After nearly four decades in agriculture, Stephen York believes success comes down to doing the fundamentals well, especially when it comes to customer relationships.
“Listen to your customers, understand what they want and get answers back to them promptly,” Stephen says.
It’s an approach shaped by years of experience and one Stephen brings to his role as Sales Manager for Victoria, Tasmania and the Riverina at 7 Worlds Ag, which he joined just over a year ago.
A Career Built on Experience and Relationships
Stephen’s commitment to getting the basics right comes from his depth of experience in senior commercial roles over more than two decades in areas such as broadacre irrigation and liquid fertilisers.
His agricultural journey began on a dairy farm in Gippsland, before moving into vineyards and wineries across Victoria and South Australia. Around 25 years ago, he and his young family relocated to the Riverina, where his commercial career continued to develop.
Starting with a rural merchandise business in Ardlethan, he then joined an irrigation company designing overhead and centre pivot systems for broadacre farms. Over the next 15 years, Stephen helped grow the business into a major national supplier, working with growers across regions including Broome, Darwin and Mackay.
His career then developed into liquid fertilisers, where he spent 11 years in senior commercial roles.
“Across numerous roles in different companies in agriculture, I have always enjoyed building relationships with customers and finding answers to their needs”.
Joining 7 Worlds Ag
Those values and experiences led Stephen to 7 Worlds Ag. Stephen finds it refreshing to work for a company with strong brand recognition. He credits Ben Coombe and the 7 Worlds Ag team with creating a very loyal customer base which is a great platform to work from.
“At 7 Worlds Ag, I am delighted to find a company that delivers what it says it’s going to do”.
One year into the role, Stephen is building strong partnerships and enjoying the opportunity to expand his knowledge of the Tasmanian industry.
“While I have a lot to learn about crop protection, it is good to be working in new areas with a different portfolio of products, alongside both new and familiar faces.”
Strong Relationships, Better Forecasting
A priority for 7 Worlds Ag is talking with dealers about the season ahead to understand their supply requirements and develop good forecasts. Stephen is focused on strengthening relationships with dealers and growers across the Riverina, Victoria and Tasmania – working closely with them to plan ahead.
“The benefits of accurate forecasting flow both ways, but this is only possible if you have strong relationships with resellers”.
In Stephen’s experience, 7 Worlds Ag is one of the best when it comes to forecasting.
Looking to the Future
Stephen shares 7 World Ag’s optimism about the future of horticulture, particularly in the Riverina and northern Victoria. These regions are well positioned for expansion through innovation in irrigation and smarter use of technology across operations.
“When I first moved to the Riverina, broadacre crops, like rice, wheat and barley, dominated. Today, we’re seeing growth in crops like citrus, almonds, potatoes and cotton, along with consolidation into larger operations with greater investment in infrastructure and technology.”
Confidence Through Regulation
Since joining 7 Worlds Ag, Stephen has gained a deeper appreciation for the role of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). He never fully appreciated the significance of their role previously and now recognises that it creates a code of conduct that benefits everyone.
“What the APVMA provides is a proper legislative framework that requires everyone to play by the rules. It gives growers far more confidence in the products they choose because of the scientific rigour required through the registration process.”
Continued Commitment To The Basics
With decades of experience behind him, Stephen York continues to focus on what matters most – strong relationships, clear communication and getting the basics right.If you’d like to follow along with Stephen or the 7 Worlds team, be sure to check us out on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.