The bulls of Hardhat Angus can be heard before they’re seen.
Their bellowing calls as they amble up the laneway of Lynwood travel ahead, greeting the heifers and their calves in the adjoining paddock that they’re passing.
Brad Cavanagh is in the side-by-side with his wife Jess and their three children Olive, 10, Henry, 8 and Fleur, 6 and together they follow behind the mob as they walk them to the yards.
Situated near Harden in the South West Slopes of New South Wales, Brad and Jess are the first generation to establish the Hardhat Angus breed. Breeding bulls has been a passion of Brad’s since his schooling years,
thanks to his agricultural teacher.
“I was in the show team at school in Dubbo and I had a great ag teacher,” says Brad. It was thanks to him that I developed an interest in working within the ag industry.”
With a focus on the maternal side of breeding, Hardhat Angus
aims to produce good cows for easy calving with bulls that are structurally
sound. At their annual September sale, they sell close to 45 bulls per year.
It’s hard to believe that the work the couple have done to build their herd is completed mostly in the afternoons or on weekends. Brad and Jess are also part of Jess’ family farming operation Oxton Park with Brad managing the merino side of the enterprise. But the couple’s dedication to both operations is admired, and their love for agriculture runs deep.
“To be able to live and call this work is truly a blessing.” says Brad
“Jess and I love nothing more than bringing the kids along with us when we can. Olive, Henry and Fleur, they all love different aspects of the farming which Jess and I find very rewarding.”
