Loreto Launchpad - Hayes Girl Highlands

In 2019, Loreto College held a fundraising event for the regional launch of the Michelle Payne movie, Ride Like a Girl. All proceeds from ticket sales and donations went towards establishing the Aspiring Dream Scholarship. $2000 is on offer to help a graduating or leaving student pursue their dream.

In 2021, the recipient of this award was Chelsea Hayes to pursue her dream to be a recognised Highland Cow Breeder. Chelsea and her family live on a farm just outside of Ballarat and together with her sister Montana have started a new business, Hayes Girl Highlands.

Their business aims to breed gorgeous well-mannered and friendly calves that they can sell as pets to roam paddocks, clean up grass and more importantly, always be up for a cuddle!

Chelsea Hayes, the Aspiring Dream Scholarship recipient, with her Highland Bull

Chelsea and Montana started their business venture in October 2020 with their first purchase of a beautiful fluffy orange Highland named ‘Honey’. They then purchased 11 more cows and heifers. Chelsea’s submission for the scholarship was to use the money towards buying a Highland Bull to start their own breeding program. A bull was to be the next step in their planning for the breeding business to continue to run, grow and thrive.

We caught up with Chelsea this month and they are now expecting some calves from their new bull at the end of July!

Check out @hayesgirlhighlands on Instagram for gorgeous photos and to contact Chelsea about the cows. A new website will also be up and running soon!