Humans of Agriculture

Welcome back to the Humans of Agriculture podcast hosted by Oli Le Lievre.

This week we sit down with James Knight, a farmer located at The Sisters down in South West Victoria.

- James shares his story from City boy who fell in love with agriculture (and subsequently a country girl!)

- James' story takes twist and turns through university, finding his feet, returning back to his wife's family property and then the need to head off again.

- This conversation talks about mental health and the times where James found himself 'in the dark'. He found through seeking Professional help and the support of those closest to him that he was able to get his life back on his own terms.

- James has sat in corporate farming operations as the operations manager at Warakirri Cropping, an assistant farm manager, and today how he and wife Georgie have grown the family business into the thriving business it is today.

This episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast was recorded on the country of the Girai Wurrung people, we pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

If today's episode sparks any areas that you'd like to discuss more around mental health - Check out Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via www.lifeline.org.au, or the TIACS helpline on 0488 846 988. or at www.tiacs.org

Welcome back to another week of the Humans of Agriculture podcast.

This week, Oli Le Lievre sits down with David Kininmonth the manager at Mount Hesse a 8,000 acre Sheep operation in Winchelsea in South West Victoria.

One of the coolest parts of this chat is, Dave was actually one of the very first people to give Oli a go in farming and over nearly (crazy to think) the past 20 years, Dave has been a mentor and provided opportunities and a sounding board for Oli in agriculture.

In the chat, Dave shares some of his stories from the past 30 years managing the property; how he has seen himself as a custodian of the land, the importance of working and empowering his team as well as making sure that the business was financially sound in order to support the dreams he had for the property.

Dave is leaving Mount Hesse later this year after more than 140 years of the Kininmonth families relationship, in Dave's time as the custodian of the land it's safe to say that he is leaving the environment and business in a better place than when he started.

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

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

When you think of Humans of Agriculture you probably don’t think of a TV Producer, Director, or Cameraman but our next guest is just exactly that. Tommy Lawrence has worked on some of the most iconic TV shows Australia has ever had from X-Factor to Bondi Rescue, but it was his love for Rural Australia and life in the top end that has seen him bring the stories of people from across Northern Australia to TVs across the world.

- Tom spent his childhood in Darwin, whilst attending High school it was a film and media class that caught his eye. The only problem was that they thought his behaviour wasn't quite up to scratch 

- After giving an apprenticeship a go, Tom returned home to Darwin where he landed himself amongst the construction industry. Not long after, Tom had been playing with some mates cameras and decided it was time for the leap of faith and he headed to the Gold Coast for university which is just the beginning of this journey with the camera in hand. 

- So far his work has seen him working on Territory Cops, Mega Truckers,  Outback Wrangler, Creating Outback Ringer, X-Factor, Bondi Rescue, and well there’s plenty more to come in the documentary space

- Tom’s first big job in Sydney after never being there before was on Australia’s most iconic beach, Bondi! He worked as a crew member on Australia’s most successful television show- Bondi Rescue

The Mort's family history in Australian agriculture goes back to the early days of Thomas Mort, Thomas was a pioneer and led some of the first exports of Beef from Australia. Today Charlie Mort is the founder and Executive Chairman of mort & Co, one of Australia's largest private beef businesses.

Starting his career in the Stock and Station agency game, Charlie moved across Queensland for roles with Prime Ag that later became Elders. As the drought hit in the early 1990s, an opportunity came up to begin lot feeding cattle. 

A bloke from Muttaburra called and assumed Charlie was the expert in lot feeding. Once he got them onto feed successfully, Charlie let him know that it was his first time, and well it's safe to say that Charlie has since well and truly earnt those credentials today.

Starting Mort & Co in 1997, Charlie sought out the support of others who could help him turn his dream into a reality. Building the business piece by piece into the diversified business it is today. 

Charlie certainly has ridden many of the highs and lows, today his vision for the business continues to see it innovate but it all comes back to getting the right people in the right seats to bring it all together.

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!

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!

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.

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

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

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.

As a kid Scott vividly remembers jumping off the school bus and racing to the woolshed during shearing. Tearing through what was left of his Dad's lunchbox and then jumping head first into the wool bins.

To this day, that love and passion for growing wool hasn't strained if anything it could well be even stronger.

It's a passion that Scott's daughters have inherited, their input in the day-to-day help to keep Bella Lana Merinos moving with the times.

Hannah, the youngest of the three girls, is juggling her on-farm work while studying a sustainable communities degree. It's this unique insight which is helping shape the thinking for how wool can position itself in the discussion around sustainable fashion and sustainable farming into the future.

This episode has been sponsored by LAWD the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions, to find out more head to www.lawd.com.au

Alex Thomas has always looked up to her dad. From her earliest days escaping the school room to shadow him on the family's sheep station in remote South Australia to caring for him.

Today, Alex is an established social entrepreneur putting health and safety front and centre for those in rural communities, ultimately helping get people home at the end of the day. 

Her relatability, humour and practical approach has also seen her consulting to medium and large sized organisations working across rural australia, re-orientating them back to the primary intent of 'not killing someone at work'.

Her story traverses her childhood as a kid of School of the Air to heading to the big city (were she finds herself based today) for boarding school. Overcoming personal challenges including the crushing acceptance that she wouldn't be taking on the family property, Alex set out on her own path and hasn't looked back.

Alex's passion for people and community has seen her be named a 2020 Syngenta Growth Award winner in the People and Community category.

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.

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.

From the Silicon Valley to South America, Sarah Nolet has never seen anything more exciting than the boom of the Australian agtech industry in the past half decade.

She’s only been in the country for six years, but in that time Sarah Nolet has managed to transform Australia’s footing in the international ag-tech industry.

Sarah has been recognised as a 2020 Syngenta Growth Award Winner in the Innovator Category. It's not surprising given the mark she's made on the industry in the past six years. We cannot wait to see where Sarah is headed and how Aussie AgTech is going to boom with her skills, passion and enthusiasm.

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.

For those familiar with twitter, Sam Heagney is a household name.

From his insights to his humourous and engaging videos that have captured the eyes of tens of thousands of people.

His approach to celebrating agriculture has come from his background as a kid growing up on Melbourne's outer suburbs. 

His time in agriculture has nearly gone full circle, not far from where it all began on his wife's family's property 'South Burnarba'.

This episode has been sponsored by LAWD, the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions. To find out more head to www.lawd.com.au

 

Content Warning: This episode talks about the loss of a child. Justin & Kate Boshammer's journey is unlike many. They met at the age of 18 through the Angus Youth Cattle program. Kate's path followed setting up multiple businesses and helping out where she could on the property. A decade on from the two stepping out on their own and establishing JK Cattle Company they have built an enviable business. Nothing could prepare them for what they would go through in 2020, their daughter Zara was bron in April of 2020 with a condition that doctors were unable to diagnose. Over the next few months, they would spend significant time travelling to specialist appointments and in hospital in Toowoomba and Brisbane. Sadly, Zara's condition Pallister Killian Syndrome is incurable and in October of 2020, Zara passed away aged just seven months. Since her passing, Kate & Justin have established Zara's Day.  The first Zara's Day was held last year and raised more than $150,000 for the Royal Flying Doctors Service (Qld Division) and the Steve Waugh Foundation. The second Zara's day is coming up and you can find out more here: Please visit www.zarasday.com.au for more information on how you can support Zara’s Day this year.

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

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/

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

Randall Wilksch is passionate about changing the narrative around the Australian grain industry, and a good way to do this, he thinks, is to get more women involved.

Coming from a family of grain growers on South Australia’s lower peninsula, Randall Wilksh is the first to admit he fits neatly into the category of archetypal farmer.

But he in no way sits idly in his stable position within the grains industry, instead, he questions the very nature of the industry itself.

Are we as farmers doing enough to connect with our consumers? Are we doing enough to correct misinformation about our products? Are we doing enough to ensure our practices are sustainable? Are we doing enough to encourage more women into the industry?

These are all questions Randall asks himself and the Australian farming community as a whole.

Randall 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

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

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

When Amanda Moohen landed her first job in the beef industry, she was one of only five women working alongside 100 men, now, she’s pulling more women into the male-dominated sector by simply sitting down and having a drink with them.

From an Albies college girl walking to morning classes in her pyjamas, to being scouted by the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) for a new managerial role, Amanda Moohen’s career is an impressive one.

Growing up on a beef grazing property on Queensland’s Darling Downs, cattle have always been of interest for Amanda.

But it wasn’t until studying Ag Science at university that she recognised that a career in agriculture can be quite difficult to get into, especially as a woman.

Amanda 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

Thanks to this episodes sponsor, LAWD the specialists in Agribusiness valuations and transactions. Check out some of the properties currently advertised at www.lawd.com.au

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

With a degree in marine biology and a love of surfing the South Coast, Ewan McAsh is transforming the Australian oyster industry from product to plate.

Ewan McAsh was 24 and fresh out of university when his Dad, previously a commercial fisherman and looking to leave his office job, proposed buying an oyster farm together. To Ewan, who recently graduated with a degree in marine biology, farming native oysters seemed simple enough.

Fast forward fifteen years and Ewan has gone on to set up multiple businesses and now finds himself as the CEO of a Global Tech company solving problems in the aquaculture industry. 

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 check out all the Antola Workshirts, head to www.antolatrading.com

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.