Auctions
Results
Maigan Robertson had her heart set on becoming a doctor for as long as she could remember. Inspired by her GP grandfather, Maigan earned top HSC marks to score an early entry acceptance into medicine at Wollongong University in 2019. Her lifelong dream was so close. But then she couldn’t bring herself to leave the saleyards.
So Maigan did a complete 180 and decided to train as a livestock agent instead. It’s not an overstatement to say her family was a little concerned. Fast forward to today though and it’s clear to everyone that what may have been a loss for the medical world is a huge gain for the agricultural industry as the 19-year-old from Parkes, NSW follows her new calling.
When she graduated from boarding school and took a gap year to work in the family real estate business, Maigan planned to save money and buy a car that would get her to university. But these 12 months proved to be pivotal.
“When I came home I rediscovered how much rural Australia has to offer and I hadn’t really thought about it until I started working in it but the opportunities are just amazing,” Maigan says.
“Taking the year off really put things into perspective for me too about how difficult it would be working and studying so far away without family support and it just wasn’t for me.”
Maigan’s studying Agribusiness at Charles Sturt University via distance through the Country University Centre which gives her a place to hit the books after work.
Working full time while studying comes with its challenges but Maigan’s got her eye on her long term goal to graduate in six years and one day own her own livestock agency. And while Maigan didn’t grow up on a farm, she’s ready to put in the hard yards.
“I have farm experience but I don't have all of that knowledge that other livestock agents have to be able to compare to their competition so it’s going to take time but I’ll get there,” she says.
“I love studying agents and watching what they do so that really pushes me to want to do it and do it great.”
There’s no shortage of role models in the field for Maigan. She recalls watching a female Ray White Emms Mooney livestock agent in awe as she confidently navigated clients and sales, while rural sales agent Kim Watts in Forbes also comes to mind as someone Maigan would love to mirror. But the ultimate inspiration? Her mum, Tracie. The talented businesswoman owns Ray White Parkes, Forbes and Condobolin.
“Mum’s amazing with the way she just gets out there and gives it a go so I definitely look up to her,” Maigan says.
“And you never know, if I enjoy it enough, I’d love to take over the business one day too.”
While she’s watched many of her friends move to the cities in the past 18-months with no plans to return home, Maigan says she couldn’t be more content with her choice.
“I’m so passionate about agriculture and everything it has to offer. I just can’t even imagine leaving now.”
