When you peel back the layers you can easily see how the Shadbolts have successfully farmed one of the region’s largest onion crop.
Beverford’s Peter Shadbolt, the son of Geoff Shadbolt, one of Australia’s largest onion seed growers in the early 1970s, has been elected chairman of Onions Australia.
Onions Australia was formed in 1966 as the Australian Onion Coordinating Committee and represents those engaged in the onion industry including growers, packers, wholesalers, exporters and retail outlets.
Mr Shadbolt’s three children; Jake, 21, Ryan, 20 and Hope, 18, work alongside their father on the farm and through distance education, Jake is studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Ryan recently completed his apprenticeship under his father’s guidance.
“I like the fact there are so many different jobs to do throughout the day, rather than being stuck on one job at a time. The year is the same, it goes from planting through to growing and then harvest, so I like that variation,” Mr Shadbolt said.
To read more about this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (October 14).
