Humans of Agriculture

We’re sitting down with Lauren Roellgen this week. She wears a few different hats including aa an Associate Director at LAWD, a farmer-in-training on her family farm, and the Chair of the Future Farmers Network. She shares her family’s inspiring journey from Germany to Australia, how they built a successful cotton farming enterprise, and the modern challenges of succession planning, sustainability...

EvokeAg is one of the premier events for agrifood tech and innovation, and this year’s edition in Brisbane took things to a new level. In this episode, Oli catches up with Harriet Mellish, General Manager at AgriFutures Australia, to unpack what went into making EvokeAg 2025 a success, the evolving conversations in the agri-tech space, and how the event itself operates like a startup—iterating and...

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 i...

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 sour...

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 c...

Maegen Blom is the Operations Manager within her family owned business Mills Bay Mussels. She is the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award winner from New Zealand , so we thought we would love to get to know a bit more about her and share it with you!  We cover: How she found out that she'd won, a bit more about the vertically integrated business selling direct to businesses and households, her role and passi...

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture , host Oli Le Lievre sits down with fourth-generation pineapple farmer Bert Harris. From his family's century-long farming legacy in Queensland to the modern-day challenges of growing pineapples, dragon fruit, and pumpkins, Bert shares insights into the evolution of farming, his deep connection to the land, and the future of Australian agriculture. Highligh...

What does world-class gelato have to do with agriculture? A whole lot, as it turns out and a world of flavour! In this episode of Humans of Agriculture , host Oli Le Lievre sits down with Steve Arnold and Keegan Ryan from Gelato Messina, one of Australia's most iconic gelato brands. With over 30 stores across the country, Messina isn’t just about delicious scoops—it’s a vertically integrated food...

In this week of Humans of Agriculture we have the pleasure of catching Paul Niven. Paul has come back to Australia after a  long career working within China’s dairy industry. He’s a seasoned agricultural leader with a wealth of experience  agribusiness and international consulting. He paints a picture of how his small roots from growing up on a farm in Central New South Wales eventually lead to wo...

For Liz, it was easy to fall for her now husband with their shared love of nature. It became their dream to purchase their first farm and test out a theory they had in Uni - that agriculture and conservation could live in harmony rather than conflict. In this episode of Humans of Agriculture , Oli Le Lievre sits down with Liz Blair to discuss how agricultural practices can reframe their relationsh...

It’s 35 degrees in this industrial area of Moorabbin on Melbourne’s fringes. 6 Australian butchers are 3 hours into their final preparations before they head to France and we’ve got the privilege of seeing this closed session! Oli sits down with Luke Leyson and Tom Bouchier, as they prepare to represent Australia at the World Butchers’ Challenge 2025 in Paris. Dubbed the "Olympics of Meat," this h...

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 lea...

The three-generation curse. Perhaps you've heard this ominous phrase before. Farming families know the reality all to well that their land and careers are built over generations. So why is it so common to hear stories of how quickly all that hard work can become undone?  And is it possible to avoid this curse? In this episode of Humans of Agriculture , we sit down with Ben Law, a former financial...

James Wagstaff reflects on his 20-year career with The Weekly Times, one of the most consumed print news publications among ag folks. It can feel like print is in flux thanks to the shift to digital platforms and indie social media content creators. However, with a focus on quality over quantity, James shares the big stories that have shaped the agricultural space, his life as a journalist, and th...

Uncertainty of reaching the finish line is always on the mind of an ultra-marathon runner like Michael Crowley. But by pushing through, you can make the unbelievable possible. Such is the story for Australian agriculture and the long future ahead of it. In this episode, Oli sits down with Michael Crowley who recently took up the top job with Meat and Livestock Australia. They dive into Michael's h...

Welcome to part 2 of our mini-series, which we partnered with Legacy Livestock to create. Many unforeseen factors can shake up things on the farm. Drought, disease, or uncertain family farm succession are just a few in the mix. So how can folks and ag take a long-term view to prepare for those moments, or pull themselves out of it through the assistance of financing? In episode 2, Oli sits down wi...

We're back with a three-part series that we have partnered with Legacy Livestock to bring to life. Many folks in agriculture have spoken with us about the challenges and rewards of building their dream life. We can empathize with wanting to build a legacy. In this episode Oli shares that dream. He asks how do you bring that dream into reality. In episode 1 we get to know Richard Brimblecombe, CEO...

We're sitting down with Jo Palmer, co-founder of The Connection Table . After returning to her rural roots in The Rock, New South Wales, following a stint in Singapore, Jo reflects on her journey and her latest endeavour with co-founder Julia Spicer. The Connection Table is a professional network aiming to elevate rural Australians into decision-making roles across government, industry, and commun...

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...

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 be...

This episode was recorded on the 9th of October and that might add a bit of context to the conversation! Tom & Mick are back to sit down with Scott Bremner from McCulloch Agencies to chat all things Livestock. Takeaways Scotty Bremner has a long history in the livestock industry. Feedlot procurement is about turnover and continuity of supply. Mobile phones have changed accessibility in agency...

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Richie Kirkland shares his love of popping off on the buggies, hunting rabbits, and enjoying the life afforded as a farm boy in South Australia. His father showed him how to shear and he quickly realized how wool spun into a nice chunk of change for his teen years. Life in the business has had its highs and lows and he’s realized the importance of a forwar...

In this episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast, host Oli Le Lievre explores the multifaceted operations of a South Australian farm with Alex McGorman. The conversation delves into the history of the farm, the evolution of farming practices, the importance of relationships in agriculture, and the role of family boards and external support in business growth. Alex shares insights on transition...

Jenny Stanton wears multiple hats as a farmer, agronomist, netball coach, and community leader on Kangaroo Island (KI). She shares her story of resilience, having survived the devastating 2020 bushfires, which wiped out livestock and infrastructure, and how her family rebuilt both their farm and their lives. Jenny discusses the journey of running a family farm, including succession planning and th...

Chris Schied has been a business advisor for more than the last 25 years. Across his career he's learnt a few things about what it takes for family business and farming businesses to succeed. A few things we chat about: - Family boards are essential in agriculture for effective strategy, governance, risk management, and succession planning. - Family boards should meet at least twice a year, with a...