Thoma McElligott - Branch manager

I joined the company back in 1995, after a year and a half backpacking around USA, Australia and New Zealand. Before that I'd worked in agri-sales in another company. I have a degree in agricultural science and a masters in food science from UCD. My training in food and agriculture is a good mix.

I enjoy my work and there's plenty of potential both in the job itself and in the company. If you want to make a genuine effort to advance and you do your job professionally, the opportunities are there. We have access to lot of training. At the moment I'm doing a course in accounting and finance.

I manage two agri-retail branches at Ballinamult and Ballymaccabery in west Waterford where we sell agri-inputs - that's chemicals, animal feedstuffs, veterinary products and some hardware and building materials. I spend my mornings in the branches and my afternoons on the road visiting customers. A lot of my work involves giving advice to farmers on the correct use of products.

Often when farmers get crop reports, they call me in to do crop walking. This means that I identify crop diseases and recommend the products to be used. I also supply information on animal feedstuffs. I look at diet formulations and select the appropriate product.

We don't just sell a product we sell a package. I'm often the first port of call to explain co-op shareholdings to farmers. The work is time-consuming. I have a mobile phone which means I'm always contactable.