MARTIN Bunyard has seen it all as market reporter at the Roma Saleyards.

In his six years in the position, Mr Bunyard has witnessed and reported on the highs and lows of the cattle industry and gained a deep insight into the people who keep it running.

Now, after six years working at the iconic institution, Mr Bunyard is moving onto his next big opportunity as a beef reporter and livestock editor for a major media company.

Mr Bunyard said his time at the saleyards was truly unique.

"It's not a job you can study for; it's a job you learn on the go,” he said.

"Roma Saleyards is the largest cattle selling centre in Australia, and to play a small part in maintaining that strength, both for the wider cattle industry but also for local people who live in the Roma and Maranoa district has been and incredible opportunity.”

The harsh realities of the cattle industry were made abundantly clear to Mr Bunyard during his tenure.

"Over the years, we've seen some of the lowest prices on records. There have been numerous droughts so we've seen really low numbers,” he said.

Mr Bunyard moved to the country at a time when most of his media colleagues were trying to get their break in the big city.

Born and raised in Brisbane, Mr Bunyard began his career as a cadet journalist in Sydney.

He said bucking the trend was the best career move he ever made.

"I decided to come back home to the property in Roma and ended up taking a job as rural reporter for Queensland Country Life,” Mr Bunyard said.

"The thing that made me stay was I went against the grain of what every other young person was doing at the time. I went to the country and it gave me a lot more career opportunities.”

Mr Bunyard said his role reporting on the cattle industry, both for Maranoa Regional Council and Meat and Livestock Australia, had given him unique insight into industry trends.

"It's been a very interesting six years. I'm passionate about the cattle industry and I have my own cattle stud, so I have a real interest in it,” he said.