Episode 54 - Jack Sher on being integral in the development of the Wagyu industry

It’s not very often we have ready access to a family who pioneered an Ag industry that has proved to be one of the Cattle industry's greatest discoveries. Usually, they have descendants 6 or 7 generations back, but our interviewee today, Jack Sher, is only 2nd generation.Jack's father, Nick, can lay claim to bringing the first batch of Wagyu genetics to Australia. Interestingly, they came from the US and not Japan. Nick and a few other breeders imported an embryo batch, so there were others involved, but the Shers can lay claim to having the first Wagyu calf drop in Australia. That was on February 11th 1992. Another first was sending boxed beef from Australia to the home of Wagyu, Japan. The Shers’ story is a fascinating and unique one, and the foresight Nick showed way back then was truly a forefather moment. The Shers control the breeding, grazing, Feedlotting, cold storage, distribution, and marketing, so basically they own and control the supply chain except for the processing. It’s a complex business built on great systems, and each part requires processes that enable it to interact with all parts of the supply chain. Jack shares with us the history of how it came about, the journey and what the business looks like today. After I interviewed Jack on Friday, I had dinner at the Woodhouse in Bendigo. I promised him I would only eat Sher Wagyu products. My dinner guest and I had the Sher Wagyu Beef Tartare and the 200-gram Sher Wagyu Eye Fillet. And we aren’t patronising here, but my guest (who is in the Wagyu industry) and I both agreed it was the best steak we have ever eaten. This is one of the best podcasts we have done. I hope you enjoy. End of message.The Farmers Club podcast is now only available to our paid newsletter subscribers. Our partner in this podcast is our sister business, Farm Tender. We are an online buying and selling marketplace for Farmers and anyone else associated with Agriculture. Go to www.farmtender.com.au and sign up from there.