S4 Ep 19 - The Unconventional Farmer
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
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 employment platform Ag-Work Solutions. To learn more about her unconventional path into farming, Hannah Bamford joins me now. Her favourite place on the station where she lives and works...
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S4 Ep 18 - Olly ‘Blogs’ Harrison
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
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 media influencers in his country, choosing to champion a range of causes, including inheritance tax. Farmer and entrepreneur Olly ‘Blogs’ Harrison joins me now. Olly’s favourite...
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S4 Ep 17 - BoomaFood
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
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, indoors, all year round. To learn more about this business with a lot of heart, Managing Director of Booma, Cory Robertson joins me now, to discuss: Cory’s Indigenous-owned company...
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S4 Ep 16 - Kitchen Garden
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
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 joins me now to discuss: Peter’s favourite spot is simply sitting anywhere in the garden. Carool was a big change from Sydney — they bought the property immediately upon seeing it. While they...
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S4 Ep 15 - Nguurruu Farm
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
What it lacks in size, this farm gains in heart. It all comes down to forging a very deliberate and considered impact on the agriculture industry. A place to talk, research, demonstrate and showcase different methods. This working property on the Southern Tablelands of NSW has an open door agri-tourism venture bringing this little biodynamic business to a much broader audience. Murray Prior of Nguurruu Farm joins me now to discuss: Murray’s favourite place on the property is the a magnificent old stringybark tree. "Nguurruu" is the name of the farm, meaning ‘camp’ in Indigenous...
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S4 Ep 14 - The Christmas Farm
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
It’s the stuff dreams are made of – Christmas all year round. For one Queensland family and all who visit their farm, that’s the reality. 20 acres of perfectly formed Christmas trees, the decorations to adorn them – and for those wanting a little more – you can even indulge in one of their famous hot chocolates. If it sounds magical, that’s exactly what the owners had in mind. Let’s meet the family sprinkling that Christmas spirit almost 12 months of the year, Katrina and Brad Fraser of Granite Belt Christmas Farm join me now to discuss: Their favourite spot on the property is...
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S4 Ep 13 - Echo Valley Farm
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
As first-generation farmers, this family says they started small and safe – but there’s nothing small about the big issues they’re addressing. Ethics, sustainability and regeneration underpin everything they do. To achieve that, they have a passion for First Nation’s knowledge combined with giving their animals the most natural life possible on a farm. To learn more about Echo Valley Farm, Randal Breen joins me now to discuss: Randal shares his favourite place on the farm. As a first-generation farmer, he explains why he chose this life — to care for the land while working...
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S4 Ep 12 - Cracking Bird Flu
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
Eggs - they’re an easy and usually affordable source of protein and nutrition. But walking through most Australian supermarkets lately, it’s clear cracks have appeared in the industry. So why is there an egg shortage and why when you do happen to find some are they so expensive? Egg farmer and sector advocate, Danyel Cucinotta from LT’s Egg Farm joins me now for the lowdown on avian influenza. We catch up with Danyel, who still finds the work on the farm deeply emotional but continues to love both the work and the land. As an egg farmer, she has experienced firsthand the significant...
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S4 Ep 11 - Koala Corridor
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
Macadamia farming is their day job – saving Koalas is their passion. In a pocket of Northern NSW just west of Byron Bay, there is a healthy crop of trees producing delicious macadamia nuts on a commercial sale. But there’s another forest on the same farm – and there eucalyptus is king. And Koalas are loving it. The Viola family is part of a growing trend that’s seeing farmers dedicate some land to saving our adored marsupial. To learn more about the koala corridor Dale Viola joins me now to discuss: Dale’s favourite place on the macadamia farm and eucalyptus oasis. How and why this...
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S4 Ep10 - Sprouting a New Generation
Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story
Siblings Erin and Josh Cranwell know a thing or two about Brussels Sprouts. Five generations of their family have produced them. But returning to the farm after high-school to take up a career in the business has surprised everyone, not least themselves. The brother and sister from Hay Valley and Lake Plains in South Australia, now live and breathe this superfood. Well aware of the bad reputation the humble sprout has attracted, they are passionate about educating consumers about their wonder crop. To learn more, Erin Cranwell from AE Cranwell and Sons join me now to discuss: Erin’s...
info_outlineIf you cast your eyes around many Australian properties and stations – something seems to be increasingly missing. Young people. The role of Jackaroo or Jillaroo was often a coming-of-age opportunity for the next generation of farmers. Determined to bring them back, is a group of bushies in the NSW Riverina. Those former jackaroos have since forged successful careers for themselves and want the next generation to have the same opportunity. Hay Inc is a community-led rural education program opening doors – or to be more specific farm-gates – to kids. To learn more, one of their alumni, Logan Wright joins me now to discuss:
- Logan is based in Holbrook in NSW at Fairview Station and tells us his favourite place on the farm.
- The role of a station hand and what an average day looks like.
- Logan always wanted to work in ag and shares some of the hurdles he faced pursuing this career as a young man coming into the industry.
- We talk about the ‘Hay Inc Rural Education Program.’ This program is run by local volunteer famers who were concerned about the markedly reduced number of young people entering the industry.
- We know young people have fewer opportunities in ag these days and Logan shares how this program helped him upskill.
- Hay Inc. has brought about a community through the training. As well as the skills, Logan now has access to an invaluable network.
- Completing the Hay Inc. program in 2023, Logan was a stand-out graduate and was awarded The Mathew Vick Scholarship.
- Logan’s learnings though this scholarship and, what it has enabled him to do.
- So, what does Logan love most about life on the land?
- A common misconception about working as a farm hand.
- Logan shares the unexpected, and his career trajectory.
- Logan’s ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
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