Western Canadian Livestock Expo | Sarah Chant picked Canada because of positive observations of Canadians visiting her Australian homeland: “They seemed like nice people”
Sarah Chant found a soft spot on top of a bale of straw to read her paperback.
With chores completed, she seemed at home amid the milking activity at the Western Canadian Livestock Expo in Saskatoon April 13.
Chant’s actual home is more than 20,000 kilometres away in Colac, Australia, about a two-hour drive west of Melbourne.
With her formal education completed, Chant wanted to improve her knowledge of the dairy business and make international contacts, particularly with an eye on someday buying Jersey embryos.
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“I don’t have money to buy embryos at the minute, but I’d like to see some good cattle and in the future have some contacts if I want to buy some embryos over here,” she said.
At 20, Chant is already an old hand in the business, having grown up on a dairy farm and completed a dairy apprenticeship. Her parents operate a 250 head Jersey herd, using a 15 double up dairy. The cows are pasture based.
She said the biggest difference she has seen between the two countries is in the way animals are housed.
“Nobody barns their cows at home,” she said.
“We don’t have barns; cows are always pasture fed. I can’t imagine having heifers and cows in the shed all year. As soon as the heifers are about three weeks old, they’re out on pasture.”
Cows are brought in to be milked and then let out to a paddock where they spend the night.
She described her learning experience as one of “bits and pieces.”
“It’s similar, but I’m learning by watching other people clip. Just picking something up at each show is always good,” she said.
Chant chose Canada because of her observations of Canadians in Australia.
“They always seem like nice people.”
She has been in Canada for slightly more than a month and her impressions have not been altered.
“I really like Canada. Everyone’s really friendly, but the climate has taken a bit to get adjusted to.”
A friend suggested Chant start her journey at the farm of Tracey and Dave Morey near Westlock, Alta. The Moreys own Unique Valley Stream, where they milk 250 Jerseys and have hosted people from around the world.
Because Chant’s main interest is going to shows, Tracey Morey said they have offered their place as a home base, trying to get her to as many western Canadian dairy activities as possible.
A friend arranged for Chant to join the sale crew in Saskatoon and they in turn got her on the sale crew at the National Holstein Conference in Brandon.
“The dairy show is a small community, so everybody kind of helps everybody else out, and she’s working for the sale (Brandon) down there,” Morey said.
In August, Chant will travel to Ontario and Quebec where she will attend shows and fairs.
Chant said it took her parents a while to get used to the idea of her traveling for the year halfway around the world.
“They’re glad I’m doing it, getting out and learning some more. I don’t think they were overly impressed that I’d be gone for a year. Not many parents would let their daughters travel away for a year, but they’re happy I’m doing it. It’s a good opportunity.”
