Humans of Agriculture (Humans of Agriculture)

The boys have been on a mid-year holiday (or so it seems). They had the chance to sit down with Ed & Bea in mid-August so this one has taken a few weeks to get Liveeee... that said, lets get into it! 

In this episode of the Tom and Mick show, the boys are sitting down with Ed Bradley and Bea Litchfield of Hazeldean Angus and Hazeldean Merino studs. They discuss their career backgrounds, how they met, and their family history in the stud cattle business. The conversation also covers topics such as the crossover between the stud sheep and cattle industries, the current state of the seed stock market, and the outlook for the commercial markets. At the time of recording, they had their upcoming sale in Tamworth (which went off without a hitch)

In this episode of, Carbon Shortcuts: An introduction to all things Carbon in Aussie Agriculture, hosts Oli Le Lievre and Sam Noon are joined by Professor Richard Eckard from the University of Melbourne. The discussion revolves around the different types of carbon markets, the distinction between offsetting and insetting, and the emergence of biodiversity credits. 

• The difference between the Voluntary and Compliance Markets
• The different Participants and Trades in each market
• The revenue potential and investment required to be involved in carbon projects
• and Shifting focus from Carbon to the emergence of Biodiversity and understanding the emerging opportunity

This series is sponsored by Ruminati, an online emissions calculator created by farmers for farmers. You can learn more about their solution here show notes or by listening to our bonus episodes after episodes 3 and 4.

Disclaimer: The information shared as part of this carbon series is general in nature. We're asking questions of Professor Richard Eckard. And he's providing his insights from his expertise. Humans of Agriculture doesn't endorse any of his views as part of this. They're really designed to just be conversation starters. And if you want to get more information, please reach out to specialists and experts in the carbon space.

We sat down with Dylan Grimes at his vineyard, Mount Macedon Winery, for this weeks episode of Humans of Agriculture. 

Dylan is Co-Captain of AFL team, Richmond Football Club. He has 3 AFL premierships under his belt, he was named 2019 All Australian and received the AFL Players Most Courageous Player Award, as well as the Jack Dyer Medalist Richmond’s Best and Fairest player in 2021 - but over the past few years, Dylan has taken some of his hard work and determination and turned it toward the property he and his wife own.

Whether you're a Tigers fan or not (or you don't follow AFL at all), there's something in this conversation for everyone. 

Dylan breaks down his journey from footballer to farmer - the highs, the lows and the learnings - and how his work on the farm has benefitted his work on the footy field. 

Some of the things covered in this chat are:

• Dylan's interest in agriculture from a young age, growing up on a hobby farm and around family farms
• The hardship of missing out on the first draft and what Dylan's Plan B was going to be if he didn't get picked up to play AFL
• Finding his confidence and identifying his strengths
• Creating a strong team bond at Richmond Football Club with Ben Crowe and Damien Hardwick
• How he and his wife, Elisha, worked towards the property of their dreams
• The early days of the farm, learning to operate a forklift and fixing water mishaps on the way to the MCG
• When the Tigers helped with harvest
• Learning to ask for help
• How has the farm benefitted his AFL career?

Check out Mount Macedon Winery: https://www.mountmacedonwinery.com.au/ 

Welcome to episode 99 of the Humans of Agriculture podcast! It's only taken 99 episodes to cross the Tasman but this week we have our first kiwi. Rhys Roberts is fresh off winning the 2022 New Zealand Zanda McDonald Award. Hailing from the mid-Canterbury region on the south Island of NZ, Rhys is the CEO of Align Farms Group where he manages seven farms and a market garden. Rhys is passionate about producing nutrient dense food in a way that's good for the planet and the people that consume it, while being good for the people working in his team. He see's himself as a food producer and is extremely passionate about the Future of Work. passion as a food producer and to be progressive in what he does is what drives him. He is passionate to continue to produce nutrient dense foods for the populations and his other passion ist the future of work, what might that be you ask, well you better listen on. I loved his way of thinking, his sense of humour and I hope you enjoy the chat! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Sarah Crosthwaite is a a rural mental health clinician from Northeast Victoria, and she has worked as a rural outreach counsellor to farmers across our region. The rest of the time she works with her husband and their team on our 550-cow dairy farm in the Kiewa Valley.

Sarah Crosthwaite discusses her journey in addressing mental health issues within farming communities. She shares insights from her experiences as a rural outreach counselor, the challenges faced by farmers, and the importance of mental health support. The discussion covers her educational background, the impact of natural disasters on mental health, and the establishment of her counselling service, Open Road Counselling. Sarah emphasises the need for better access to mental health services and the importance of normalising conversations around mental health in agriculture.

She's recently off the stage after presenting her Nuffield Scholarship in Tasmania, where she led with the question, ‘What can be learnt from international farming communities to improve and strengthen positive mental health outcomes for Australian primary producers?

She has since set up her own business, Open Road Counselling, is a counselling service for farmers, their families, farm workers and anyone working with in the agricultural industry right across Australia. To find out more check out their website!

Nuffield episode sponsor:
A message from this episode sponsor, ANZ Agribusiness:

Farming in Australia is never without opportunity, nor challenge. From season to season, and from day to day, producers manage a myriad of risks and rewards as they produce the vast range of commodities global markets now demand. At ANZ Agribusiness, we’ve been supporting farmers to take opportunities and manage through challenges for over 150 years. We’re a proud and long term partner of Nuffield Australia, supporting its goal of capacity building for producers, their businesses, industry and rural community. Our network of regionally based Agribusiness bankers are ready to support both our existing customers, and any farming business seeking a review of their banking arrangements at any time. Find your local ANZ Branch manager today.

Life for Shanna Whan was punctuated by her relationship with alcohol - she’s been the girl that was date raped, the winner of college drinking comps, the forty year old drunk and, now, the woman who started Sober in the Country.

Shanna Whan’s story begins - like so many others belonging to country children - with a desperate desire to be free of boarding school.

With her newfound liberation, she jumped at the chance to work with stock and to sit on a horse all day, and took a job as a Jillaroo.

But life outside the school gates wasn’t all it was cracked up to be and, within a year, Shanna was a victim of date rape and three cases of sexual assault.

You can check out the full write up on Shan at https://www.humansofagriculture.com/blog/check-on-your-wild-mate

Content Warning: this post contains discussions of suicide and sexual assault.

to Find out more about the crucial work Sober in the Country are doing visit www.soberinthecountry.org

Thank you to this episodes sponsor, LAWD, the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions, to find out more and check out their latest listings head to www.lawd.com.au

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In this episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast, host Oli Le Lievre is joined by co-host Milly Nolan for the first time! Milly is mates with our guest and knew he would make a ripper episode, so we teed it up while we were all in Armidale together. Introducing Jack Laurie, 5th generation cattle farmer and founder of Breeder Genetics. 

With a profound love and passion for cattle, breeding, data and genetics, Jack's whole life has been dedicated to the sector. At the ripe age of 20, Jack established Breeder Genetics after spending time in America and Canada where he saw an opportunity he wanted to address... The outcome was a breeder-to-breeder genetic platform. 

He talks about the business as 'our', but in reality it is just him day-to-day with some assistance from his sister, Georgie. He speaks fondly of his family, mentors and other people in his network who help him along the way. Success to Jack is the amount they can give back to their clients and the industry, which is pretty special. 

He is exhilarated by what the future might hold for the industry and his involvement in it. Jack is humble, his knowledge of the industry is crazy and his energy is infectious. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Call to Action

13:14 Experiences in Canada and the US

30:24 The Importance of a Team for Business Growth

38:37 Measuring Success Beyond Revenue

While at the Northern Australian Food Futures Conference, host Oli Le Lievre sat down with Tom White, an agronomist for Elders in Katherine.  Originally from Toowoomba, Tom has a real love of plants and has wanted to be an agronomist since doing work experience at B&W Rural...during a drought. 

They discuss:

• How he made the move to Elders Katherine after turning down the job for thinking he was “too green”, but now says that you’ve got to “learn to be uncomfortable”.
• Tom sheds light on the role of an agronomist, describing it as being a "doctor for plants." 
• Address the myth about intense production systems in the NT.
• His advice to students: “Give it a crack, you only have to be as good as the fellow that’s applying next to you. So don't ever cut yourself short or think that you're not ready or that you’re not good enough.”

Ed Gannon is the Editor at the Weekly times and is the Editor-in-Chief for NewsCorp Rural. He has been involved with the Royal Melbourne Show for many years, particularly as the MC and host of the Agribusiness Luncheon. Today we're finding out about Ed's story – From growing up on a dairy farm at Tinamba in Gippsland, he went off to Uni in Melbourne. By chance he was walking past the weekly times office and they had a job advert on the window – he walked in, interviewed and since 1990 he has progressed through the ranks at the Weekly Times.

Without the chance to have the Agribusiness luncheon, I thought beyond just getting Ed's story I wanted to ask him some questions about Australian ag today;

Took the chance to understand the

- What 2020 has taught him about journalism

- The Gathering of stories and best information has pushed home the fact you need to get face to face

- Some of the 'significant moments'  and for ED it was seeing some of the evolution of stories into real change

- Ed was the Deputy editor when Country of Origin labelling was subsequently implemented

- Satisfaction in seeing young people chase an issue and make a difference

- We touch on some issues like Climate change, Regenerative Ag, issue of labour & role of technology & people

- Ed's comments about the role of the show and how it's changing with the times were incredibly insightful

You can find out more about the show at https://royalshow.com.au/

https://royalshow.com.au/podcasts-interviews/humans-of-agriculture/

or find us at www.humansofagriculture.com Instagram @Humansofagriculture_

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This week I'm excited to welcome Paddy Ward to the Humans of Agriculture Podcast.

Paddy is a country boy through and through, from a childhood living out at Mount Hope he took up a lease opportunity and begun mustering goats to make a quid and support his dream of flying.

He may be the unofficial Mayor of Condoblin, a community man at his core and his list of involvements in the town are extensive - He's the President of the Aero Club, on the Condoblin Races Committee, Avid golfer, retired rugby player and mate to many. 

Paddy gives us an insight into his life from a kid from Mount Hope commuting 3 hours a day to and from school to finding an alternative income at the midst of the 2019 drought. Enjoy the chat!

The Humans of Agriculture podcast is proudly supported by LAWD the specialists in Agribusiness valuations and transactions, to find out more head to www.lawd.com.au

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Simone Kain is the first to admit that she’s reluctant to enter the political sphere, but, in the same breath, recognises the power and influence of the children’s books that she has created.

Co-creator of the popular George the Farmer books that help educate children about the systems that work to get their food on the table and their clothes on their back, Simone Kain didn’t always see herself as connected to agriculture.

While Kain spent plenty of time as a child with the animals around her parent’s farm, she always preferred to be drawing rather than doing hands-on jobs around the property.

This preference for the creative arts meant that for years Simone felt that she wasn’t connected to agriculture.

Simone is one of the Antola Trading Shirt Ambassadors, celebrating incredible people from right across Australia who are having an impact within their industry or community. To check out the whole range go to www.antolatrading.com

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Oral lice treatment?! No matter what wool length?! We’re listening… Traditionally, sheep are treated for lice through a backline at the time of shearing. With a new oral treatment product on the market, your host Oli Le Lievre got curious and asked some questions of Dr Jane Morrison:

• What does it take to get a new product to market?
• How do farmers benefit from using the new oral lice treatment?
• How does the oral product work and how long is it effective for?
• How long are the withholding periods for meat and wool? 

And of course, we were curious about our guest Jane as well! She’s from the land and her earliest memories are on the farm with her dad. Now a Veterinarian, she has spent the last 18 years with MSD Animal Health Australia.

Disclaimer: The information shared is general in nature. We're asking questions of Dr. Jane Morrison. And she's providing her insights from her expertise. Humans of Agriculture doesn't endorse any of her views or the product. This episode is really designed to just be a conversation starter. And if you want to get more information, please reach out to specialists and experts in the space.

It's just about a wrap for our Better Business Series! This Part 2 episode with Ed Bradley & Bea Litchfield from Hazeldean will round out the series. If you haven't already, go back and listen to all of our previous incredible guests: Mitchell Highett, Grace Brennan and Phil Cloros. 

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Bea and Ed, discussing their innovative approach to running a family business. Ed shares his experience transitioning into a family business, and they both emphasise the importance of onboarding and building a strong team.

They talk about hiring practices, the value of culture and attitude in the workplace, and the benefits of engaging with tech-savvy young talent through internships. Bea and Ed's commitment to embracing innovation while honouring their family legacy shines through in their approach to business management.

Thanks for tuning in to the Better Business Series!

This episode of The Better Business podcast is supported by the Farm Business Resilience Program through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.

This episode is part of our partnership with Cotton Australia, we’re joined by  Liz Stott, a cotton grower and the Deputy Chair of Cotton Australia.

She brings a plethora of insights into the industry's innovations, sustainability efforts, and leadership development programs that are defining the Australian Cotton industry.

Then, I have a yarn with Jim Gall, CEO of RB Sellars, to discuss why the iconic Australian workwear brand is now incorporating Australian grown cotton into its garments and why this shift isn't just important for Australian growers, but a larger picture around a more sustainable future.

This episode is in paid partnership with Cotton Australia. Humans of Agriculture retains editorial control of the content.

In this episode, you will hear about:

- The Evolution of Australian Cotton
 - Cotton to Market Initiative
 - Camp Cotton: Why luxury brands are choosing Aussie cotton.
 - RB Sellars & "Australian Made"
 - The Power of Storytelling in Agriculture

 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Cotton Industry

02:59 Liz Stott's Journey in Cotton Farming

05:54 Innovations in Cotton Farming Practices

09:02 The Cotton to Market Initiative

12:05 Camp Cotton: Bridging Brands and Farmers

15:06 Jim Gault's Perspective on Australian Cotton

17:54 The Role of RB Sellers in Promoting Cotton

21:06 Sustainability and Best Practices in Cotton Farming

23:53 The Future of Australian Cotton in Workwear

26:58 Storytelling in Agriculture and Brand Representation

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Welcome back to the Humans of Agriculture podcast, this week host Oli Le Lievre sits down with the one half of the Four Daughters. Bonnie and Molly Penfold are back in the family beef business and their brand, Four Daughters.

In this episode, we chat about both of their early influences in and around agriculture, the support and encouragement from their parents for each of them to pursue a career outside of agriculture, what they learnt from their time as guest podcast hosts and the challenges and opportunities in running a direct to consumer meat business.

Read the fullstory on HumansofAgriculture.com

It's not everyday that we have someone new to the team and it's definitely not everyday where you get to sit down with them for a podcast episode and find out more about who they are, what drives them and what impact they want to make on agriculture.

Fortunately for us, in her second week in the job after travelling to Sydney to an Ag Careers Expo Milly Nolan and host Oli Le Lievre got to sit down to chat about the first couple of weeks. 
We cover:

• Milly's early memories of agriculture
• the decision points in her career to date
• What it was like to make the decision to come and join the team at Humans of Agriculture.
• Sharing agriculture's real story and what she's learnt to love and appreciate 
• What impact is she looking to have through Humans of Agriculture
• How to build trust through storytelling
• A few jokes that may or may not have taken longer to get than expected...

In this episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast, host Oli Le Lievre sits down with guest Leila McDougall. 

Leila shares her unique journey from a small town called Walcha in New England to her involvement in various creative pursuits, including being Miss Australia, acting, producing, and writing. 

Leila reflects on her unconventional resume, attributing it to her love for creativity and the interconnectedness of different skills. As the discussion delves into agriculture, Leila explains how her fascination with fashion stemmed from the Australian wool Fashion Awards and her family's involvement in the wool industry. 

Growing up on a farm, Leila cherishes her early memories and highlights her parents' hard work and determination to fulfill their dream of owning land. 

She acknowledges her mother's active role in farming, breaking stereotypes and proving that women can excel in the field. Leila opens up about being severely dyslexic, which posed challenges throughout her academic and professional journey. She shares her experience of learning differently, developing a photographic memory, and finding creative ways to overcome her dyslexia. 

Leila discusses her passion for fashion design and her struggle to enter the industry due to the competitive nature of the field. However, she found an opportunity through the Australian wool Fashion Awards, winning a scholarship that paved the way for her career in fashion. The conversation also touches upon the issue of dyslexia in agriculture, with Leila recounting a story that highlights the challenges faced by dyslexic individuals in communication and the lengths they go to overcome them. Leila's story is inspiring, showcasing resilience, creativity, and the power to turn obstacles into opportunities.

Rebecca (or Beck) Underwood was on our "Women in Agriculture" panel back in March, 2023. Your host, Oli Le Lievre found the conversations with Beck really insightful, so he decided to sit down with her again to chat about how she has progressed her career, how she has grown in confidence and her ideas around inclusivity in agriculture.

A highly regarded agribusiness professional with over 20 years’ experience in Australian agribusiness, Beck is currently the National Sustainability Field Manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions. Based in Albury, Beck is passionate about providing profitable and sustainable agricultural solutions to Australian farmers. She is also a founding member of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Diversity & Inclusion committee.

"There’s so many opportunities in ag. And I think if you're standing back and you're not putting yourself out there, then you're going to miss some of these opportunities. So it's really putting your hand up, I guess. And I've said this to you before Oli, but I have been wondering, why do we need to highlight Women in Ag? And I say that being very brutally honest. Why do we need to highlight Women in Ag? Why can't it just be people in ag, or humans of ag?" - Beck

Welcome to the Humans of Agriculture podcast in collaboration with the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) has proudly presented the Royal Melbourne Show since 1855. The Show is Victoria’s largest and most iconic annual community event, attracting around 450,000 visitors over 11 days each year and annually contributes more than $244 million in value to Victoria’s economy. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, the Royal Melbourne Show was cancelled for only the third time in its 165 year history.

Aimee has been involved with the Royal Melbourne Show her whole life with her dad first exhibiting back in 1997. She’s progressed through the ranks of exhibiting, judging and now has a critical role assisting the RASV in the facilitation of the Royal Melbourne Show Beef Cattle and Carcase Competitions. Currently working at NH Foods in Oakey, Queensland - Aimee was looking forward to the Royal Melbourne Show as a bit of a family reunion but unfortunately 2020 had other plans.

Today I wanted to find out a bit more what drives Aimee and what has shaped her involved in agriculture and the Royal Melbourne show.

• She touches on the importance of local shows & how her love for them has been shaped by her dad
  
• The opportunity and importance of young people to get involved with show societies and the chance to join various committees and boards has helped her in her career
  
• She received the RASV Youth Travel Award and heading to the US where in true Aimee fashion she was looking at youth programs in Texas to bring back to Australia
  
• Touches on the importance of communication in how agriculture communicates with a broader audience
  
• Some of the skills she’s learnt through the Royal Melbourne Show and the various life skills that accompany it
  

You can find out more about the show at https://royalshow.com.au/

https://royalshow.com.au/podcasts-interviews/humans-of-agriculture/

or find us at www.humansofagriculture.com Instagram @Humansofagriculture_

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Julia "Chief Hope Officer" Jones is an absolute straight-shooter. Your host, Oli Le Lievre, was fortunate enough to meet Julia earlier in 2023. They have become friends and he fondly calls her JJ.

From across the ditch, JJ has been, "married to agriculture for 20years". She is a wealth of experience in finance, markets, sustainability and agriculture. In this episode JJ gives a raw account of how her self-assured, authentic self wasn't always so... And at times it worked against her. 

We dive into JJ's journey of self-discovery, the challenges she faced, and the emerging opportunities and trends she sees for agriculture in the coming years.

She's optimistic about the future of agriculture, "There is something for everyone. It doesn't matter what you want to do. And you will not work in a more rewarding, cool, fun, insane, frustrating, mental, progressive, fast-paced environment than agriculture. So there's no way you can't find something you'd want to do in ag."

Welcome to Episode 61 of the Humans of Agriculture podcast. It's the beginning of our collaboration with Antola Trading, celebrating the diverse impact and discovering the stories of some remarkable Aussies who are the newest ambassadors for the Antola workwear range. 

Jane Thomson is the founder and Managing Director of The Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society, a wine community for women that connects people right across the supply chain from growers to consumers, She’s also the founder and Chair of the Australian Women in Wine Awards (AWIWA). The AWIWA is the world's first and only awards platform for women in wine.

Starting off her career in psychology before moving into PR & communications where she has been recognised as an award winning Digital communicator.  On top of the accolades, Jane is also an author of ‘The Fabulous ladies guide to wine’.

Jane works hard and passionately to both engage female wine consumers and to promote and highlight Australia's women in wine.

To find out more about Jane check out the Fabulous Ladies Wine Society website, https://fabulousladieswinesociety.com/. 

Next week we'll sit down with Ewan McAsh, Smart Oyster farmer and entrepreneur. 

Thank you to this episodes sponsors, LAWD the specialists in Agribusiness valuations and transactions. To find out more head to www.lawd.com.au

and Antola Trading, where every shirt has a story. You can check the shirts out at www.antolatrading.com and make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charity with every purchase.

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This episode with Fritz Bolten is our very first “Mother - Son” duo for the Humans Of Agriculture podcast! We sat down with Fritz's Mother, Frauke Bolten-Boshammer, about two years ago. They both have incredible stories, as a family and as individuals. 

We talk about farming in Kununurra. The wet season. Succession and handing over the reigns, even when it doesn't quite involve your own children. Grief and loss following his fathers death by suicide when he was a teenager. Being a Nuffield Scholar. And what's next.

Fritz’s story is part of our partnership with the Nuffield Australia - Nuffield Scholar program - Where we are shining a light on some of the incredible stories of some of their scholars.

A message from this episode sponsor, ANZ Agribusiness:

Farming in Australia is never without opportunity, nor challenge. From season to season, and from day to day, producers manage a myriad of risks and rewards as they produce the vast range of commodities global markets now demand. At ANZ Agribusiness, we’ve been supporting farmers to take opportunities and manage through challenges for over 150 years. We’re a proud and long term partner of Nuffield Australia, supporting its goal of capacity building for producers, their businesses, industry and rural community. Our network of regionally based Agribusiness bankers are ready to support both our existing customers, and any farming business seeking a review of their banking arrangements at any time. Find your local ANZ Agribusiness manager at ANZ.com.

G'day and Welcome back to 2022! Karen & Jamie or Dodge as he’s better known have a truly extraordinary story. From the moments they met at Ag college to their very first date to McDonalds, their life has never been dull. In his younger years, Jamie took to the world of bull riding, a natural competitor and sportsman, as tough as they come, not even a broken neck could stop him from getting a Guinness world record. On the 27th of March 2014, their lives changed forever. Dodge was heading home from work at the Dubbo saleyards when a truck ran him off the road, sending his car into a tree and bursting into flames. This was only the beginning, but these two epitomise the word resilience took the only path they knew. As we explore their life together, you'll learn a little bit more about the disappearing wedding ring, that even when faced with life and death they found something within themselves and each other to fight on. It truly is an incredible story and I hope you enjoy it! Soon you'll be able to watch this podcast via video as well, so keep your eyes peeled for that! To read more about their story head to www.humansofagriculture.com Thank you to this podcast sponsor, LAWD, the specialists in Agribusiness valuations and transactions. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Tessa Chartres is the 2024 Zanda McDonald Award winner for Australia, in this episode she sits down with host Oli Le Lievre to chat about her background, her role as the General Manager of Business Development at Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL). She highlights the impact of the drought on regional communities and the importance of long-term thinking in preserving agricultural assets for future generations. Tess also shares her involvement with as the Chair of the Southwest Music Regional Conservatorium and her vision for the town of Deniliquin in Southern NSW, emphasising the need for collaboration and positive thinking.

Other topics discussed:

• Long-term thinking is crucial for preserving agricultural assets and ensuring the viability of regional communities for future generations.
• Collaboration and positive thinking are essential for solving the challenges faced by regional communities and the agricultural industry.
• The arts, such as music and culture, play a vital role in making regional communities attractive places to live and work.
• The Zanda McDonald Award provides valuable networking opportunities and a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:09 The Big Battle of Easter - The Deni Rams vs Finley Cats

03:27 Transition to Deniliquin and MIL

05:12 Impact of Drought on Deniliquin 

06:24 Initial Takeaways from MIL

08:04 Overview of Murray Irrigation Limited

09:48 Importance of Long-Term Thinking

11:00 The Future of Regional Communities

12:38 The Role of Southwest Music Regional Conservatorium

13:49 Vision for Deniliquin as a Town

16:18 The Zanda Mentoring Trip and Areas of Interest

21:04 The Importance of Collaboration and Positive Thinking

Courtenay DeHoff, aka the Fancy Lady Cowgirl, is in Australia for the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity event. Thanks to our friends over at The Regional PR Co, we've managed to bring her into The Commons in Sydney to share her story with our Aussie audience.

In this conversation we explore her upbringing as a local Kansas cowgirl, when the opportunity came to explore career pathways she was drawn to the bright lights and opportunity of Television.
Her life now has taken her full circle, with a skillset incredibly unique and an outlook that's positive for the Agriculture sector, Courtenay is shaping the narrative that Agriculture is diverse, it is inclusive and no matter who you are or where you're from, you can pursue a career in this incredible sector.

We also talk about:

• the courage to embrace her inner cowgirl
• her mission to welcome others into the cowgirl/cowboy lifestyle
• The importance of pursuing your true calling
• The influence of pop culture on the perception of agriculture and the challenges and opportunities if the industry embraces it

Chapters:
00:00 The Journey of the Fancy Lady Cowgirl: Embracing Authenticity and Identity

08:37 Returning to Agriculture: Values, Work Ethic, and Lifestyle

14:41 The Impact of Storytelling in Agriculture: Shaping Narratives and Impacting Change

20:44 Embracing the Cowgirl Spirit: Identity and Empowerment

25:20 The Importance of Sharing the Story of Agriculture

30:06 Challenges and Opportunities in Agriculture

, Fancy Lady Cowgirl, agriculture, Kansas, television, mainstream media, storytelling, authenticity, courage, identity, lifestyle, career, values, work ethic, agriculture stories, agriculture, cowgirl spirit, empowerment, storytelling, popular culture, challenges, perception, mental health, opportunities

Michael Patching is an Australian Veterinarian based in Singapore. With a Masters in Animal Welfare Ethics & Law from Edinburgh University Patcho is driven by making change and having impact. Within animal welfare, he wants to see some basic, yet difficult changes occur and he see's this as an obligation. 

Patcho grew up in the suburbs of Perth and from a young age knew that he wanted to be a Vet.

His career, may have well taken a secondary seat to his love of Rugby. Travelling the world as a semi-professional player his footy career took him to play rugby, and work as a vet in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and across Asia.

After completing his studies, a Masters in Animal Welfare, Patcho headed to Vietnam where he took up a role with Meat and Livestock Australia. His career to date has been focused around improving animal welfare standards across the supply chain and Patcho is incredibly passionate about this.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

03:25 Personal Journeys and Self-Awareness

06:19 Challenges of Running a Business

08:40 Lessons Learned from Running a Business

12:59 The Importance of Curiosity and Asking Questions

14:26 Choosing Singapore as a Base

20:10 The Transformative Power of Travel

23:29 Navigating the Complexities of the Agriculture Industry

24:53 Balancing Global Issues and Personal Impact

26:47 Striving for Balance in Work and Life

30:08 Baptism of Fire: Early Experiences in the Animal Welfare Space

33:01 The Importance of People and Relationships in Impacting Change

37:23 Expanding Impact: Beyond Australian Cattle in ESCAS Supply Chains

45:00 Respecting Animals: Consumer Responsibility in the Meat Industry

51:41 Making a Positive Impact: Daily Actions and Challenges

56:31 Innovation in Agriculture: Replacing Essential Tasks with Technology

Today we're venturing down to the asparagus marshlands of Koo Wee Rup to chat with James Terry. James is a grower, exporter, trader, people manager, logistics organizer – you name it and it could quite possibly be in his job description.

I'm excited about this one, we're doing a bit of a pow wow as we chat all things asparagus and this year in particularly has been challenging from the aspect of weather, transport and logistics, access to labour and everything in between.

So interesting facts:

- The 24 hour supply chain sees product picked and marketed quite often within 24 hours.

- Every single spear involves people and hands.

- Robotic automation has proven to be too slow and human power is far more efficient

-  Some of the pickers have been away from their families back home in Vanuatu for more than 12 months

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G’day and Welcome to the Humans of Agriculture podcast.

I’m your host Oli Le lievre and it’s a pleasure to bring another incredible story to you.

Our next guest is the 2022 Australian Zanda McDonald Award winner, Charlie Perry grew up on his family's property 'Trent Bridge', however made the decision after school to pursue a corporate role working as a Management consultant for Ernst & Young. Charlie's work saw him working on significant government and infrastructure projects of national significance and those skills have followed him into his current role within the family business as well as being the current chair of the Australian Wagyu Association.

Charlie's shares an honest, enjoyable and engaging story of his path as we talk about some of the bigger challenges and opportunities that have presented themselves to him.

Opportunity with our podcast sponsor LAWD:

An exciting opportunity for an Entry-level role, joining Australia’s fastest-growing rural property agency, LAWD and benefit from direct guidance from one of Australia’s leading rural property agents, Col Medway. Col is seeking a candidate with a passion for agriculture, exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and an appetite for hard work and personal drive for success, to “ride shot gun” with him as he travels Australia marketing a diverse range of agricultural assets. You will learn on the job and be trained in all aspects of rural property transactions, providing a unique and accelerated experience upon which to launch your career. Have a think about if you have the discipline and stamina to work at pace, this is a role for hard working, straight-shooting high achievers. The position is highly suited to agricultural discipline graduates or property graduates with a deep knowledge of Australian agriculture. To find out more or apply send your CV to info@lawd.com.au --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

In August last year, Oli had the chance to sit down with David Egerton-Warburton for their podcast Boots off Log on! We thought we'd share the chat as, we thought it'd give a little bit more context behind Humans of Agriculture and why it started.

We're back to regular episodes from next week and we can't wait to bring you more extraordinary stories in 2024!!

Chris Toohey spent his childhood growing up on the family's Riverina Property growing Rice, cattle, sheep and other dryland irrigated crops.

With a love of plants and a recommendation from his parents to go and explore opportunities outside the farm gate, Chris begin his apprenticeship as a landscaper and worked his way up.

Seeing the opportunity to take his skills on the road he took off on a road trip around Australia before a back injury led him to move away from the physicality of the job.

Heading to university as a mature age student, Chris' career was set out for him, Agronomy was the obvious choice. Chris has never looked back.

Chris is a 2020 Syngenta Growth Award Winner in the productivity category and this is his story.

This episode has been sponsored by Syngenta, the team that has been bringing global agricultural innovation to Australia for more than 90 years. Their world-class seed varieties and crop protection productions help farmers overcome climatic challenges, and sustainably grow more food, feed and fibre for all of us. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Ahead of the Agrifutures Rural Women's Award National Announcement, we sat down with two previous winners, Sue Middleton (2010) and Jo Palmer (2019) to find out about their stories on entering, winning and life after the Award.

Both Sue and Jo have come at the award from two very different backgrounds, however the opportunities the Award has opened up for them is immense. For Sue it meant 18 months of presentations, meetings and advocating for Agriculture and rural Australia and for Jo, well she has hardly said no to any opportunity that has been put in front of her, all while managing it fairly remotely! 

The Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award National Announcement is being held virtually next Wednesday the 20th of October at 12:30pm AEDT. To Register, go to www.agrifutures.com.au/rwa

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For the past 30 or so years Prue Bondfield & husband David have forged an incredible partnership and it has seen them take their business Palgrove, from strength to strength. Uncovering new opportunities and blazing the trail to show what is possible with a vision, dedication and surrounding yourself with the right people. 

Having just recently completed the final stages of their succession plan which saw the property sold off, Prue shares more about what’s next for them.

• Prue has taken anything but straight forward path to getting to her roles in the industry including Chair of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework. 
• Growing up in regional Queensland her life as a solicitor went against the grain, later she moved into corporate roles before it was the love of a farmer at a BnS kick-started an incredible love of agriculture. 
• Teamwork has been at the foundation of the success of Prue & David Bondfield. In this chat, Prue talks about the transition, the moment where she woke up and realised that the next stage of her life was starting.  
• Prue talks about career choices, finding passions, the importance of balance and that if you set your mind to it then you can do just about anything.
• Also, never serve up mouldy scones

This episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast is part of our collaboration with EvokeAg. We're sitting down with people from right across the Global Agrifood system hearing their stories. EvokeAg is headed to Adelaide, South Australia on Feb 21-22 2023, if you would like to find out more then head to www.EvokeAg.com to find out more.

Image credit: Regional Investment Corporation (https://www.ric.gov.au/about/board)

For Ginnie Hope-Johnstone, success was to go to university, get a degree and get a good job in the city. So after school, that's exactly the path she took.  After successfully completing a dual degree in sports administration adn event management, she scored the corporate role she was after. But by the age of 28, Ginnie had longed for wide open spaces and had always wanted to be a jillaroo on a Northern Territory cattle station, so what else do you do than take the leap! After 'living the dream' for two years, Ginnie returned to Victoria however the urge to find a job that she wanted to do wasn't quite there, so she established her own business: VC Events Co! Ginnie's story traverses the years of building a career, pursuing a dream and then really finding what you're passionate about and building a career and business around it! Enjoy the chat! This episode is sponsored by LAWD the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions, to find out more head to www.lawd.com.au --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Dr Robyn Alders was born and raised on a grazing property on the Southern Tablelands of NSW and for more than the last 30 years, has worked closely with smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia as a veterinarian, researcher and colleague. She’s Honorary Professor with the Development Policy Centre within the Australian National University, a Senior Scientific Advisor with the Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security and is a mentor in Timor Leste with a program focused on improving nutrition.

Her journey begins as a young girl, with a dream of becoming a drover. When her horse fell sick and she saw the incredible work that vets do. From that day, her life took a turn, it's left her with some incredible experiences and stories to share.

Thank you to this episodes Sponsor, LAWD, specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions. You can find out more at http://www.lawd.com.au

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So far this year we've been fortunate to speak with incredible athlete, Nedd Brockmann who we've already released and coming up in the next few episodes, Adventurer Tim Jarvis.
However, most of the rockstars we speak to are after the event, this time, we sit down with Agribusiness Lawyer Trent Thorne in the lead up to his expedition to summit Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

Now, Trent is incredibly Humble about this and we find that extraordinary, so we wanted to find out what the preparation has been like and what is his mindset like as he heads into the unknown where only a touch over 6,000 people (on this planet of 8 billion) have been before him and of that only 11,346 

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Tim Jarvis is an adventurer, explorer, environmental scientist, documentary filmmaker and global speaker.

In February of 2023, Host Oli Le Lievre had the chance to sit down with Tim at EvokeAg, a global Agrifood Tech event that was held in Adelaide. 

What was fascinating about Tim was his approach to use storytelling from his first hand experiences in some of the most remote and isolated parts of the world to convey important messages about the environment and climate change to people and organisations all around the world.

As part of all the other things he does, he also does a lot of work around climate change and sustainability… which coincidently has BUCKET LOADS to do with Ag🌾🧑‍🔬🐂.

In our latest pod🎧, we have a chat with Tim about how:

-Getting lost at an adventure camp in Malaysia as a 12-year-old led to realising that having confidence to do something = achieving great things.

-“Self-delusion is a useful attribute”, sometimes you gotta break down the big challenge into small do-able bits (hence we've put this in dot points).

-He’s seen the shift from denial about climate change, to denial of our contribution to climate change to a level of panic about climate change

-He doesn’t really like being called an environmentalist because it puts up barriers in peoples minds.

-He wants to work with people so they benefit from their businesses, while also looking out for the longevity of the planet🌍 for future generations 👨‍👩‍👦.

It's one of the most powerful conversations we've had to date. Clancy Mackay... a bush kid who grew up in the scrub of the Northern Territory. A teenager that 'played up a bit', however it's been his love of the land, of animals and of his family that have persevered. 

In Part one of this chat, Host Oli Le Lievre sits down with Clancy Mackay a current student at Marcus Oldham. At the ripe old age of 27, Clancy Mackay has decades of wisdom on top of his shoulders and real life lessons that have led him down the path he is on.

He's adventures have included rodeoing in the USA, being an outback mustering helicopter pilot and collecting croc eggs among many other things!

At 27, Clancy has fit a lot into his life and therefore has a lot of stories to tell, so to make sure we don't miss anything. Welcome to Part OneL

• How Clancy’s parents bought a bare block in the territory and Clancy recalls his early years living in a caravan with no power, running water or telephone. He was a true bush kid, he did his schooling via School of the Air through the UHF radio, and once his school day was done (usually by mid morning) he'd spend the rest of the day running around outside and hunting and fishing in the river (He is unsure how they weren’t taken by a croc).
• Eventually, his parents moved him and his brothers down to Goondiwindi so they could see other people (as you can guess, they’d been pretty isolated as kids). Later on due to his parent’s separation, Clancy retaliated by playing up and being asked to leave the boarding school he was at.
• Clancy worked with cattle and started doing rodeos and riding broncs, eventually heading to the US where he rode 40 horses in 35 days. He did well and started learning Boiler-making while riding for a US college team, hoping to go pro. Unfortunately, 6 months into it, his dad was diagnosed with cancer and he made the decision to head home. 
• Upon arriving home and with the motivation to make money to support his dad, Clancy flew through his chopper license exams in a record 4 months, which he then used to muster cattle right across Australia, eventually getting into catching feral buffalo and collecting crocodile eggs.
• Despite what seems to be an exciting adventure, Clancy also talks on the podcast about his dad’s struggle with illness and later death, which understandably has affected him greatly. 

As we mentioned, there's a lot to Clancy's story and we couldn't cut parts out so we will have Part Two of Clancy’s incredible story available for you next Wednesday.

After losing her first child in her early twenties, Olympia packed up her life and headed to the northern territory. As she says she was running away from her issues. She found herself as the only female working in an export yard and as only Olympia can do quickly became part of the crew, and may have surprised them.

She headed for the USA, as an avid horse lover she became a horse trainer in Stephenville Texas, a dry county. She would ride her bike several miles after a long day of training horses to have a few beers at the local club.

Olympia left the dry county and met her now-husband Eric, a US Marine who deployed to Afghanistan several times. Olympia shares the reality of living in a Marine Corps Town, the thoughts of not when they would return but if they would return home. 

Olympia is simply extraordinary her will to make a difference is inspiring and this is where she finds herself today, reducing food waste going to landfill and feeding it to the Soldier Flies which ultimately then lead to becoming a stock feed. She cares deeply about the environment and is having a remarkable impact.

This episode was recorded on Ngunnawal country and is part of our collaboration with EvokeAg. Throughout the series we’re shining a light on the people -  from all walks of life - who make our global agrifood system so vibrant. We’re hearing their stories of innovation, their diverse background, what drives them and why shaping the future of food is so rewarding. If you're keen on attending or partnering for EvokeAG 2023 in Adelaide, head to www.evokeag.com

This week we are sitting down with Nick Crundall the CEO of Market Check a specialist grain marketing advisor.

Nick grew up in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, his connection to agriculture was fairly minimal however today, he's determined to show kids just like him, the careers and opportunities in agriculture.

Initially he wanted to be a real estate agent, it was the interest in economics that saw him apply for and be accepted to Agriculture Economics at Sydney Uni before a summer internship with Meat and Livestock Australia solidified his interest and passion in Agriculture.

Since then, his career moves and interests have been well thought out, leaning on mentors, friends and the broader network to ultimately become a CEO in his mid-30's.

In this episode we chat about:

• Leadership in an emerging agriculture business
• Career Advice and decision making
• Connecting Rural and Urban Australians
• The Vast opportunities in agriculture
• Building a career in agriculture in a capital city
• Communication, business strategy and team dynamics

Country women are well known to be expert jugglers of all things farming and family, but Georgie Somerset might be one the best of all.

Georgie is a rural leader who has developed an enviable CV through her broad experiences, for more than 30 years she has juggled being actively involved in the family beef business while working for some remarkable organisations. 

Amongst her CV she is the President of AgForce Queensland Farmers, a Director of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Qld division) and a Board Director for the ABC. Georgie is an advocate for australian farming, regional communities and particularly supporting women in the industry.

You can shop the Antola shirt range and make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane at www.antolatrading.com 

We'd like to thank this episodes sponsor LAWD, the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions. To find out more, head to www.lawd.com.au

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Dione Howard wears many hats: a National Rural Ambassador, Vet and Young Farming Champion.

In high school she knew she wanted to be a doctor of sorts, the decision was whether she wanted to be a doctor of people or animals. 

It came down to she was a whole lot more comfortable dealing with animal blood than that of humans. She walked out of university and began her work near Hay in south-western NSW, in the midst of the drought, followed by bushfires and ultimately a pandemic. It has seen her work varied but as she says, her job is to help keep animals safe and make sure on the ground they detect any potential disease or threats to Australia's agricultural sector.

Our weekly podcast is sponsored by LAWD, the specialists in Agribusiness valuations and transactions. Our question this week, when was the last time Australian farm prices saw a decline? Check out our socials for the answer! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Dr Holly Ludemann is a vet as well as the Founder and Managing Director of the Livestock Collective. Like all our podcasts, I wanted to understand where her story starts and where the passion comes from, the experience of putting her head up and being a face of live export at a time when the industry was facing significant external negativity, this led her to taking a team of media on board and travelling from Australia to Kuwait to gather data and footage as to what happens on board.

This chat is fascinating from someone on the ground and responsive for the overall health and wellbeing of livestock onboard

As always, thank you to this episodes sponsor who really help me make it possible to bring these conversations to life. LAWD are the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions. You can find out more at www.lawd.com.au

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Belle Binder is the first one to admit that she's been on a steep learning curve in the world of farming and labour hire. 

With a background in marketing, business and psychology, Belle and her husband were looking to take over a business, but they certainly weren't expecting to enter the agriculture industry.

Belle leans on her own experiences in the workplace and takes the approach of matchmaking to help farmers and workers find the right fit for them. Her mission with Left Field is to have a positive impact on the livelihoods of farmers and workers, and improve some of the working culture on Australia’s farms.  

Erica Halliday embodies optimism. Her upbeat nature is genuinely infectious, even when she is talking about some really difficult periods for her, her family and the business.

Erica and her husband Stu run Ben Nevis Angus Stud, a 5th generation family business situated in Walcha, New South Wales. Erica is a natural storyteller who believes in bringing something to the business, not taking from it. It was fascinating to learn how her and Stu built their foundations which added to the family business and Angus Stud when it was time to merge.

While you’d be forgiven to think everything is always rainbows and butterflies for Erica given how optimistic she is, she has certainly had more than her fair share of struggles. With three natural disasters in 12 months, Erica says it was humour that got her through - and that you can believe!

An absolute asset to agriculture, Erica has ideas about climate change, sustainability and the future of the beef industry. She believes that the beef industry is not only part of the solution for climate change, but for global food security as well. On their own property, they are implementing change that works with their soil and natural environment.

With all her spare time, Erica sits on the board for Angus Australia and is a Director of Rural Aid. 

We left the conversation with Erica feeling energised and there’s so many more pockets of gold from Oli's chat with her.

Welcome to part 3 of our mini-series on agricultural financing, partnered with Legacy Livestock.

We wrap up our conversation Richard Brimblecombe, CEO of Legacy Livestock, by exploring the transformative role of livestock financing in modern agriculture and how innovative solutions are empowering Australian farming families.

Richard shares his journey from cattle property life in Queensland to leading Legacy Livestock, a company dedicated to helping progressive producers unlock the full potential of their operations. From personalized financing options to navigating challenges like market volatility and access to capital, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone invested in agriculture's future. His passion for empowering farmers through tailored financial solutions offers practical tips and big-picture perspectives on the industry's future.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Richard shares where his home is, owning an F1 Wagyu operation, and the tools he and his wife use to stay on top of it.
• How evolving tech like the blockchain and data enhance farm management decisions.
• Step-by-step process for accessing financing through Legacy Livestock and the client success stories that turned struggle into success.
•  Richard's advice for young people and the opportunities unfolding for future farmers.

Tune In:
Subscribe to Humans of Agriculture on your favorite podcast app and join us for this eye-opening conversation about the evolving world of agri-finance. Don’t forget to leave a review and share your thoughts on the episode!

Get in Touch with Legacy Livestock:
To learn more about how Legacy Livestock can support your farming aspirations, visit their website at legacylivestock.com.au or call them directly at 1300 965 683. Their team of experts is ready to assist you in unlocking the full potential of your agricultural business.

Welcome to Episode 26

Today we're chatting with Sammie O'Brien – if you're a Queensland local you may recognise her from Queensland Weekender and Creek to Coast. Her work has seen her travel across the majority of Queensland, looking at everything from iconic getaways to iconic people. I can safely say it's the first time the town of Dulacca has been mentioned on the podcast but I hope it won't be the last!

I found it really interesting when I asked Sammie if she actually saw herself in agriculture. Her answer was no, I don't feel like I'm doing enough. But it's exactly people like Sammie who are able to articulate the story and bring agriculture onto mobile phones and TV's across the country, for a consumer audience. Luckily, when I shared with her our definition of a human of agriculture – she actually does see herself in the industry.

Today we're chatting about:

- How Sammie's affinity with the country but agriculture more generally came to be

- Taking some time off to and leaving the city behind to explore agriculture  with a stint as a drover and meeting friendly locals in pubs that saw her giving them a helping hand

- Following her stint in the country she had a number of young girls in particular inquisitive and wanting to know more about agriculture and how it this 'trip' came about

- The change of scenery and the sense of accomplishment from a 'day feeling like a day'

- The perceptions from both consumers but also how industry see's the work Sammie is doing to promote the industry

- Opportunities outside the farm gate for people to get involved with agriculture and she ties in the skill of storytelling with getting out there and experiencing it for herself.

Make sure you head to our website www.humansofagriculture.comor to our Instagram @Humansofagriculture_ and make sure you have marked September 19 in your calendars! We're heading (virtually) to the Royal Melbourne show and celebrating the Show with 6 incredible people who have amazing stories about the importance of the Royal Melbourne Show to them and their communities.

You can follow Sammie on Instagram @sammieobrien

See you next week!

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Tom (T-Truck) and Mick (Corkscrew) are back on with their fourth? fifth? episode of the Monthly Markets. They’re joined by special guest Ciaran O'Gorman from StockCo.

While having a laugh and some fun, they explore current market conditions, the impact of seasonal and climatic factors on livestock prices, and the opportunities available to producers and traders. The discussion also delves into finance rates, the outlook on interest rates, and the potential for future growth in other markets. 

This week on the Humans of Agriculture podcast we’re heading back to share the story of an extraordinary family and Antola shirt ambassador.

Tiff Sayers is an incredibly strong woman, I walked away from this chat just in awe of her resilience and optimism. In this episode Tiff shares her journey and the story of her daughter Ava.

In March of 2021, Ava was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma only a month before her 8th birthday. For the past 12 months and for a further 6, Ava and her mum Tiff alongside sister Caitlin have been calling the Ronald McDonald House home.

The family left their home near Harvey Bay literally overnight they headed to the Ronald McDonald House and that’s been home for the past 12 months.

In this chat, Tiff talks about the world that has been the Ronald McDonald house and the bond that she has amongst the ‘Ronnie Mac Family’.

At the end of this episode, I sat down for a quick chat with Preshni Pillay from the Ronald McDonald House to find out more about their programs and their support.

To check out more about Ronald McDonald house click HERE.

Click here to view the Antola Shirt Range --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Joining us from his ute on top of a hill during a busy week of shearing is the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award winner from Australia, Jack O'Connor. 

Jacko is the General Manager at his family mixed farming operation, Oxton Park. His career has seen him working on farms in developing countries such as Uganda, in the Head Office for Meat and Livestock Australia and now back home in Harden, NSW.

In this chat we cover;

• The moment he found out he won the award from the shearing shed
• reflecting on his life-changing experiences in Uganda
•  The pride he has in the family business
• The community of Harden and the role of sport in the local community.

Jack also mentions - The Schools for Life project and the Manjeri School Project.

You may have heard of Ned Hannigan, if not, he’s a professional rugby player. His rugby career has taken him around the world, so far he’s played more than 50 games for the Waratahs, 25 games for the Wallabies, the highest honour & spent a bit of time playing in Japan as well. But Ned’s a bloke from the bush, home is at Pasadena, the family property not too far from Coonamble in NSW. 

In this chat we talk about the journey Ned’s been on, where rugby has taken him and how his mindset and perspective has shifted around who he is and what he does.

• The culture within high performance teams
• Realising that the dream as a professional athlete was coming true
• The importance of trying your best
• Lessons in blocking out the external noise and being kind to yourself
• Separating who you are from what you do

Welcome back to another episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast, hosted by Oli Le Lievre. This week we sit down with Stephen O'Brien the CEO of Mort & Co. Stephen's a fourth generation flour miller and baker, his early career was with Defiance milling in Toowoomba. Stephen knows the value in teamwork, as one of 9 children it was instilled in him at a pretty early age and followed him onto his pursuits as a rugby union player. Stephen had bigger aspirations than working as a trainee and at the age of 26 decided that he would head to university to complete a Commerce degree.  Stephen's career has spanned management roles in Australia and the USA for both listed and private businesses.  This chat felt a bit like a reverse job interview, so I hope you enjoy it! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

"If you had said to me in year 12, or at uni, or even when I was living and working in Sydney in the ag world, that I would have my own business as an online yoga instructor, I'd probably laugh at you."

The definition of fun and bubbly, Em Armstrong grew up on a sheep farm on the Hay Plains in NSW, where she loved the freedom of the wide-open spaces (cue Dixie Chicks), riding bikes and having a family “beach holiday" at the irrigation channel playing mermaids.

“I think you look back on it now and you almost take it for granted, but as a mum now seeing other kids, I'm just like, ‘oh my god’, we literally had the best life growing up.”

After school, all Em knew was that she wanted to work in the world of agriculture but couldn’t put her finger on what. So, she took a gap year… or two"

You might hear host Oli Le Lievre referring to her as Porty, well that's because that was her nickname when they were back at uni together at Marcus Oldham! 

Mid this year we were at the Aussie Cotton Conference and it sparked a curiousity into who the big players are, where are they going and what impact is that having for Australian cotton growers.

I grabbed Paul Joules from Rabobank to discuss the current state of the cotton market and farm inputs. Paul shares insights from his experience in global agricultural commodities, particularly focusing on cotton production, demand dynamics, and the impact of global events on prices. The conversation also delves into the volatility of farm inputs, especially fertilisers, and the importance of staying informed as a farmer in a rapidly changing landscape.

From the moment we started talking I was engulfed in the stories of Liv Bordon. From humble beginnings in Victoria's Mallee on the family pig farm through to chasing the sunrises and sunsets of outback New South Wales. Liv shows that agriculture truly is full of opportunity, with a dream and a willingness to go after them the world truly is your oyster. Part of Liv's childhood was spent living in a house with no power, cooking over the open fire and to this day it's one of her true loves From outback shearing sheds where her body was left battered, bloodied and bruised Chasing the dream in the territory and beginning a career as an agronomist based out of Katherine This episode has been sponsored by LAWD, the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions. To view their current listings or find out more head to www.lawd.com.au --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Hamish Marr has been in the room for some of New Zealand Agriculture’s key discussions, yet the moment that he is most proud of and one that has defined his life more than any other was when a young boy asked him if he could teach him to be a farmer.

Several years on from that initial conversation, Hamish continues to mentor and coach Fergus on his family's property on the South Island of New Zealand. 

“Fergus, he's a success story. He couldn't be farming, but now he is, and our industry is very lucky to have him. And I'm hoping in 20 years time, we'll still have him somewhere. I doubt he will be with me, because one day, he will be too good for me.” 

Amongst his other roles, Hamish has been a Nuffield scholar studying the role of Glyphosate in farming, is New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy and previous roles with Federated Farmers.

Podcast partnership appreciation: Hamish Marr was announced as a Community and People Award recipient at the 2023 Syngenta Growth Awards in Sydney. This podcast episode is in partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards.

We are back, and in this episode of This is Aussie Ag we are heading from conception to consumption in Western Australia.

We’re here to meet the team to understand the role of people within their vertically integrated gate to plate beef business, an established and growing aquaculture brand and emerging horticulture operations.

Watch here: This is Aussie Ag - Harvest Road Group

00:00 Introduction
00:42 Mark Wiedermann
01:11 Who is Harvest Road
02:30 Minderoo Station
05:30 Ben Dwyer
06:52 Building team culture at Harvest Road
07:50 The Minderoo livestock team
08:48 Brickhouse Station Horticulture
11:10 Koojan Downs Feeding Facility
13:07 Livestock Supply chain movements
14:45 Harvey Beef
18:25 Blair Stubna
19:58 Aquaculture operation in Albany
21:16 Justin Welsh 
22:16 Carnarvon Oyster Nursery
23:53 Jobs in Aquaculture 
24:36 Carbon Neutral Sustainable Aquaculture
26:04 Paul Slaughter, CEO Harvest Road
27:29 Summary of the episode

G’day and Welcome to the Humans of Agriculture podcast.

I’m your host Oli Le lievre and it’s a pleasure to bring another incredible story to you.

I had seen her light-hearted ways via her Instagram channel, she definitely is a bit of a larrikin, and based off the response i got after sharing just a tiny snippet of this episode with you, I reckon there’s a few of you out there that are Grace McLeod Fans as well.

Today's episode covers Grace’s story from a young loving farm kid to an extraordinary woman. Grace has been through quite the transition as her family has undertaken the complicated process of succession. As you’ll hear it actually has resulted in the sale of the family farm, Grace walking away from the life she knew but is thankful she still has her family intact and that her parents now have the freedom to enjoy their retirement.

Opportunity with our podcast sponsor LAWD:

An exciting opportunity for an Entry-level role, joining Australia’s fastest-growing rural property agency, LAWD and benefit from direct guidance from one of Australia’s leading rural property agents, Col Medway. Col is seeking a candidate with a passion for agriculture, exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and an appetite for hard work and personal drive for success, to “ride shot gun” with him as he travels Australia marketing a diverse range of agricultural assets. You will learn on the job and be trained in all aspects of rural property transactions, providing a unique and accelerated experience upon which to launch your career. Have a think about if you have the discipline and stamina to work at pace, this is a role for hard working, straight-shooting high achievers. The position is highly suited to agricultural discipline graduates or property graduates with a deep knowledge of Australian agriculture. To find out more or apply send your CV to info@lawd.com.au --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Craig Heraghty has spent much of his career at Global professional Services firm, Price Waterhouse Coopers. His work has taken him across the globe working with some of the largest businesses in Australian agri business. He's a country boy at heart raised in the regional NSW town of Parkes. His passion for rural Australia has been exemplified by his recent and fairly large decision to retire, in arguably the prime of his career and with extensive opportunities to pursue something for himself. A life as a grower, maker and creator – it all sounds pretty cryptic right, but I reckon we'll unpack it in here.

It hasn't all been sunshine and daisies, it’s a story of perseverance, overcoming the adversities of mental health, resultant family losses, more notably this is the story of somehow who is true to who they are. The discovery and finding of purpose and meaning of true values in their life.

We chat about:

- The struggles and dislike for agriculture in his early days, the exposure to the millennium drought and wanting to 'get away from it'

- Shifting the early perceptions of agriculture and finding commonalities beyond the farmgate

- The surprise sense of belonging and how people rallied around and took pride in 'being from the bush' in the city office

- The number of females entering the industry (and it's about time!) but more so the opportunity for females to see lights on the hill for where they can go. As Craig says "They're going to redefine what agriculture and the traditionally male dominated industry has been – it can only be a positive thing"

- When suicide entered the family five years ago – Craig's entire family were taken aback. Asking questions and not adequately grieving and dealing with what had happened.

- Giving up alcohol four or five years ago, getting help from a psychologist. One thing that changed Craig's perception was how much stronger he felt after actually reaching out for help

- Green Light to talk is an initiative by PWC and you can find Craig on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0DMh8uktUI

- The importance of people in business to show a bit of vulnerability and the humanness aspect means a lot to younger people in business

- The importance of finding out who and what you care about and shedding yourself of those people that aren't necessarily important

- Take notice of the behaviours of others and be the reflection of all the good interactions you've had over your time and don't repeat the ones that you don't want to carry forward

- Be authentic, be genuine and be engaged

Sober in the Country – Shanna Whan: https://www.soberinthecountry.org/

Craig on instagram @Made_by_CMCH

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He lived in 20 houses by the time he was 20, that ability to meet new people and build rapport have been central to his career success.

In his first year with LAWD he transacted nearly a billion dollars in farm sales.

In this chat we cover:

• Danny's background and upbringing
• His love of the Northern Victoria Region
• His career from the Valuers General Office to leading global agriculture teams
• A love and genuine passion for Aussie Agriculture
• Advice to the next generation of Ag Professionals
• The importance of giving to Danny and his wife Kate
• Mental Health and the role of Ag companies in doing more to support it

“I never thought I'd be chatting on an agriculture podcast.”

Founder and CEO of IVM Group, Nick Bloor describes his business as having a mission to improve people's lives through plant science. At only 19 years old, Nick founded his first business in vegetation management space. To us, Nick’s work is pretty mind-blowing. And he is so humble in how he talks about the business growth and people. To Nick, people are everything. 

“I don't grow a business, our people do.”

Podcast partnership: Nick Bloor was announced as the recipient of theJudges Choice Award in the category of Innovation at the 2023 Syngenta Growth Awards. This podcast episode is in partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Challenging Stereotypes in Agriculture

08:04 From Weed Control to Building a Business

15:32 The Evolution of IVM Group: Milestones and Success

24:40 The Future of Agriculture: Sustainable Plant Management

This week we're sitting down with Nancy Crawshaw, the New Zealand winner of the Zanda McDonald Award.
Nancy shares her journey in agriculture and the importance of connection to the land. She discusses the multi-generational impact in agriculture and the responsibility of caring for the land for future generations. Nancy talks about her experiences as a Quality Assurance manager in Naracoorte and the challenges and growth that came with managing a team through COVID. 
She highlights the power of networking and the value of mentoring in the agricultural industry. Nancy's career aspirations include staying involved in the family business and focusing on people management in agriculture.

Takeaways
The connection to the land and the responsibility of caring for it for future generations is a core value in agriculture.

• Networking and building connections in the industry is invaluable for personal and professional growth.
• The QA manager role during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges and opportunities for learning and development.
• Promoting career pathways and investing in people management in agriculture is crucial for the industry's growth and success.

In this podcast episode, host Oli Le Lievre chats with Ben Dwyer, who has been influential in shaping businesses and people within the Australian Agricultural industry for more than 30 years.

Ben is an extremely down-to-earth person, with a passion for raising cattle and building a good team culture who also holds the position of Chief Operating Officer of Agribusiness for Harvest Road.

In 2023, we released a video as part of our This Is Aussie Ag Series, and got to spend time with Ben and the broader team as we explored their Beef, Horticulture and Aquaculture operations.

In this conversation, Oli and Ben cover a range of topics including questions and advice on business, agriculture, people, leadership and just general life.

Just some of the things Ben covers in the chat:

• On being an introvert and how he works with it (he found it easier to hang out animals than people as a kid)
• His progression through the agriculture industry from station hand to where he is now
• “If you do everything right all the time, you don't really learn anything”
• The importance of personal development and understanding yourself before you can understand others
• Being competitive and continuously challenging yourself to be better
• That being the "strong silent type" isn’t always helpful in team environments

Emma Germano is a household name in Australian agriculture. Her involvement in key industry groups and bodies has been instrumental in the corporate and policy arenas where she regularly goes in to bat for farmers.

A little lesser known side of Emma is the journey and learnings along the way that have been instrumental in helping her navigate the field of agripolitics and key industry roles.

From putting it all on the line in the pursuit of a small business in Melbourne to standing in the rain bidding to buy back the family farm, Emma's journey isn't straight forward and it has come with plenty of challenges.

She truly is a trailblazer for what the next gen of ag leaders are bringing to the table and is a very, very worthy Antola ambassador!

We'd like to thank this episodes sponsor, LAWD the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions, to find out more head to www.lawd.com.au

To view the antola range and check out the latest shirts including their kids shirt which has $2 from every shirt going to the Ronald McDonald House then head over to www.antolatrading.com

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When I got a chance to head to evokeAg this year, I heard Jocie Bate speaking and thought to myself, we need to get her on the podcast!  I came across an extraordinary character whose ideas may just revolutionise the future of agriculture. "It's amazing how quickly the sector is evolving," says Jocie Bate on her mission to fully automate the paddock with robotics.

Jocie Bate and her husband, Andrew, founded SwarmFarm Robotics, a pioneering agtech business transforming how we think about farming systems. From growing up on her families grazing property in rural Queensland to co-founding one of Australia's leading ag robotics startups, Jocie shares her journey through finance, family farming, and the bold leap into agricultural innovation. The conversation explores the dynamic of family partnerships, women in agriculture, bootstrapping a startup, and what the future of farming could look like.

Chapter
00:00 Exploring Modern Agriculture

03:07 The Journey of Swarm Farm

05:47 Building Strong Partnerships in Agriculture

09:09 Innovations in Farming Technology

12:08 The Evolution of Swarm Farm

14:50 Navigating Funding and Growth

18:06 The Future of Agriculture and Robotics

20:47 Lessons Learned and Personal Growth

23:55 The Role of Technology in Agriculture

26:45 Engaging the Next Generation in Ag Tech

Connect with SwarmFarm:

• Website: swarmfarm.com
• Instagram: SwarmFarm IG
• Youtube: SwarmFarm

Follow Humans of Agriculture on Instagram & LinkedIn
Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Annabelle Hickson hails from just down the road from where our host, Oli Le Lievre grew up.

Annabelle landed her dream job straight out of uni working for the Australian newspaper, her work fascinated her and she certainly landed on her feet.

That was until she met 'the farmer'. The story took a turn and Annabelle found herself in Moree, with a lot of journalism skills but with an inability to get work.

Annabelle's rejection subsequently turned into opportunity as she began blogging, then wrote a book titled 'A tree in the house' and since 2020, she has been self-publishign her own magazine Galah Press.

The Humans of Agriculture podcast is sponsored by LAWD, the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions. Find out more at www.lawd.com.au

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In this conversation, Sabrina Davies shares her journey of living on Kangaroo Island, the impact of the Black Summer bushfires, and her initiative, Humans of Kangaroo Island, which aims to tell the stories of the local community. She discusses the challenges of rebuilding after losing her home, the importance of community support, and her reflections on loss and recovery. Sabrina emphasises the beauty of Kangaroo Island and the unique lifestyle it offers, while also providing insights into her personal growth and the lessons learned through adversity.

Pic Credit: Australian Rural Leadership Foundation

Kangaroo Island, community, bushfires, storytelling, resilience, recovery, nature, Humans of Kangaroo Island, personal journey, support

Welcome to Episode 28! It's been a chaotic few weeks with getting the episodes recorded and live as part of the Royal Melbourne Show. So we're back to one a week now so it's practically a holiday!

Today I wanted to sit down with a good mate and pig Farmer from Northern Victoria. Tim Kingma or TK as he is more commonly known is one of the most passionate blokes I've ever come across. His K.I.S.S approach (Keep is Simple Stupid) has kept me on the straight and narrow a few times.

I wanted to share TK's story from volunteering in Africa and meeting his now wife, Mariah, to taking over and running the family pig farm. He's heavily involved in the community and is passionate about supporting Australian agriculture and in particu -lar the pork industry.

We're going to chat about animal welfare, his community, consumer awareness and some of the opportunities in and around pork.

I would absolutely love any questions you've got on this and we can follow them up with TK!

Get in touch with us at hello@humansofagriculture.com

Website: www.humansofagriculture.com

Instagram: @Humansofagriculture.com

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This is the Tom and Mick Show! In this episode they are joined by special guest - cattle buyer Jimmy Blain, AKA 'Bull Train'. They cover the following:

• What keeps Jimmy occupied day-to-day
• Cattle market trends and weather impact 
• Sheep and wool markets 
• Market outlooks and predictions 
• What podcasts Jimmy listens to on the road

Mary O'Brien is passionate about Men's Mental Health. Her simple analogies resonate so clearly with blokes and women right across rural and regional Australia, helping them to understand the challenges around Mental Health and letting them know that there is help out there.

We were in town for the Riverine Plains Innovation Expo and off the back of her session, we thought we'd grab Mary O'Brien from Are You Bogged Mate to have a bit of a yarn about what her work is.

Mary travels the country running workshops, her approach is simple - start the conversation and use references that people can relate to. 

When it comes to suicide the stats are quite alarming. 76% of suicides are men. Of all deaths of people aged 20-24, 40% are from suicide.

For every 1 death, there are 30 suicide attempts. 

So why are people getting bogged, what are the simple steps for people to look after themselves and also those around us?

If this conversation does prompt any concerns for you or someone you know there is help out there. Our friends over at the TIACS helpline are available on 0488 846 988. or you can reach lifeline on 13 11 14.

Welcome back to the Humans of Agriculture podcast, I'm your host Oli Le Lievre. Mike Lee came onto the stage at EvokeAg 2020 and I think he captured the minds, eyes, and ears of everyone in the auditorium. Mike’s job, is as a futurist, he works with some of the largest organisations globally to help them see what our food system may look like in the next 5-25 years. Today, Mike and I chat a little bit about his journey, from his upbringing in Detroit to starting his own dining experiences. Today as the founder of The Future Market and as the co-founder of Alpha Foods. I love Mike’s realness in his approach as he works with businesses to create delicious products, enticing while being good for people, the planet and doing it in a profitable way. If you want to get ahead of the pack, you can find out more about EvokeAG 2023, which is being held on 21-22 February 2023 in Adelaide, South Australia. If you're interested in attending the two-day, full-scale, global event or partnering, visit evokeAG.com for more details. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

It's Episode 6 and our final episode as part of this collaboration with the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria as we have been celebrating the Royal Melbourne Show Online.

Today's guest is Dr Joanna Newton, she has an incredibly impressive resume that this year grew with the Medal of the Order of Australia for her contribution to agriculture through her advocacy and support of young people, volunteering and contribution to dairy science.

Despite growing up in metro Melbourne it was an opportunity to get involved with Agriculture at Jo's school Tintern Grammar that instilled a love and desire for the industry.

Jo headed off to the University of New England in Armidale, where a chance meeting with a farmer at a formal dinner led her to completing her work experience, implementing data recording for his merino flock and what has blossomed into an incredible friendship.

Jo has accomplished so much already in her career, at the age of 16 Jo was not deterred by being told she was 'too smart for agriculture' and we are so thankful she is part of the industry today.

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He's a hard man to get hold of, often travelling Australia and to various locations around the world. At the age of just 24, Callan Daley is playing a key role as the Business Development Lead for MEQ Probe. 

Callan joins host Oli Le Lievre to chat about the journey from Queensland farm kid to the juggle of uni and ultimately finding his feet in a growing start up business, right back home in agriculture. 

A few of the other things Callan chats about:

• All the places he’s been with work of late (around Australia and overseas)
• Reigniting his interest in Agriculture (“I’ve always had it in the background, but drought and harsh living conditions growing up as a kid aren't exactly the most appealing ways to foster an interest into an industry.”)
• Having a gap year out near Goondiwindi on a cattle and cropping farm and how much that impacted him.
• Finding that Uni just wasn’t for him.
• Being an EvokeAg Future Leader in 2019.
• And of course, his advice to year 10 students.

Callan is a trailblazer for the next generation in the agriculture industry, and he is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Welcome to the Humans of Agriculture podcast in collaboration with the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) has proudly presented the Royal Melbourne Show since 1855. The Show is Victoria’s largest and most iconic annual community event, attracting around 450,000 visitors over 11 days each year and annually contributes more than $244 million in value to Victoria’s economy. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, the Royal Melbourne Show was cancelled for only the third time in its 165 year history. Today we're chatting with Doug & Lorelle Deppeler to understand a bit about their story and affiliation to the Royal Melbourne Show. They're farmers from Derrinallum in South West Victoria. This year would have marked their 48th consecutive year of showing their Suffolk sheep at the show. Today we're finding out more about - How Suffolk sheep brought these two together. The rest is history… - This year they are celebrating 50 years of breeding stud sheep and so I wanted to know what it is that keeps Doug getting out of bed in the mornings to keep on going - We chat about the implementation of practices on their farm to work with nature to get the best outcomes in the environment they farm - The importance of being adaptable and being proactive in making decisions - Beyond the show ring I ask why the show is important to them and it came back to the community and seeing friends from all over Victoria - How they have had some highs and lows over the years but a really special moment for them was in 2010 winning the interbreed champion ram and ewe – no one had won the double before and it's only been done once since - The disappointment has definitely been felt this year with what would have been their 48th year attending and exhibiting at the show You can find out more about the show at https://royalshow.com.au/ https://royalshow.com.au/podcasts-interviews/humans-of-agriculture/ or find us at www.humansofagriculture.com Instagram @Humansofagriculture_ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Darrylin Gordon is a Jaru native woman and pastoralist currently managing 361,000 hectares of country at Lamboo Station in the East Kimberley region WA. She has been celebrated as the 2018 WA Rural Women of the Year Awards and was the runner up in the National Award, Darrylin is seen as a trailblazer not just for women but for agriculture more broadly. Her story converses a woman who has faced her fair share of challenges, tackling them head on and creating opportunity. Her grandfather has been a key influence in her life and the one who at times has given her the grounding she has needed to go on to have the impact she could have. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

I first met Ed Currenti in the sheep yards at Mount Hesse, over more than 15 years we've stayed in touch and followed each others journeys closely.

Ed is the General Manager at Prestige Foods, in our chat he shares his journey from a city upbringing to a successful career in agriculture and food production. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the role of education in understanding food sources, and the innovative practices at Prestige Foods. The conversation highlights the significance of building relationships within the industry, the challenges of managing teams, and the future opportunities in food production. Ed emphasizes the need for better connections between producers and consumers, and the importance of storytelling in the food industry.I've known

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ed Currenti and His Journey
03:03 Early Influences and Passion for Food
05:37 Education and Career Path Decisions
08:54 The Role of Mentorship in Career Development
11:40 Transitioning from University to the Workforce
14:37 Experiences in Sales and Business Development
17:45 Innovative Ideas and Career Opportunities
20:54 Management Style and Learning from Experience
25:31 Navigating Challenges During COVID-19
26:46 Transforming Company Culture
29:01 Understanding Prestige Food Australia
30:20 The Rise of Bone Broth
31:59 Collaboration with Chef James Viles
34:06 Bridging the Gap in the Food Chain
35:16 Vision for Growth in Food Manufacturing
36:10 Creating Links Between Producers and Consumers
38:48 Innovative R&D Strategies
39:55 Promoting Career Pathways in Agriculture
43:55 Educating the Next Generation on Food Sources

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Better Business series! In this episode, Oli dives into the journey of Mitch Highett, the Managing Director and Founder of Bullseye Ag.

Mitch's story is a mix of farm life around the world and working in major ag companies. Bullseye Ag offers farm management and consultancy services. But it's not just about that – it's a story of growing the team and taking them on a journey, fostering autonomy, and staying transparent.

"And this is why I've got gray hairs coming up every day, is because that part is the only part that actually matters, is just being honest with how the business is going. Are you happy with it? Are they happy with it? Can we be doing something better?" - Mitch

Come back next week to hear more from Mitch! 

This episode of The Better Business podcast is supported by the Farm Business Resilience Program through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.

Simon Doolin’s Great Grandfather started farming around North Star in Northern NSW in 1924, almost 100 years ago. Today, everything Simon does is with this legacy in mind, with the aim of leaving the country and community better than he found it, ready for the next generation. Simon has been recognised as a 2020 Syngenta Growth Award Recipient in the Sustainability category. As this chat outlines, it really is no surprise. He constantly seeks for better ways to do things, more efficiently.  Over recent years, Simon has worked closely with bakers and other people along the supply chain. Today, he and his team work knowing that they have the relationship and knowledge of exactly where their grains are going. This episode has been sponsored by Syngenta, the team that has been bringing global agricultural innovation to Australia for more than 90 years. Their world-class seed varieties and crop protection productions help farmers overcome climatic challenges, and sustainably grow more food, feed and fibre for all of us. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

If you ever said to me when I was starting out I'd be having a chat with one of my greatest friends Grace on the podcast, I would've thought we'd it probably not suitable. However, fast forward a couple of years and Grace's story is so applicable and hopefully inspiring for those wondering what opportunities there are for young people in Rural Australia to go after. Grace hails from Geelong, down in Victoria but her journey to Texas and now living there was a matter of circumstance, as the optimist that she is, she saw being made redundant as part of the pandemic as an opportunity to use her skills and experience and hit the road. Enter Texas, that's Texas Qld not America!  This chat is full of a few laughs, understanding what it was like to be somewhere that nobody knows you and finding her place and unlocking opportunity to contribute to what is now her community! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Candid and open, Sallie Jones isn't afraid of telling her story.

She's another of our powerhouse Women in Ag for the month of March, and if you're familiar at all with her story - maybe you buy Gippsland Jersey milk, or you've had one of their famous milkshakes, or maybe you're part of Women in Gippsland - then you know what we're talking about.

But if Sallie Jones is a new name for you, she's a farmer's daughter, a farmer, an innovator, a mum, a mental health advocate, and a leader.

In 2016, her dad took his own life. Through the grief, Sallie wanted to honour the legacy her dad had built, even though at the time, the industry was entering a dairy crisis. Gippsland Jersey was born a few months later in partnership with another generational dairy farmer, Steve Ronalds.
 
Gippsland Jersey is an ode to supporting local producers and creating premium products, and it is a result of the community that rally behind them, because they can see just how passionate Sallie is.

She's been on one hell of a ride so far, and we can wait for you to hear all about it.

In this conversation, Sallie discusses:

• Her journey since her father's death
• What was it like growing up in Lakes Entrance?
• Studying PR at University and her time working at a PR Agency in Melbourne
• How Gippsland Jersey was started
• The ups and downs of owning a business
• The role of women in the agriculture industry

This episode contains themes of suicide and mental health, please reach out to Lifeline, This Is A Conversation Starter or someone you trust if you need help.

Lifeline: 13 11 14
TIACS: 0488 846 988

Women in Agriculture Live Podcast in partnership with Nutrien Ag Solutions
Get your tickets here 

For this weeks Friday episode, we're switching things up and drawing attention to our Careers In Agriculture channel that you might not be so familiar with!

Oli recently sat down with Ben Dwyer, Chief Operating Officer - Agribusiness at Harvest Road Group to find out about their latest job opportunities.

The team are on the lookout for several staff to join their business, but today we are chatting about the Station Manager Role at Minderoo Station.

In the chat, Oli and Ben discuss:

• Their integrated Cattle and Beef supply chain
• What the businesses goals are
• The agribusiness strategy and how the Station Manager role will support the business in achieving their goals and objectives
• A bit about the team members, the properties, and the job inclusions

From their job advertisement:

Minderoo Station is not just a location; it's an experience. Encompassing four pastoral leases across 760,000 hectares, boasting diverse landscapes ranging from the rugged Pilbara mesa ranges to the tranquil riverfront stretching 180 kilometres and the captivating Exmouth Gulf coastline. Established in 1878 by the pioneering Forrest Family, Minderoo stands as the foundation of Harvest Road. Over the past decade, the herd has flourished, now home to an impressive line of composite cattle. The homestead is conveniently located just 30 minutes from the Onslow airport.

We are seeking a leader who has an established reputation and is looking to etch their mark on Australia's Northern Pastoral industry. Your commitment to animal welfare and adept stock handling is paramount. Your leadership, by example, champions health, safety, and wellbeing. Infuse a spirited horse culture and seamlessly harmonise daily operations with the grand vision. Your financial acumen and strategic prowess shape the future, while your innovative spirit fuels business productivity. A penchant for community engagement and exceptional communication skills seamlessly weave you into our diverse tapestry.

Your role at Minderoo is pivotal – a testament to your expertise. Our remuneration package respectful to your remarkable contributions. A modern, inviting home awaits, currently undergoing a splendid renovation in 2023. Positioned at the crossroads of Western Australia's natural wonders, including Ningaloo and Karijini National Park, your downtime will be just as fulfilling as your workdays. Your imprint on Western Australia's largest vertically integrated beef business awaits.

You can learn more about Harvest Road Group by visiting our dedicated Harvest Road Group Careers In Ag page and learn more about this role by going to  STATION MANAGER, Harvest Road Pastoral, Minderoo Station.

Today I'm excited to be welcoming Jill Kelly to the podcast. For more than a decade, Jill has been a district Vet with the Local Land Services in Western NSW supporting farmers with ruminant nutrition, welfare and sustainability on farm. When she's not up to her elbow dissecting a sheep carcase, Jill's creative side flares to life as a painter where she goes by the alias of Miss Vet.

I love the saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" – During the recent drought there were a few shining beacons, one being the well-known #BuyFromTheBush Campaign, for Jill it turned her hobby into something more. For Jill, on the front line of supporting farmers it was a little initiative called the Drought Smoko, as she describes 'an idea born our of necessity', every Tuesday she'd bake a cake, and spend the morning chatting about a topic that would help the farmers in her community with their livestock in the midst of the drought.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate & review it and recommend any guests or topics you'd love for us to cover.

This episode is sponsored by LAWD, The specialists in Agribusiness valuations and transactions, to find out more head to www.lawd.com.au

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Welcome back to the Humans of Agriculture podcast for 2021. We're kicking of the year with a few episodes talking about Mental Health with people sharing their own stories. It comes off the back of a successful Movember by the Humans of Agriculture team, but it also comes with the realities of friends struggling with their own mental health challenges. I took the chance late in 2020 to sit down down with Dan & Ed from Trademutt and Mark Ahmelman from 'TIACS foundation' to chat about Mental Health, check in on the year and just have a general catch up. - Both Dan and Ed talk about their own approaches to mental health management - Mark talks through his own experience with mental illness and ways he overcame it - The importance of supporting friends and family around you  TIACS foundation provide a free text, chat and call back service connecting individuals seeking counselling services with qualified professionals. You can find them at www.tiacs.org or 0488 846 988 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

If we could tell you one thing about Joy McClymont, it's that her name embodies her. But she's not only joyful, she's determined, persistent, and a real mover. 

Joy has a knack for getting bodies moving - whether it's getting her kids and dogs up for a run in the morning, training clients through her fitness hub Off the Track Training, or teaching PE to distance ed students - and she has many motivators for doing so.

In this episode, Joy talks all things:

• What an average day looks like for her as a property owner, mum, teacher and trainer
• School of the Air - as a teacher, and what it's like for her kids as students
• Growing up on a share farm in Goondiwindi with a very physically active dad
• The influence of sports on Joy's life
• Travelling overseas and in rural Australia, experiencing other farms and teaching in small communities
• Running a fitness and personal training business for the outback
• What is Off the Track Training and why did Joy start it?
• Why should people on farms prioritise their wellbeing?
• Variety as the spice of life

Check out Off the Track Training here: https://offthetracktraining.com/

Welcome to Episode 9 – We're heading to outback NSW to chat with Anika Molesworth at her family's sheep station in Broken Hill in far west NSW. It's not so much what happens on the farm that defines Anika but her passion & determination to creating a better future through advocating for sustainable farming, environmental conservation & climate change action.

Anika references the sense of responsibility she feels to not only protect her land, but the communities and industry that are so intertwined with it.

She sees a significant role for farmers to connect people to climate through the food and through what may seem like small & meaningless roles.  Her work has seen her front and centre in national debates, on televisions but it’s her work in the fields of South East Asia that stands out to me.

The snippet played earlier is one aspect that was really eye opening for me & how it's not always necessarily the facts that will have the most profound impact on a person.

You can see more from us at @HumansofAgriculture_

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G'day and Welcome back! 

We're straight back into it after a few days on the Darling Downs in Southern Queensland, and we can't wait to share what we were up to with you soon!

While we were up there we sat down with a few different people from Mort & Co, and the first one we're excited to share our podcast with is Lily Bingham.

Lily is the Feed Commodity Officer and as she says, without knowing much about beef, has certainly found a business and area she's passionate about.

Lily shares that both her dad and their farm manager have played a vital role in supporting her (and her sisters) while in her day-to-day work it has been people both at MSM Milling and now at Mort & Co have provided her the opportunity to learn and grow.

I hope you enjoy this chat and if you haven't yet, head over to @humansofagriculture_ on Instagram to view our latest story!

Thank you to our weekly podcast sponsor, LAWD, the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions.

Humans of Agriculture is hosted by Oli Le Lievre

Podcast produced and edited by Humans of Agriculture. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

I’m really excited to bring my next guest to you, he’s someone who I was really keen to pick his brain. Troy Setter is a well-renowned industry leader, his involvement and passion for the beef industry dates back to his childhood and the cattle showring. When it comes to what it takes to be a CEO, I reckon Troy started that journey way back in his early days. 

Troy was fortunate to pick up a cadetship with the Twynam Group, which meant he worked alongside studying at the University of New England. From these early years it was evident that he was someone with a lot of grit and determination and would make sure he was having a bit of fun while balancing what was important to him. 

I’ve chatted with guests before who have talked about momentum and how once you create momentum opportunities seem to come up. Troy is definitely one of those people, he says yes to opportunities and a quote I read the morning of our interview from Waverley Stanley seemed to ring pretty true. ‘If I want to do something, I’ll find a way, if I don’t want to do it, I’ll find an excuse”

Troy talked about the difference between who his customer is and who his consumer is. This philosophy is something I’ve reflected on quite a bit and it’s a 

·        We talk about the difference between customers and consumers

·        About having difficult conversations about what goes on in the industry,

·        Of lessons in leadership and setting the boundaries for team cohesion and success.

 I hope you enjoy this chat with an industry leader as we get a bit of an insight into Troy Setter and his journey to being CEO of Consolidated Pastoral Company.

"We have a lot of people, the only meat they eat will be Provenir because the animals have not been through the undue stress of traditional systems"

Welcome to our 'mini-panel' for Episode 8. We're bringing a consumer facing beef brand, on farm processor and farmer together!

Chris Balazs is one of the founders and CEO of Provenir, a high welfare, premium beef brand that processes the animals on farm to reduce the stress in the final hours of the animals life.

Gill Sanbrook, is a farmer from Holbrook in NSW, she talks about farming like an art – creating a landscape that is full of life, caring for her animals and how at first she struggled seeing the animals processed on her farm, but it was this that has given her a far greater appreciation for caring for the animals & her landscape.

Gill talks about how special it is to work with a business like Provenir and also the ability to connect with the chefs. Closing the loop on food and giving the chefs the first hand experience and understanding through working hand in hand with farmers.

More info on Provenir and where to find it @ www.provenir.com.auor @Provenirmeat

Please reach out to us @HumansofAgriculture_ on Instagram or on Facebook @Humansofagricultureofficial. Alternatively you can leave us a voice mail on www.anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture

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Heidi Wright is the founder of Wright Social, supporting businesses to succeed in Australian Agri-Rural markets through smart social media strategy, brand positioning and lead generation tactics. She didn't grow up in Agriculture despite living in a farming community, her Dad, a dentist by trade was actually an entrepreneur and inventor as he brought Lightforce to life! Through a number of experiences and roles in industry, Heidi has found her niche and she is supporting businesses and people to better connect and share their story. Her work with young people is incredibly impressive and her approach in supporting them tell 'their story' and 'be authentic' is incredibly powerful. You can find more about Heidi and her work at https://wrightsocial.biz/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

In this episode, Oli chats with Olivia (Liv) Thompson, a Director at LAWD. Liv's early years were spent on Northern Territory cattle stations, and she recently came full circle by selling one of those stations as a real estate agent.

Although Liv's career began in real estate, she took a detour to Texas, USA, working as a cutting horse trainer. Throughout this episode, Liv openly discusses her rookie mistakes, her love for the Northern Territory community, the cultural insights she gained from her time overseas and the evolution of her career.

Liv reflects, "It just amazes me that you would never know if somebody was a truck driver or if they had a string of properties and were an absolute millionaire. So you just can't judge a book by its cover," when talking about the people in the Northern Territory.

G'day and Welcome back to the Humans of Agriculture podcast

You're in for a treat this week, Oli is sitting down with the World's Okayest Pilot & Flying Outback Vet Doctor Campbell Costello.

Cozy is an absolute character, for the past 17 years he has been a practicing vet. His work has taken him across Australia and the World, these day's he services remote and rural communities and businesses mainly across Northern Australia.

We chat about:

• The most incredible job in the world
• The Mongol Derby & seeing the world through his vet work
• The stark reality of mental health and suicide in the vet profession
• Learning through school of the air
• Managing grief and loss following the passing of his father
• The love of aviation inherited from his father and grandfather

And his question for a future guest: "You have the chance to speak to yourself at your high school graduation, would you tell yourself to do anything differently or would you stick to what you’ve done?" 

This episode was recorded on the lands of the Mithaka people in south western Queensland. The country was absolutely incredible and if you head to our social media, you can check out the incredible landscape, waterways and area that has been cared for thousands of years.

Frauke Bolten-Boshammer is a pioneer, a woman filled with grit and determination that has seen her overcome a life full of obstacles, despite the setbacks Frauke perseveres and her story will connect on so many levels. 

From her early days as a child in Germany, working hard for her father.

To finding love and moving around the world looking for the big break. After settling in Kununurra in Northern Australia, tragedy strikes Frauke's like where she is left alone as a single mother to raise her kids.

Frauke's story shows that life is full of obstacles but within that is opportunity.

Frauke is an Antola Trading shirt ambassador, to shop the range head to https://www.antolatrading.com/

--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

It's a foggy May morning in Beaufort, 150kms west of Melbourne. 

We grab a coffee and head towards the first of the latest properties that the team at Go.FARM was acquired only a few months earlier, getting a better understanding of the Agronomist who spent his childhood not too far down the highway. 

As we tour the property, we quickly pull over, Liam jumps out and 'throws off the city boots' and begins picking up a few stray pieces of timber and baling twine. Evidence that the little things matter in the big picture. Liam started his career as an Agronomist and has since made a considerable impact. He shares the opportunity to be in the room and learn from the great Jim Collins and the miles he'd travel early in his career to pursue both a personal life and a professional life.

When it was evident that the opportunity to be part of the family farm wasn't there, Liam pursued his interests and sought to become a farmer slightly differently. It's fair to say he's creating his own luck. 

"the origin of GoFarm is under-utilised and under-capitalised assets scattered across the landscape, ultimately to no one's benefit. And if we can find the best of those and turn them around, we can generate great investment returns, but we can also generate a lot of good."

• The role of agriculture in transforming Australian society and economy
• The impact of institutional investment on the agriculture sector
• The importance of responsible agriculture and its impact on communities and the economy
• The significance of courage and urgency in business and career decisions
• The culture of high-performing teams and their role in driving agricultural innovation and growth

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Hanna Go Farm and the Agriculture Industry

19:37 The Impact of Institutional Investment on Agriculture

28:11 Responsible Agriculture and Sustainable Communities

37:22 The Role of Courage and Urgency in Business

42:04 The Future of Agriculture: Trends and Opportunities

Adam DeMamiel is the CEO, Director and Co-Founder of Boys To The Bush, a charity which supports vulnerable youth with intensive programs. His role has changed over the years so now he's not the one running the programs, but empowering others around him to do so. Having his staff find reward from the work they do with kids and speak passionately about their work is what fills Adam's cup. 

"I'm not actually working with the kids these days. But for me now, it's just hearing all these stories of success that I know nothing about and have nothing to do with."

Adam grew up in regional New South Wale. His upbringing instilled values and morals in him which he projects throughout his work with kids who aren't subject to the love and support he was. Often these kids are subject to trauma that is genuinely shocking and tragic, so please take caution when listening to this episode and seek help if you need it, we've linked some resources at the bottom of the show notes. 

"We're doing what a lot of parents would do for their kids, but for whatever reason, they can't."

Adam speaks candidly of his own battles with mental health over the years and the tragic loss of his sister. A teacher by trade, Adam didn't love his time at University, but he did love the Special Needs classes, and that's what started the sequence of events for him to start Boys To The Bush.

He describes the kids he works with as having been let down a million times by the system or the people in their lives. They're kids that the education system isn't set up for.

"They're reminded too many times of all the stuff they can't do and will probably never be able to do or want to do."

"It's bloody hard work. It's not for everyone. You've got to have a thick skin, because often these kids will do everything they can to get you to bugger off."

Adam has some incredible stories from individuals and farming communities they have had impact in.

"The kids are the vehicle to us accessing the community and helping the community."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Boys to the Bush

04:11 Starting Boys to the Bush and Early Challenges

13:48 Transition from Teaching to Boys to the Bush

29:43 Funding and Support for Boys to the Bush

 

If you need help:
Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
Lifeline - 13 11 14
More resources here

This episode is part of a partnership with Rabobank. 

"If you look after the little things, the big things will take care of themselves"
Campbell Chesworth is a new generation of dairy farmer. A millennial with a master’s degree in urban planning, he’s driven to make a tangible, positive impact on the world. As business development manager of The Little Big Dairy Co., Campbell oversees the company’s sustainability program and its mission to become Australia’s first circular dairy by 2025.

Campbell's story will be so relatable for many of our listeners. Finishing school he was unsure of the career path he was looking to take and so undertook study at Sydney University. It led to him gaining valuable life experience including heading to Malawi, a landlocked country in Africa to work with subsistence farmers.

Back in the family business today, Campbell has big dreams and a driving passion for the business to continue to improve and do better by the cows, by the community and managing the environment.

Check out Little Big Dairy.

We also have a job advertisement - Content, Marketing and Community Specialist.

Felicity Taylor is the Area manager at Rabobank Australia in Moree. In this conversation, she shares her journey from growing up in Moree to working in banking and the importance of being involved in the community.

Felicity discusses her role as a branch manager and the satisfaction she gets from helping clients achieve their goals. For anyone familiar with Flick you know she is incredibly involved in her local community from the tourism board, to the Young Aggies group through to the Triathlon and run clubs!

This episode is part of our partnership with Rabobank Australia.

Other things we discuss:

• Living in a rural community and being involved in the community is a responsibility and a way to have a vibrant lifestyle.
• Banking in rural areas requires empathy, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Felicity enjoys helping clients execute their dreams and supporting multi-generational farming families.
• Being involved in community organisations and volunteering is a way to leave a positive legacy and ensure succession.
• Felicity values the support and opportunities provided by Rabobank and encourages others to consider a career in banking.

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Moree

01:27 Felicity's Journey: From Sydney to the Netherlands and Back to Moree

04:19 The Impact of Droughts and Floods on Moree

05:37 Felicity's Career in Banking and the Role of an Area Manager

08:02 Felicity's Background in Farming and Choosing a Career in Banking

12:55 The Value of Lived Experiences in Banking

14:51 The Importance of Communication and Public Speaking Skills

15:20 Returning to Moree and the Role of an Area Manager

17:14 Challenges and Rewards of Managing a Team in Banking

18:38 A Day in the Life of an Area Manager

20:35 The Satisfaction of Helping Clients Achieve Their Dreams

22:57 Involvement in Young Aggies and Other Community Organizations

24:25 Balancing Involvement and Leaving a Positive Legacy

26:23 Advice for Those Interested in Banking and Community Involvement

Annabelle Cleeland has built her career around rural journalism. Growing up in Kew just on the outskirts of Melbourne's CBD Annabelle proudly told her dad at the age of 14 that she was going to be a farmer...

Although the dream of farming was put on the backburner for a few years while she built her career, the love of agriculture and sharing stories of the people involved in the industry was always front of mind.

Annabelle and I sat down for a bit of a chat ahead of a panel we're on in the coming weeks around Storytelling in agriculture and the different ways to do it.

We'd love to know your thoughts on where have people, businesses, industries, brands done it well and what can we learn from it!

Get in touch with us @humansofagriculture_ on Instagram or via our website www.humansofagriculture.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Back in 2018, Oli was "umm'ing and ahh'ing" about whether to apply for a professional development program, and it was the best thing he's done and today he's still in contact with that group of people!!

Ahead of applications closing for the evokeAG Groundbreakers Program on the 2nd of September we wanted to chat with Natalie Bell who was a 2024 Future Young Leader (now known at Groundbreaker).

We wanted to hear from her what she got out of the program, what was beneficial for her and why she thinks it's worth throwing your hat in the ring! 

Maybe you've heard of the A Fiver for a Farmer founder, Jack Berne, but if you haven't, let us introduce you to this legend. 

When Jack was 10, he saw a news story about just how bad the droughts were for farmers in Australia, and from his home in the Northern Beaches, he decided to do something. 

Four years later, Jack's in high school and he's still championing Aussie Farmers through his foundation, Jack's Mates. Whether he's raising money at schools through dress up days, spreading the word on TV or on the radio, visiting fire, drought, or flood affected farms, or just being a 14 year old, Jack is certainly motivated to make a difference. 

On this weeks episode we talk all things:

• Jack's background 
• The origin of Fiver for a Farmer
• What motivated him, as a boy from the coast, to get involved with Aussie ag
• Jack's first time on a working farm in Molong
• What Jack's journey has been like for his own family
• How meeting farmers and going on farms changed Jack's perceptions
• His dream job
• Rugby
• What advice does he have for adults?

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did.

https://afiverforafarmer.com.au/ 

In the heart of Dubbo, NSW, a remarkable story unfolds at The Little Big Dairy Co, where Emma Elliott and her father, Steve Chesworth, are not just dairy farmers, but they regard themselves as environmentalists. 

Their journey showcasing the importance of embracing new and sustainable practices in the dairy industry to benefit both the environment and the bottom line. 

We discuss:

• The importance of preserving the dairy industry and encouraging the next generation to be involved.
• The balance between profitability and sustainability in the dairy industry.
• The need for education and transparency to build trust with consumers.
• The implementation of sustainable practices, such as solar panels and water recycling, on the farm.
• Future plans for the business, including the production of butter and housing cows in climate-controlled barns.

Paid Partnership Transparency:
Humans of Agriculture have been fortunate enough to engage in a paid agreement powered by the NSW Government, Dairy NSW, and Dairy Australia to gain first-hand insight into the Australian Dairy Industry and share it with our audiences and more broadly. 
This six-part series includes video, podcasts, photography and written content and is made possible by the Australian and NSW Government’s Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program.

Community Developer. Small Business Owner. Avid Netballer. International Agriculturalist. Local community enthusiast. Sometimes a travelling groupie (for certain bands). 

Liz Brennan is a legend, a very, very interesting person, and someone we've been fortunate to have known over the past few years.
Her life experience is so incredibly fascinating having worked across the length and breadth of Australia (with a large part in her beloved home state of Western Australia), she's worked internationally supporting farmers with increasing their productivity, access to markets with a particular focus on empowering women farmers. 

She's supported start-ups, served on the board of publicly listed companies, championed Women, mentored many [just stopping to draw breath], is an absolute powerhouse and, above all - makes time for a good ol' yarn and has been an incredible friend of HOA!

In today's chat we cover:

• How Liz has sought Home through people and communities
• The complexity of Food Security and what is required to deliver more equitable outcomes for all
• Passion + Cursioty can create incredible opportunities for impactful work in agriculture, leadership and community development
• Finding like-minded people and organisations to deliver meaningful and sustained change
• Seeking wisdom and support from others (especially those with different perspectives)
• The beauty, power and incredibleness of local communities