E L I T E H A Y
M E E T G A R Y
Qualifications:
Class 1 Real Estate Agent
Class 1 Stock & Station Agent
Auctioneer
GAICD
GARY JOHNSTON
Principal / Director
Johnston Rural Group Pty Ltd
Gary is an agribusiness professional with over 48 years of extensive experience in all facets of agribusiness, family and progressive agriculture, property development, sales, marketing and investment.
Gary was Farmer of the Year in 2006, is an Honorary Councillor of the Royal Agriculture Society of New South Wales and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
He is considered a respected and proven industry leader with a reputation for integrity, quality, being team orientated and his excellent interpersonal communication skills.
Since the beginning of 2018 Gary has been instrumental in the sale of over $180 million of rural properties including the sale of the Twynam properties
in central west NSW.
Gary has been actively farming his entire career both at Forbes in Central West NSW and with his family at Cobbitty on the outskirts of Sydney.
M E E T S A M
Qualifications:
B. Agricultural Economics - USYD
Undergraduate Cert. Property Valuation
Class 1 Stock & Station Agent
Class 1 Real Estate Agent
Auctioneer
Awards:
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
Rural Achiever
evokeAG. Future Young Leader
SAM JOHNSTON
Partner / Sales & Marketing
Johnston Rural Group Pty Ltd
Sam Johnston can be described as an agricultural enthusiast and young industry trailblazer who has a strong rural background, born and bred just west of Forbes in central west NSW.
His passion is to be the link between producer and consumer, city and bush and does his best to promote Australia's agricultural industry and its primary producers wherever he goes.
After finishing his Bachelor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Sydney, Sam joined the Meares & Associates (Sydney) team as a rural property sales & marketing specialist, where he worked for 3 year period.
Since returning to Forbes after purchasing his own rural property in 2020, Sam has completed a Bachelor of Property Valuation.
Overall he is a strong advocate for the agricultural sector and its farmers as seen by his efforts as co-founder of the social media organisation and movement #ThankAFarmerForYourNextMeal, as well as being named a 2019 Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Rural Achiever and evokeAG. 2020 Future Young Leader.
M E E T C L A U D I A
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Media - UNSW
Class 1 Stock & Station Agent
Class 1 Real Estate Agent
CLAUDIA JOHNSTON
Coordinator - Agribusiness & Rural Property Sales
Johnston Rural Group Pty Ltd
Claudia graduated from the University of New South Wales in 2019 where she studied a Bachelor of Media (majoring in Public Relations & Advertising) and was awarded with a Distinction average.
After completing her studies, Claudia moved home to Forbes where she worked in the Johnston Rural Group team for a one-year period. In order to expand her horizons and increase her exposure within the Agricultural industry, she relocated to Wagga Wagga where she worked as a Recruitment Consultant for Spinifex Recruiting for 2.5 years.
During this time, Claudia provided recruitment services to Agribusiness across Australia with roles ranging from Farm / Station Hands, Stock and Station Agents, Machinery Operators, Administrators, Accountants, IT, SEQ, HR, Business Development Managers, Trade & Logistics, Farm Managers and Station Managers.