raising their daughter in a region, and industry, close to their heart.

“My parents offered this lifestyle to me, and it set my course for life, and I’m so glad to be able to provide my family with a life in regional Victoria.”

“My experience in the ag industry has been nothing but positive, I’ve met and worked with so many incredibly people over the years, and in an industry as small as ag, you just never know where those connections may lead.”