When Chris Higham's husband, Tim, asked her to bring the pie-maker down to the stockyards, she did not realise she was about to embark on her life's most lucrative venture.
For 16 years, the Higham family has run Meedo Station in the Gascoyne region of WA, running sheep, cattle and goats on their pastoral lease.
The latter species became the centre of attention following a few consistent years of unprecedented prices for goat in Australia.
Mrs Higham said the value of their rangeland goats had increased six-fold.
"Goat prices have been phenomenal, up as high as $10.20 per kilo carcase weight," Mrs Higham said.
"When we took over, we were looking at an average price, per head, of about $25.
A report released this year by Meat and Livestock Australia found rangeland goat enterprises has been as or more profitable than the more mainstream livestock enterprises, including lamb, beef or wool.
With strong confidence in the market, the Higham family decided to diversify … and make goat pies.
Undeniable iconic Aussie staple
Although Australia remains the world's top goat-meat exporter, with an ever-increasing market, Mrs Higham's pie-baking abilities soon stole the spotlight.
However, Mrs Higham said the development was accidental.
"I am no chef. I just happen to nail a good pie," Mrs Higham said.
"Originally, I was sending meal packs next door for grey nomads passing through Wooramel Station."
But, after gaining traction among customers, the Highams made their way to the Gascoyne's May Food Festival to showcase their meal packs.
Before departing, Tim asked if they could bring the famous pie-maker that was synonymous with smoko on the station.
Mrs Higham said she agreed to the request, but totally underestimated what would happen next.
"I had never even made a pie until about six years ago," she said.
"Next minute I know, I was making pies to order … the rest is history really.
From there, Mundillya Homestead Hampers was born, not only earning legendary status in the region, but buyers in Perth were soon making orders by the box full.
Goats hardy in tough conditions
Aggregated data suggests the financial impacts of drought on goat enterprises were lower than on beef enterprises, giving them a competitive advantage in marginal land.
Meedo Station is no exception, spanning across 147,000 hectares and no stranger to gruelling dry periods.
Mrs Higham said it made economic sense to utilise the once-considered-feral animal.
"We were just harvesting them annually and sending them off to market.
"I soon realised that it was a resource that was under-utilised.
"So, I started playing around with a few bits and pieces really."
The business has grown so much that a feedlot and processing yards have been built on the property, with the family maintaining a throughput of about 20 to 25 a kill, once a fortnight.
Meedo Station also integrates Kalahari red billie goats into the system to get a meatier, faster-growing animal.
However, Mrs Higham said they would never lose their roots.
"The rangeland goat is pretty hardy and great to have in the system," Mrs Higham said.
"We don't want to get rid of those rangeland attributes altogether, because they have evolved over time and are very suited to this environment."
