Cowra farmers have had their lives made a little easier thanks to employees from the Mars manufacturing facility in Wodonga.
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The company’s twelve employees made the trip to Cowra to donate $20,000 worth of dog food to Elders Cowra, Landmark Cowra and Lachlan Fertilizers.
Plant Shift Manager, Nicholas Zumbo, said the group had been inspired by Tasmanian hay trucks passing by the plant.
READ MORE: Cowra community helping farmers in need
“The factory that we work at is just off the highway,” he said
“So we saw all the trucks coming up from Tasmania and a couple of the guys thought it was appropriate that we jump on board and feed the farmers dogs as well.
“There is a lot of focus on cattle and sheep at the moment, seeing as the Mars aim is to make a better world for pets, it’s pretty obvious that looking after their animals at home is pretty key for us,” he said.
Mr Zumbo said Cowra was chosen as a donation location through a local farmer who contacted them.
“We were contacted by a farmer here just saying they were struggling with the ability to feed their animals,” he said.
“So we sent them a special load direct to them, which made us think if they are struggling, obviously everyone is up here.
“So that was part of the reason we picked this area as a location for drop offs,” he said.
Mr Zumbo said with the factory being based on the Murray River and Victoria having a fortunate season it was important to help the farmers that kept their business going.
“We’ve had lots of support from Mars, it’s been a really good trip, the motivation of the guys to come up and donate their money and time to help is special to see,” he said.
“In the end it all comes down to us, the key ingredients for our product is the farmers’ sheep and cattle, so it’s really important that we help those that help us.
“Neil who organised this, he’s got a CB radio in his car and people driving past us one they way here have been asking whats this for for and how they can donate,” he said.
The $20,000 of dog food donated is part of a larger $500,000 donation Mars will give to farmers in NSW and Queensland through Rural Aid and Food Bank.
Mr Zumbo said it was good to see the company helping out.
“It’s a positive thing for the company, to show they’re backing us and donating the product,”
“A lot of manufacturing companies doing it tough, so it’s pretty special seeing them try to help the farmers where they can.”
