Sammie Smith

Meet Sammie from Bega Valley, New South Wales

Born into it and loving every muddy minute.

If there’s one thing Sammie Smith knows, it’s that dairy farming keeps you on your toes—sometimes quite literally. “I got bogged up to my knees once and had to dig myself out,” she laughs, recalling one of many moments that make farm life truly memorable.

In Bega Valley, NSW, Sammie has built a life around her love for cows, technology and the ever-evolving nature of dairy farming. Her bond with her herd is undeniable and one cow, 11244, always comes to mind. “She got sick and we nursed her back. Now she follows me around the yard and loves a good head scratch,” Sammie shares.

While the farm keeps her busy, it’s the moments before the sun rises that Sammie treasures most. “It’s when I can think about the day ahead and what lies ahead of me,” she says. Iced coffee in hand, hat and sunnies on, it’s her time to reflect before diving into work, aided by her favourite tech: the farm’s computer system and milk metres. “They give us so much information to track and help us make decisions every day,” she explains.

Sammie’s pride in the industry shines particularly brightly when she gets to share its progress with others. “Showcasing our industry to a group of overseas investors and seeing how far the dairy industry has come”, it’s moments like these that remind her why she loves what she does.

When the holidays roll around, Sammie’s creative side takes over, transforming silage bales into festive Christmas displays. But Christmas or not, Sammie lives by an unshakable work ethic: just get in and get it done.