A turf business is a specialised one, with families of turf growers passing on their skills from one generation to the next. This means that many family operated turf businesses remain as such. The children grow up in the business, learning new skills along their way to adulthood before taking over management and even ownership roles when their parents are ready to let go of the reins.
This generational transition is prevalent right across the country, providing some difficulties of course but also some exciting opportunities. We recently got in touch with some next generation turf farm employees to find out how they have progressed within their own family businesses and what they are anticipating for the future of the industry.
Tim Muscat from Greener Lawn is the youngest of three brothers, with his father Anthony currently running the business. Tim has been working full-time within the business since he was 14 and 9 months, but like many turf families, Tim was involved in the business well before then.
Tim said Greener Lawn are on the tail end of a generational transition, “Dad is starting to step back and let us take the reins more. It was difficult and the circumstances for the transition were not ideal, however it is looking very positive for the coming years.”
There are plenty of learning opportunities working in a turf business, providing different areas where you can slot in to suit your interests as they develop.
Tim has developed both business and life skills while working in his family business and has progressed through varying roles. “I am currently managing on site preparation and installation jobs, driving delivery trucks in the busier months and in any spare time, or if needed, assisting in workshop repairs and maintenance. This allows me to apply some of the skills I learnt while completing a Certificate 3 in engineering,” Tim said.
Every year Turf Australia hosts a NxGen Conference for turf farm employees under the age of 40. Tim has been every year that he can and said it’s a great way to learn about other parts of the industry you may not know about. It also provides a great opportunity to network and share knowledge with others from right across the country. Plus, it has the added benefit of providing a break from the everyday pressures they are under in the business.
Tim’s looking forward to going with the flow of the business and exploring what the future brings, adapting to the changes that will happen along the way.
“There is a lot of pressure from a young age in a family business, but it is well worth it when you look back and see everything you have achieved with your family.”
Tim Muscat – Greener Lawn
When Sarah was 14 her family decided to move from Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains near Sydney to Cabarita Beach near the QLD/NSW border. Being a 5th generation farmer, Sarah’s father bought a little turf farm in Cabarita Beach, and excitedly announced that they would all be helping.
While Sarah’s brother loved it, Sarah decided that although she was happy to help on the farm, it was not something she was going to do forever. “I got myself a job at McDonalds to make myself money. As a teenager my ambition was to work in an office, wear high heels all day and never get dirty again.”
Sarah went on to university where she studied public relations. On weekends Sarah would go and work on the farm, mowing and driving trucks, but also providing customer service and covering most aspects of the turf business.
When Sarah’s daughter was about 4 months old, Coastal turf was booming. With over 10 employees, they had turf going out left right and centre, and calls and paperwork were becoming overwhelming. Sarah’s brother had joined the Board of Turf Qld and was often busy helping in other areas of the turf industry.
Coastal Turf needed someone part time in the office to do all the little things that were building up. Luckily, Sarah was available and was volunteered by her father and brother. Working within the family business would be challenging, but it would also be extremely rewarding.
“The thing I really love about the turf industry is that there are so many family businesses, so when you go to an industry meeting you are chatting with families as well.”
Sarah Mason – Coastal Turf
“My daughter learnt to walk in the office and the kids learnt to say, “Coastal Turf, how can I help you?” as one of their first sentences.”
Sarah had a third child and stepped back from the business, so she had more time for her family. Her husband Tony also started his own landscaping and turf maintenance business, Tony the Turfman and the two businesses complimented each other well.
Once the children were a bit older, Sarah started doing a couple days back in the office at Coastal Turf again. Sarah’s brother thought it was time to move forward and sideways in his life and went to work for the Macadamia Industry.
Over the years they took the business from a little enterprise, to turning over well over a million dollars a year. “My father and I made a plan to concentrate on providing wonderful turf products rather than all the extras associated with turf. We would let The Turfman business do that.”
Sarah became great at organisation, helping to run two businesses. Today Coastal Turf grows and sells over 9 different varieties, servicing NSW and Southeast Qld and have a wonderful relationship with their landscapers.
Sarah’s father has recently become unwell, that has meant that a generational shift has come faster than they expected. While he has stepped back, he is still available for advice and reminders about things, like making sure you are greasing all the grease points on the harvester. “I am pretty sure I have greased them all though,” Sarah said.
“Change will be inevitable. Possibly in the future we may combine the two businesses back into one again. And this will bring a younger skill set into the team too.”
At this stage Sarah’s kids are not interested in turf. Her eldest is working towards becoming a baker, her daughter wants to be a Biological Engineer, and the youngest is too young to know what he wants to do yet. But having a family business that can support them in whatever way they want to moving forward is really comforting to Sarah.
“But then again, I didn’t want to be a turf farmer either. And here I am loving it!”
Troy Muscat from Active Turf’s interest in turf farming didn’t really come along until he was 13 or 14. But a switch was flicked one day, and he hasn’t looked back. Troy’s parents Charlie and Anne were born in the Hawkesbury region, and both came from farming families. They started the turf business in 1999 with Troy’s grandfather’s help before he retired in 2004.
Many turf farms are also where the family home is and it’s an added benefit that Josh has come to appreciate. “I really enjoy spending time out on the farm and love that most of our work is from home.”
Troy’s parents have started to try slowing down and taking more time off. Troy and his wife Vanessa are both trying to take on more responsibility in the general running of the business wherever they can. As Troy didn’t have much knowledge of farming at a younger age, he has had to learn everything the business needs from growing the turf to emailing invoices at the end of the day if need be.
“The last few years I have a role to play in every aspect and if need be, I can do any job in our business that is needed.”
Troy said he has noticed considerable change in the industry during his time, with automatic harvesters being the biggest game changer. “The new generation have a young mindset which helps bring in new ideas and a different business approach, which is also showing in the way things are changing.”
