Zach Schubert: Paris Olympics beach volleyball medal hopeful and his burgeoning bug empire

He breeds them in the millions.

Makes protein smoothies and shakes with them, has recipes for cricket lasagna, pizza, bread and burgers. He also ships them all around the country.

When Schubert is not travelling the world on the Pro Beach Volleyball Pro Tour with teammate Tom Hodges, he’s the chief executive of one of Australia’s largest cricket farms, Schubugs.

Schubert and his father, Tim, have big plans for their bug business on the family farm just outside Loxton, in South Australia’s Riverland.

But right now Schubert is giving his insect business, well crickets, while he focuses on Paris after fulfilling his dream of representing Australia at the Olympics and winning a medal.

STILL A COUNTRY BOY

Schubert beams with pride as he strolls his family’s citrus and grain farm, pointing out the landmarks of his childhood.

Alongside rows upon rows of fruit, there’s a farmhouse, a pumphouse on the banks of the Murray River, a machinery yard, even an old graveyard.

He stops to pick an orange fresh from the tree, slices it open and offers around the segments. He is every bit at home.

“I love it,” Schubert says.

“It was just an awesome place to grow up. I couldn’t have asked for better.”

Schubert doesn’t get back to the farm much these days. He moved away from Pyap, just outside Loxton a decade ago to focus on his career as an elite beach volleyballer.

Today, Zach is a world away from Paris and nearly three hours from Adelaide.

The newly minted Olympian spoke when he was back in Pyap for the weekend before he headed off to the next event on the Beach Pro Tour, to squeeze in some time with his mum, Julie, and dad.

Zach’s tour of his beloved family property wraps up on a flat section not far from the house, where a couple of old shipping containers sit next to a large shed.

In this region where produce reigns supreme, Zach and Tim are charting their own, very different path.

JUST CRICKETS

Painted on the outside of the containers are the letters SCHUBUGS, an ever present reminder of the company’s humble beginnings.

In the space of six years, the father-son duo have grown it from an idea he had while studying nutrition at UniSA into the largest cricket farm in South Australia.

Schubugs first operated out of the shipping containers but such was the success of the operation, the Schuberts recently constructed the specially designed shed.

Zach opens the door to reveal floor-to-ceiling crates that house the crickets, all arranged as part of a system that facilitates easy monitoring, cleaning and removal.

The facility has been fitted with a temperature-control system (ideal cricket conditions are between 26-30C) and houses up to 70,000 crickets.

It’s not the chaotic or pungent environment that might be expected.

Zach and Tim, who is responsible for day-to-day management of the operation, have spent years refining the process.

“We’ve aimed to stick to the circular economy,” Zach says.

“We just use stuff on the farm to make the product. We only use rainwater, we use oranges from the block, we use wheat from the farm. So we don’t have to buy anything else.”

GOING BIG WITH BUGS

When Schubugs started out, Zach planned on developing cricket protein for human consumption. Bugs have “no taste” but offer significant sustainability and nutritional benefits, he says.

Soon he discovered a booming market for live crickets among pet shops and reptile owners, and the business pivoted to focus on packing and shipping crickets across the country.

Towards the end of last year, “cricket inbreeding” issues with their genepool emerged and shipping was temporarily suspended.

After months spent diagnosing and then fixing the problem, things are finally getting back to normal.

That’s one of the challenging aspects of cricket farming: it’s rare, and there’s no guidebook. You’re largely on your own.

“Everything that we’re learning, we’re discovering for ourselves,” Zach says.

“There’s no one out there to support you.”

Though he’s not there day-to-day, Zach’s across every little detail of the Schubugs operation. It’s a passion.

Unlike athletes who struggle to find their feet post-retirement, he’s looking forward to a time when he can take the reins from Tim and focus full-time on his crickets.

He stresses, however, there are no current plans.

CHASING OLYMPIC DREAMS

At 28, he’s hit the best form of his career and is reaping the rewards of years of persistence.

He played his first World Tour match in 2013 in the under-19 division and, three years later, played in his first senior event.

He then played as many matches as he could with various partners until he was eventually sidelined by double-knee surgery.

In 2022, after a two-year break, Zach teamed up with Thomas, who was recovering from shoulder surgery and doing rehab at the same time.

It was a partnership born purely of coincidence, but they immediately jelled on and off the court.

“We understand each other, we understand each other’s emotions - what we like, what we don’t like,” Thomas says.

“Now it’s just like we’re a married couple. There’s bickering non-stop, but what would life be without a bit of that.”

In 2023, they broke into the world top 10 for the first time and claimed the Asian Beach Volleyball Championship title in China. That year, they took 58 flights and played every second or third week.

They have dropped to 17th in the world and head into the Olympics as underdogs, but they’re optimistic.

“You go in there aiming for the podium, without a doubt,” Zach says.

“The way the men’s competition is, yeah there’s a few teams at the top but the level is so consistent all the way down.

“I truly believe that if we go in there and it’s our tournament, we can beat any team. On our day, we can beat anyone.”

HOMETOWN HERO

Back in Loxton, there’ll be no shortage of support.

For a town of only 4000, it boasts an impressive history of Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallists.

Those who have achieved such success have had a street named in their honour.

There’s Sophie Edington Drive after the swimmer who won at the Melbourne 2006 and Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Alexander Hill Ave after the rower who won at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and Sarnya Parker Walk after the cyclist who won at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.

The road along the edge of the river is Grant Schubert Drive, named for Zach’s cousin and member of the gold medal-winning hockey team at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Come July, there will be another Schubert Olympian: a Loxton cricket farmer hoping to etch his name in the history books.

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Is he ready?

“Can’t wait,” Zach says.

“Bring it on.”