AMANDA Moohen has had a successful 12 years in lotfeeding, and a highlight of her career has been founding Women of Lot Feeding (WOLF), the fi rst networking group specifi cally for women in the feedlot sector.
Ms Moohen began her career in lotfeeding in 2009 after working at a tannery for Nippon.
"I was working at the wrong end of the beef supply chain and wanted to get back to on the ground operations with cattle, so I jumped at an opportunity to apply for an administration role with Camm Agricultural Group," she said.
She was raised on a beef grazing property at Geham on the Darling Downs, and after school at Toowoomba she studied a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, majoring in animal production, genetics and lotfeeding, at the University of New England.
The position at Wonga Plains was the perfect start for her career, and once there, she learned about all aspects of the feedlot, working her way up to feedlot manager in 2017.
She spent 10 years at Wonga Plains before taking on her current role with AACo, which involves overseeing the company's Goonoo and Aronui feedlots.
As the regional manager for intensive, she guides and mentors feedlot managers in the day-to-day operations of the yards, commodity purchasing, and oversees all operating and capital expenditure budgets and business projects.
RELATED READING:
"It has been a great transition into AACo, and I learn something new everyday," Ms Moohen said.
"I am challenged and it was a big career achievement to go to overseeing not one but two feedlots with 60,000 head capacity.
"As lotfeeders, we are so innovative - we take a beast weighing 350kg and feed it in the most efficient and cost effective way using only the best animal welfare standards to produce premium grain-fed beef.
"I find lotfeeding to be very engaging to all ages and genders, and as a network we are always there to support each other."
Ms Moohen has had many career highlights outside of the feedlot, including being part of the inaugural Graeme Acton Beef Connections Mentoring Program in 2014 as a mentor partner and returning in 2020 as a mentor in the program.
As a mentor partner she was required to develop and complete a project over 12 months, with the goal to challenge participants personally, professionally and emotionally.
Ms Moohen's project was focused on increasing her network within lotfeeding, and a year after she came up with the concept, the first WOLF event - a high tea at Jimbour House in 2015 - was held.
"After starting the program, I became very passionate about networking and giving back to the beef industry and in particular, lotfeeding," she said.
"While there are field days and specific training days, I felt there was a need to have a group for women to connect within the industry at another level through networking and social events," Ms Moohen said.
"As WOLF moves forward in the future we would like to see it being able to advance feedlots by offering programs and advice to help businesses," Ms Moohen said.
"As a group our future aim is to provide support, create new opportunities and develop policies to be used within our industry in regards to managing employees when concerning maternity and paternity leave and returning back into the workforce as well as mental health awareness, professional development opportunities and mentoring programs.
"WOLF will assist in identifying the difficulties that women and families in the industry may face and will work towards offering longterm solutions.
"Encompassing a family friendly environment that includes having flexibility in hours and parental leave entitlements, hence reducing staff turnover and keeping experienced staff within the industry, are just some ideas for us moving forward."
While part of the Graeme Acton program, Ms Moohen also gained a valuable mentor in Queensland beef producer Kaye Wilson.
Another mentor in her career has been Bryce Camm, her former boss and the current ALFA president.
"We are very lucky as an industry to have so many amazing people willing to help and mentor young people.
"I now have numerous contacts who I look to as mentors, from lotfeeding, the livestock sales industry, livestock transport and commodity trading."