Meet the Western Hay team
Passionate experts in hay & chaff production
At Western Hay, we take great pride in being a leading producer of premium hay & chaff products in Western Australia. Our success is driven by the collective efforts of our dedicated and passionate team members who strive to deliver the highest quality products to our valued stockists across the region. Allow us to introduce you to the incredible individuals behind the scenes.

Mel and Richard: Owner Operators
Richard and Mel are the founders of Western Hay, driving the business each day, while raising four amazing kids.
Richard is the hands-on guy managing the team, tending to the crops and exploring innovative ways to utilise emerging farm technology and enhance the customer experience.
Mel is the force that keeps the business gears turning seamlessly, looking after admin, HR & payroll.

Kyle Ackerman: Production Manager
Kyle's been with Western Hay for a whopping 11 years. He's the guy in charge of all things production, making sure every step runs like clockwork. Fun fact: Kyle's a diehard Dockers supporter and a cool dad to 11-year-old Ellie. When he's not at work, you'll find him coaching Ellie's footy team and getting into all kinds of local sports action.

John ‘Dougie’ Southall: Bagging Operations Manager
Dougie's our packaging pro with over 4 ½ years under his belt at Western Hay. He knows the ins and outs of making sure everything's packed up perfectly. When he's not busy doing that, you'll spot him hanging out in his garden, doing his green-thumb thing.

Jesse ‘JJ’ Grime: Transport Operations
JJ has been with us for a solid decade, steering our prime mover through all sorts of jobs, from cross-state deliveries to hauling grain and collecting fertilizer. He's got it all covered. Beyond work, JJ is an adventurer who loves hitting the great outdoors in his trusty 4WD.

James Bennison: Boiler Maker and Engineer
James has been the mastermind behind building and tinkering with all the machines we use for nearly 10 years. From the chaff mill, to trucks and farm gear. James kicks off every December with his epic Christmas playlist.

Jake Dimovitis: Jack of All Trades
In his 3 years with us, Jake's shown he's the ultimate all-rounder. Whether it's ordering parts, driving trucks, or getting his hands dirty on the farm - he's your guy. Off the clock, Jake's all about vintage tractors and anything with wheels and an engine.

Jackie : Chief Chaff cutter operator.
Jackie joined the team in 2023
