14 | T HE B A R OSSA M AG
There’s a hill on the outskirts of
Greenock where Jersey cows roam
happily, producing a “Barossa
white” full of rich, creamy
goodness.
This is the home of the Kernich
family’s dairy, birthplace of “Jersey
Fresh”, a branded milk business
born of adversity but nurtured to
success through resilience, a love of
the land and, above all, faith.
Here, the working day starts before
the crack of dawn as cows meander
down to take their place at the
milking stand. Today’s milking
herd of 80-100 “girls” continue a
long lineage of stud Jerseys dating
back to the original five bought by
Jeff Kernich and his parents, Elva
and Albert, when they first moved
from the heart of Greenock to the
180 acre farm 45 years ago.
The Kernich family has grown
over the years to include Jeff’s
wife, Erica and their daughters,
Amy, Paula and Lisa. Youngest
child, Mark was born with Down’s
Syndrome yet the family’s focus on
his abilities rather than disabilities
has resulted in him being the much
loved, valuable member of the
community he is today.
Whilst life on the land meant
battling nature’s extremes,
plummeting milk prices and
heavy-handed banks that
threatened the dairy’s very
existence, the family have always
rallied to power through.
But an unimaginable tragedy
would change the course of history
for the tightly knit family when Jeff
was killed in a farming accident.
Two years on, there’s still sadness
in the eyes of Jeff’s family but
the next custodians of Kernich
Holdings and Jersey Fresh have
stepped up with a renewed sense of
determination to succeed, showing
a courage that would make any
father proud.
Sisters, Amy McDonald, Paula
Menzel and Lisa Werner were
always part of the succession plan
and whilst it has changed, they are
continuing their father’s legacy as
they draw on everything they have
learned growing up on the farm
and working beside him.
“The first 12 months after dad died
we were just keeping things going
but we are at the point now where
we are all ready to step out from
behind the man and the legend and
make our own mark on the farm
and in the community,” says Lisa.
“We are ready to come out under
our own steam.”
Married to Nick and raising four
children, Lisa manages the Jersey
Fresh side of the family business
and looks after the accounts for
the farm.
Her sisters say she could sell milk
to a cow and there is no doubting
Lisa loves to chat about the farm’s
history, her father’s vision and the
exciting plans to expand.
She shares the same passion as her
siblings as she speaks of a new calf
rearing facility and developments
that will increase the dairy’s
capacity whist reducing the time it
takes to milk the cows twice every
day.
It’s a matter of working “smarter
not harder”, a philosophy
drummed into them by their father
and one the sisters value as they
balance their work and family life.
Jersey Fresh have just released a
new iced coffee called “Cold Broo”
in partnership with Bean Addiction
Coffee Roasters and there’s more
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