Determined Sophie showing great Quality

Sophie Reynolds visiting Morambie Station in White Cliffs while on work experience placement with Quality Wool's Simon Seppelt.

SHE might still only be in Year 10 at school, but Sophie Reynolds is already blazing an impressive trail for young women working in agriculture.

On the back of her keen attitude and appetite to learn more about the industry, the 16 year‑old from South Australia’s Mid North has begun working with Quality Wool and Livestock, assisting during the busy ram sale season.

For Sophie, it all began with a week of work experience with Quality, an opportunity forged through her family’s relationship with Mid North wool representative Simon Seppelt who handles the wool at their Washpool property.

“We sell our wool through him, so I figured that would be a pretty good place to go,” she said.

“We visited a few different properties around here (the Mid North), and then travelled to White Cliffs (near Broken Hill) for two days as well”.

After impressing during her week of work experience, Sophie was offered a follow‑up opportunity to join Quality once again, working as part of the team at the Mallee Hill Stud sale in Ceduna on August 11th.

“Simon (Seppelt) rang me and said there was an opportunity for me to work at the ram sale and get more experience,” she said.

“In the morning I put the hay in the yards and put the placards out”.

“Later on, I helped Liz (Quality Livestock’s Liz Savill) with the registrations, and I was recording prices during the sale”.

“Just during that one day I learned so much”.

Having also attended Quality’s Bred Well Fed Well workshop at Washpool on July 31st, Sophie’s role with the company is set to be extended as she’ll be part of the team at a further three upcoming ram sales.

A Year 10 student at Jamestown Community School, Sophie is hopeful of getting into Urrbrae High School in Adelaide next year to continue her path towards an agricultural career.

She said she initially had an alternative career plan in mind, before being bitten by the farming bug getting her hands dirty working on the family property.

“I used to want to be a vet,” she said.

“But as I got older, I more preferred getting out and doing stuff on the farm and helping out with the shearing”.

“I’m more of a hands‑on person, so that’s what I want to do”.

Even at her tender age, Sophie recognises the importance of strong personal relationships in the agricultural sector, and she said the care and personal touch in her family’s partnership with Quality Wool and Simon Seppelt was noticeable.

“He’s genuine,” she said.

“He says what he thinks, and you can tell by what he says and does he’s looking out for what’s best for us, not best for himself”.

Sophie Reynolds (left) with Quality Livestock's Liz Savill at the Mallee Hill Stud sale in Ceduna, SA on Friday, August 11th.

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