Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story

Born and raised on the family farm, my guest today has chosen to make a life back where it all started in Wee Waa NSW. After studying and a corporate career, turns out there was no place like home after all. From cattle, to corn, to cotton, he's passionate about sustainability and biodiversity, interests that earned him the Nuffield Scholarship in 2017 and more recently, he became the Chair of the...

A childhood on the family farm in Central West NSW is where a fearless agribusiness woman was born. Whether her clients are looking for storytelling strategy, or systems – Brooke Watts is helping rural organisations and communities to realise their dreams. Whether it be on the speaking circuit, running workshops or youth programs, she is passionate about enriching the future of agriculture. To lea...

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. So we've chosen someone whose passion for agriculture started at a very young age on her family's grazing property in Queensland. She's turned that passion into a career with a focus on exceptional land management. To further her skills in the area, she's currently completing her PhD. To learn more about her varied...

Close to the centre of Bendigo in Victoria, is a little oasis. On the historic 5-acre site, a true social enterprise. A little farm with a big heart, offering jobs to around 70 people with disabilities and all the proceeds go straight back to the upkeep of the farm. And with Bendigo being voted a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, there is suddenly a lot of interest in the fabulous produce being grown loc...

Farming is often as much about looking after your own patch of land - as it is learning from others. Weather extremes and changing seasons can make grazing cattle year-round incredibly difficult. In his quest for answers former Nuffield Scholar Stuart Tait has travelled to New Zealand, Europe, the UK, North and South America to learn about filling the pasture-based feed gap to boost beef profits....

You have to go back a long way to find the beginnings of this family farm. The year 1880 to be exact when a Mr Charles Coddington dreamt of creating the finest sheep stud in Australia, travelling down-under from England. Now the 5th generation is running with his vision and winning awards along the way. The current custodians are Mathew Coddington and his wife Cherie. Together they are still breed...

They're the quirky creatures with super soft fleece, members of the camel family and often unfairly criticised for spitting. Alpacas occupy a unique corner of the agriculture industry and, one central west New South Wales farm boasts the state's largest herd. These animals have won the heart of the next generation, with young farmer Rubey Williams working on the family property and she is already...

Full cream, light, skim, homogenised, unhomogenised – milk takes many forms. But right now, a moment for the lactose free variety. Riverina Fresh's Lactose Free Milk has been crowned the best dairy product at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards. It is the dairy industry's highest honour. To learn more about what it takes to be the grand champion and some interesting observations about the impact of...

Food Glorious Food is a song made famous the first time in Oliver Twist. Now, not a boy called Oliver, but girl called Olivia has created her own version of the classic, Food Fabulous Food. The young farmer behind the music is Olivia Akers, who produced that song from her family's dairy farm in Northern Victoria. And she joins me now. Olivia's favourite place on her family farm is spending time wi...

What happens when your farm-obsessed son just can't find that one special book or toy to match his passion for all things rural? Well if you're a graphic and web designer – you just make your own. George the Farmer was created in 2014. Since then, there is an interactive story app, storybooks music, paddock to plate videos and touring performances. This little character is a powerhouse from region...

Big things happen with a commitment to a series of small changes. That philosophy is working wonders on a Northern Territory farm in Katherine. From half a dozen cattle to more than 350. Throw in vegetables, fresh cut flowers and eggs – it's easy to see why. The property is managed from a holistic, entire landscape perspective. It's work that has caught the eye of industry leaders with Jeremy Trem...

Being the support manager of a million-hectare cattle station in the Northern Territory keeps her busy enough but my guest today has been handpicked for the Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program run by the National Farmer's Federation. The program helps support female leaders who are driven to create a more inclusive and sustainable future for the industry. To learn more, Anna Cochrane of Co...

The power of pictures is profound – they tell stories, celebrate moments that would otherwise be lost in time, and connect people. The thirst for authentic outback stories is undeniable, but it's not often we have the chance to meet the person behind the camera. Photographer and founder of AgriShots Alice Mabin joins me now.    Her favourite place to have done a shoot isn't about the location but...

Working in remote parts of Australia doesn't mean no one is watching. Quite the opposite. In Queensland's Goondiwindi Region, a station general manager has become one of seven inaugural recipients of the AgriEmpower Scholarship. The prize is $20 000 for the winners to continue to be change-makers in the industry. Andrew Powne of Cameron Pastoral Company joins me now.     Andrew's favourite place o...

All farmers wear many hats, but others wear more than they need to. From farming, to podcasting, being a mum and heralding rural women through a groundbreaking conference, my guest today is spreading an important message with her own unique story. Founder of Harvest Her Power, Katja Williams joins me now.    Katja's favourite place on her farm is when the family enjoys picnics on the hill where yo...

One Family. One Flock. That's the extraordinary history that belongs to the Dennis family. Since 1840, each generation has added their own touch to this unique sheep farm and historic homestead, Tardwarncoort in south-western Victoria. It's also home to Australia's first breed of sheep – the Polwarth. And everyone is invited to share in the property's rich history with accommodation and a wool sho...

We're all busy but sometimes you meet someone, take a look at their schedule, and wonder how on earth it's all possible. From studying nursing, to helping on the family cattle property, being an active member of the Country Women's Association, visiting parliament and even sitting on the local Campdraft committee. It all comes back to a deep love of rural Australia. To learn more about her impress...

Behind every piece of food we eat and fibre we wear, there is not only a farmer, but a scientist solving the ever-changing puzzle that is agriculture. Whether it be adapting to changes in climate or bolstering natural capital. Paris Capell is a passionate young agricultural professional who is helping to make a meaningful mark on the future of farming, and she joins me now.     Paris' favourite pl...

https://www.prettypodchttps://www.prettypodcasts.com/  asts.com/  Joining stock camps in north-west Queensland is about as tough as it gets, let alone holding your own there as a teenager. It kick-started a career in agriculture that has since spanned the country. For now, a pause, managing Elverton Pastoral in Blessington, Tasmania. And they say farmers wear many hats, so a mechanics apprenticesh...

Tariffs are a bit of a buzz word right now. But what do they really mean for our farmers? The answer is – they can be good and bad. Who better to break it down for us than Julia Hausler. She runs a successful family farm, and holds influential roles within industry body GrainGrowers. Julia is a tireless advocate for economic and social opportunities in her part of the world, Victoria's Wimmera reg...

A love of food can most certainly take you anywhere, but perhaps an unlikely destination is a remote Northern Territory cattle station. It's a path down which former Brisbane café owner Wendy Cox has ventured. For those of us who haven't been lucky enough to try her recipes, she generously shares photos of the sizeable spreads she prepares for the cowboys and girls. To learn more about Wendy's Coo...

As she calls a sprawling homestead in southern NSW home, it's hard to fathom how Hannah Bamford has gone from leaving school directionless – to being the assistant manager of a 4000-hectare property near Young. Her career in agriculture all started thanks to a chance meeting with a vet, which set off an incredible chain of events that have culminated in the 31-year-old launching her own rural empl...

The highs and lows of agriculture are a daily ritual for most farmers. Who knew recording those private moments, showcasing expert problem-solving skills, mixed with a touch of humour, would be so well received? The thirst for that knowledge went far beyond first thought with a single farmer's videos reaching more than 350 000 people. The UK farmer is now one of the most famous agricultural social...

After an epic quest all over the world, the owners of BoomaFood based in Cessnock, in the NSW Hunter Region, are confident they've tracked down the best sustainable growing technology to see us through future climate challenges like flood and drought. In a southern-hemisphere first, the Indigenous-owned company has launched the patented vertical design, that grows an abundance of leafy greens, ind...

Moving from Sydney to a small 10-acre farm in the little-known town of Carool was always going to be life-changing. But the owners may not have fully appreciated how much magic they were about to sprinkle over northern NSW. Their award-winning kitchen garden has become a favourite destination in the Tweed tourism scene. To learn more about this true paddock to plate dining experience, Peter Burr j...