IN 2019, Gabrielle Stokes from Mount Walker decided she wanted to be a grazier. She was 15-years-old at the time.
The decision to breed and run her own herd of cattle was made with full understanding of just how challenging the job can be.
She lives on a 202 hectare (500 acre) farm owned her parents Troy and Vilma. Gabrielle and her brothers, Alexander and Lachlan are fifth generation farmers. Hard work was mandatory growing up in the Stokes household, and all of their children play key roles when it comes to running the family farm.
“We always had cattle on the land, but just for sale and commercial use,” the now 17-year-old said.
The Stokes are predominantly vegetable and grain growers with corn, lucerne, oats, wheat, barley, soybeans, mung beans, brown and red onions the primary focus of the family business.
“In 2019, I got into setting up my stud cattle, I started with Charolais and kind of branched out from there,” she said.
She said she took part in country shows and it was there that the Charolais breed caught her eye. She liked what she saw but couldn’t afford them.
“While at a show I saw an advert for an upcoming sale, I went to it and bought two Palgrove cows,” she said.
“Then I bought eight cows with calves from my neighbour who used to have a stud back in the day, his name was Mal Freeman. These were my starter cows.”
When hearing Gabrielle talk about how she started out it’s easy to forget just how young she was when she bought her first cattle.
Buying cattle costs money and this is where her parents stepped in to help.
“My parents helped me to start my herd but I work on the farm and put in many hours in the onion shed in order to pay them back,” she said.
“I’m still paying off some of the money loaned to buy my cattle.“This year I sold my bull at the Ekka and that money will go towards“This year I sold my bull at the Ekka and that money will go towards paying off the cows, I’m nearly done ... not much more to go.”
She said her parents had been very supportive of her journey towards becoming a stud beef breeder.
“I’m hoping to get a couple more bulls next year but I’m happy with my small herd at the moment as it’s easy to manage,” she said.
“I’m going to university next year so hopefully that frees up a bit more time.”
Gabrielle is planning on studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology.
“My family’s farm is predominantly focused on crops and not cattle but I’ve learned so much more at home than school,” she said.
“Being around dad, going to sales, talking to the blokes who have Charolais studs ... all of this has helped me to learn more about the business.”
She said the Charolais breed was her first choice because of its high yields, growth rate and carcass quality.
“They grow really quickly, they’re absolutely humungous,” she laughed.
“I think they have a really good temperament too.
“Everyone has their own favourite breed and reasons why they think their one is better but growth rate wise, Charolais are the best.”
She enters her cattle in as many agricultural shows in Queensland as she can.
“One of our stud sires whose calf was a Charolais cross won Champion Junior Steer at this year’s Ekka,” she said.
“Then he got third in the Carcass class, which is still pretty good.
“All the effort we’ve put into our cattle this year is crazy but I love doing the shows.
“We start getting ready for them in February and we do about 10 shows.”
She said she also enjoyed the social side of shows and catching up with fellow graziers.