A nationwide agricultural platform, created by two women, has been named a semi-finalist in the prestigious Queensland Community Achievement Awards.

Cattlesales.com.au was co-founded by Elisha Parker and Annabelle Woods, both 36, in 2016 and has this year reached the semi finals of the Prime Super Agricultural Innovation Award.

The two mums, who went to school together in Toowoomba, have both worked in the cattle industry for years, with Mrs Parker in Clermont and Mrs Woods in Normanton.

Working together more than 1000 kilometres apart the pair created a platform enabling agents and sellers to advertise and market cattle to a vast audience.

“We had a website custom built to revolutionise the way the Australian cattle industry connects,” Mrs Parker said.

“We built a platform that offers the Australian cattle industry every marketing tool, technology and solution to advertise cattle nationwide quickly, conveniently and cost-effectively.

“The platform also allows buyers to find sale cattle on one central site and to even set alerts that do the work for them without a need to frequent the website.”

Now with agents across Australia, the platform has reached more than 10,000 social media followers and continues to grow, broadening the scope of buying and selling cattle across the country.

The Queensland Community Achievement Awards began in 2002, with a regional focus, but is now conducted statewide.

The awards have been encouraging, acknowledging and rewarding the valuable contributions that individuals, communities and businesses are making throughout Queensland, recognising those that work tirelessly to improve their communities by promoting the social, economic and environmental prosperity.

Mrs Parker said it was a shock to both her and Mrs Woods when they found out they had been anonymously nominated for the award.

“We were very humbled to receive the nomination, and that someone thought (cattlesales.com.au) was worthy.

“It’s really exciting that we’re semi-finalists and we’re really excited to hear the outcome and see some of the other companies who have been nominated.”

She said if cattlesales.com.au won the award, it would allow them to further develop the website to better serve the industry.

The next round of judging, which determines the finalists of the Prime Super Agricultural Innovation Award will take place on October 13.

Winners will be announced at an Awards Gala Presentation on November 27.

Originally published in The Daily Mercury 30th September. Written by Kristen Booth. Image sourced from The Daily Mercury.