In a bid to foster trade relations between China and Australia the family run beef and sheep farm Bolinda Vale in Keysbrook played host to the Chinese vice president for agriculture Zhang Taolin on September 22.
With WA promoting live cattle export, fourth generation farmer Deborah Butler welcomed the participation of Chinese enterprises in the farming industry.
Mrs Butler said she was contacted by a livestock agent and WA agricultural consultant who asked her if she would be interested showing Mr Taolin and 10 Chinese delegates around her 4000 acre property.
“We took him on a tour of our beef operation here at Bolinda Vale,” she said.
“It rained most of the time but we got to show him and his contingent our commercial herd of breeders and Angus and Murray grey stud cattle.
“He was a very interesting and kind man and genuinely interested in how our family farm operates.”
During his visit to WA, Mr Taolin indicated, as a major agricultural state WA enjoyed a great potential for cooperation with China in the field of agriculture.
Mrs Butler described the day as awesome and said it was a highlight in her farming career.
“We had morning tea ready for them at 10.30am,” she said.
“We chatted through interpreters about our history of farming, breeds of cattle, fertiliser programme, breeding programme of cattle and they wanted to know about taxes and rates and co-ops.
“We also exchanged gifts, then with a convoy of vehicles we took the delegates to two different locations on the farm to show them our commercial breeding herd of cattle with calves.”
Following the tour of the farm Mrs Butler, Mr Taolin and the other delegates enjoyed lunch at the Millbrook winery in Jarrahdale.
Mrs Butler’s family have been working the farm since 1926.
Bolinda Vale runs 600 breeding cattle for beef production and 500 sheep for wool and meat.
Mrs Butler said farming was in her blood.
“I am very passionate about working the land,” she said.
“I’m passionate about everything to do with agriculture and producing quality beef in a pristine environment using low stress stock handling.”
