Digby Stretch farms with his wife Nikki on their property 55 kilometres southwest of Kojonup, Western Australia. Their operation runs 14,000 un-mulesed 19-micron Merino sheep and 1,500 hectares of cropping across owned and leased land.

Digby’s path into agricultural advocacy began early in his farming career, when an outdated disease eradication program began imposing real hardship on his enterprise. Recognising that meaningful change required direct involvement in policy, he joined the PGA Wool Committee. That decision marked the start of more than three decades of sustained contribution to the industry.

PGA Roles

Since 1993, Digby has been central to a wide range of policy achievements through his work with the PGA, including:

• Rationalising the control program for footrot in Western Australia
• Dismantling the Wool Reserve Price Scheme
• Changing lamb dentition definitions
• Ensuring NLIS Sheep embraced Western Australia’s lead in tag colours and procedures
• Developing the Woolpoll process and serving on its inaugural committee
• Helping spearhead the deregulation of OJD in Western Australia
• Enabling the introduction of GM technology to Western Australia, including participation in the Supreme Court trial that followed
• Supporting the establishment of free markets where statutory markets previously existed
• Championing the introduction of transparent price discovery systems

While chairing the Wool Committee, Digby led the amalgamation of the PGA Meat & Livestock and Wool Committees, subsequently chairing the combined Livestock Committee.

Community and Industry

Beyond the PGA, Digby has given considerable time to his local community. He served for many years as a Bushfire Control Officer, including several years as Chief BFCO for Kojonup. He has recently been nominated as a community member of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Shire of Kojonup. He also dedicated 12 years to the Scotch College Council, serving his final three years as Chair.

Outside of work, Digby enjoys music, guitar, fishing, camping, and the practical satisfaction of fixing and making things.

Digby describes himself as a scrub bull. He doesn’t like to be mustered, and he will vigorously defend his family, freedom, and farm. As PGA President, he brings that same commitment to defending those values for the agricultural sector across Australia.