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Paul and Kellie Starick, known for their expertise in livestock transport, pastoral ownership, and even school bus runs, have been awarded WAMMCO’s April Producer of the Month. Their consignment of 100 White Suffolk × Merino lambs, averaging 22.6kg and achieving an impressive 99% WAMMCO Sweet Spot score, was judged as the best of the month.

The Staricks have been running Meelia in Morawa for the past five years. This 3,000-acre property, situated midway between Mingenew and Morawa, has undergone significant improvements since its purchase. Extensive renovations to sheds, housing, fencing, and the general landscape have transformed the property, some of which were necessary following Cyclone Seroja. Contour banks have been removed to allow smoother movement of machinery, fences realigned, and a vast area of land reefinated resulting in an additional 140 hectares now classified as arable.

In 2025, the property is split two-thirds cropping and one-third pasture. The cropping is 100% Septa wheat under a share-cropping arrangement. The sowing program was completed just before the early June soaking rains, marking the first significant rainfall since November 2024, with the Staricks receiving 21 mm over a couple of days.

Their livestock program consists of 750 eastern wheatbelt Merino ewes, joined to Yileen White Suffolk rams. Ewes are joined for eight weeks, starting December 1st, and consistently achieve over 105% marking. With lambs yet to be marked, this year they have noticed an abundance of twins, which they attribute to their extensive nutritional program during summer and throughout lambing. “Nutrition is key, and frequent feeding reduces the ewes constantly chasing feed trailers and thus reduces mismothering,” Paul commented. This year, the ewes have been provided with an oat/vetch hay, along with a trail mix of lupins, wheat, and canola.

The Staricks have decided to improve their pasture feed base in 2025, as the stock paddocks had not been worked for the previous five years and were dominated by ryegrass. A cereal-legume mix of 80kg of wheat/barley, 10kg of vetch, and 60kg/ha of fertiliser was spread out over the 1,000 acres, before being Kelly chained in. Paul believes this is a cost-effective approach, especially in light of recent tight returns in the industry. When the feed is strong enough to withstand grazing pressure, it will be offered to the livestock, and if the season permits, some will be locked up for harvesting to meet 2026 seed requirements.

The winning consignment of lambs were shorn in November 2024 before being agisted on local wheat stubbles. All lambs were weighed after an overnight feed curfew, ensuring they were at least 50kg before transport.

Paul and Kellie’s livestock transport business, founded in 1981 in Mingenew, started with a single prime mover and a couple of crates. Today, Starick Transport operates six prime movers, transporting cattle, sheep and goats across both the pastoral and agricultural areas and is very much the family business. Their eldest son, Matt is transitioning into managing the business whilst their second son, Sam, steps back into driving when home from his contract mustering work. Kellie and Matt’s wife, Jade looks after the administration and Paul, who still gets behind the wheel also ensures the crates are clean, parts are available and manages Meelia. The Staricks truly value their five full time drivers and are grateful for their contribution to the business. With the increased focus on cropping in the region, Matt’s decision to add bulk haulage to the business five years ago has proven to be a smart move. The addition of grain and fertiliser transport has integrated seamlessly into the operation.