It began with a handshake deal — a gentlemen’s agreement forged in the nation’s food bowl that has spanned almost three generations.
For over 40 years, the Rigney family have partnered with Woolworths to supply top-quality beef to Aussie households.
Operating as Rigney Rural, husband and wife team Ian and Sally Rigney produce finished cattle exclusively for the supermarket giant from their small family feedlot Dunbarr Meats in Weengallon, near Goondiwindi in southwest Queensland.
Through the ups and downs of droughts, floods, cost of living pressures and recent soaring fuel costs, the feedlot has kept the Rigney family’s business thriving and moving forward.
Their hard work and sheer drive was rewarded in 2011 when Rigney Rural was named Woolworths Australian Supplier of the Year.
“It’s only been a good story all around,” Mr Rigney said of the family’s longstanding partnership with Woolworths “It’s been very consistent and very strong.
“It’s a very clean operation with a very small feedlot, which makes it easier to be precise.”
It all began in the 1960s, when Ian’s parents, Ken and Lyn Rigney, bought their first 5000 acres of land.
Decades later, Ian and Sally have helped grow the holding to 50,000 acres spread across three properties in the district.
Their children Angus, 30, and Bronte, 20, are also building on their proud legacy — Bronte aims to join the family business after completing a three-year Farm Management degree
All the while, times are changing.
Just as Mr Rigney’s father, Ken, oversaw the transition from horses to horsepower, the couple have witnessed the evolution of modern farming, which involves having to wear many hats.
“We’ve become businessmen, we’ve got to manage ourselves and all the staff,” Mr Rigney said.
“We are environmental custodians, we look after the land, the best thing we can to lead the next generation.
“IT for our age group is a lot more difficult to grasp for the young ones because we weren’t brought up with it.
“Because when you’re born before Google, it takes a bit of catching up on it.”
Zoe Smith, Senior digital reporter/producer at Network News, News Corp Australia