Stephanie Van Der Westen

Meet Steph from Harrisville, South-east Queensland

Hello cows, comfy boots and a good cob loaf.

Stephanie Van Der Westen is a morning person—and on the farm in Harrisville, South-east Queensland, that’s a good thing. “I love a good sunrise,” she says.

But more than the sunrises, her favourite moments are when calves she’s raised join the milking herd. Her favourite cow, 2805, is a bit of a star herself. “She’s beautiful and even won an award for cows judged on their physical attributes,” Stephanie shares.

Farm life isn’t always glamorous, but there’s always a smile to be had. “I’m always the one doing funny or silly things,” she admits. Stephanie also knows what she can’t live without: “Good, comfy boots, an iced coffee and my signature cob loaf,” she says.

There’s one thing she wants the world to know about dairy farming “That every day is different,” she says. And these days she knows she can rely on tech. “The cows all wear individual identification collars, necklaces if you will, which tracks their grazing and movement around the farm which is amazing— this allows us to keep a really close eye on their health and wellbeing,” she explains. Well cared for cows is “what makes my work so rewarding.”

From sunrise to sunset, Stephanie’s days are fuelled by cows, care and a whole lot of iced coffee. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

With every sunrise, Sarah watches her children learn and grow on the farm, just as she did. “I’m so grateful they have the same opportunity,” she says. When the holidays roll around, she looks forward to gathering family from far and wide to celebrate on the farm, creating memories (and enjoying anything with whipped cream!).