Marius Van Aarde

I grew up on a grain and livestock farm (500ha). I became very interested in the livestock/animal sector. On the farm I took care of sheep, cattle and chickens. I decided to go study animal breeding at one of the best colleges in South Africa and received numerous awards.

After my studies I worked for a year in Australia. 6 months in Western Australia and 6 months in Queensland. Both was on big sheep farms.

In 2015 I started working as a livestock marketer for BKB Ltd. In the beginning I thought I would be working a lot with animals, but instead I worked mostly with people/farmers. That helped me to develop my people skills tremendously.

Hayfield Station/Warrego Butchery (20 000ha merino farm in Queensland, Australia) – farm maintenance, water runs, care for farm animals, assist with mustering and shearing/crutching, helping in the butchery with clients, meat work and meatpacking for orders, September 2014 – March 2015

BKB Ltd – My main responsibilities are selling livestock to abattoirs and feedlots, running livestock auctions, client services and facilitating the transactions between the buyer and seller. My turnover is R70 million a year. November 2015 – present

2011–2013: B.Agric (Animal Production – Dairy and Beef cattle production management, Sheep management and Poultry production), University of Stellenbosch (Elsenburg)