As two sisters working on neighbouring properties in outback Queensland, they’ve spent long, hot days in blistering sun, battled climate extremes and felt the effects of the harshest conditions. You could say, it’s all part of the job. But something that shouldn’t be part of a day’s work – is skin cancer. From a frightening first-hand experience with melanoma, comes a delightful balance between practicality and fashion. FarmHER Hands launched in December 2023. The line of stylish UPF50+ gloves are now finding their way to farms across the nation. The founders of the business, Shona Larkin and Angie Nisbit join me now to discuss:

• Living on neighbouring properties near Hughendon in North West Queensland and their favorite place on the farm.
• Working with their hands is a vital when on the land and, the point for Angie that the condition of her skin was noticeable to others.
• The dangers of the Australian sun and the damage caused by UV rays.
• Shona shares her experience of a health scare after returning to the farm.
• The experience of losing a friend to melanoma and how this planted a seed that we all needed to look after our skin more carefully.
• The start of ‘FarmHer Hands’. https://farmherhands.com/
• The feedback from the gloves and how they come up with their designs.
• A lot more women are taking on careers in ag and, the women purchasing these items.
• The beginnings of starting a business and managing the growth and scale of this business being run from outback Queensland.
• What Angie and Shona are most proud of since launching.
• The most unexpected thing to happen along the way.
• The challenge of starting a business from a rural location.
• The ultimate dream for FarmHer Hands.

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.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

FarmHer Hands

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

It takes incredible strength of character to turn something tragic into something hopeful. That’s what one young rural woman has done following the tragic loss of both her parents. After losing her father to a heart condition when she was just 12 years old, she then lost her mother to a rare form of cancer. Her horses became her lifeline. Now, they are her full-time companions as she rides 5-and-a-half thousand kilometres across outback Queensland and NSW, to raise money for cancer research. The incredibly resilient woman in the saddle, Sarah Wheeler joins me to discuss:

• Sarah’s favourite rural place she has visited so far along her epic journey.
• Sarah’s current location as she rides 5-and-a-half thousand kilometres across outback Queensland and NSW.
• The reason she is riding for charity and, how her parents have been her inspiration to keep going.
• Her childhood and the influence her parents had on Sarah becoming a strong rural woman.
• The planning that’s gone into this trip and, the people she has met along the way.
• Sarah’s horses have been loyal companions in the face of her immense loss.
• The support crew and horse float which, turns out to be much needed when there are cream rocks around.
• As well as being a healing pilgrimage for Sarah, she also wants to make a difference in the fight against cancer and, how we can support her through ‘Pancare’
• How her horses ‘Shifty’ and ‘Sally’ are going on this long trip and, their daily ride routine.
• How Sarah is documenting her trip as well as a map of where she is right now.
• What Sarah loves most about being a rural woman.
• Sarah shares very openly about the common misconceptions about grief.
• Sarah’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.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

The Outback Long Ride

Connect with Sarah on Instagram _beneaththebrim

Pancare

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Redbank Farm is run by an award-winning father and son team who are doing things a little differently. Their property at Sisters Creek in north-western Tasmania is managed with precision agriculture and sustainability front of mind. Their efforts have meant the farm is now a sanctuary for threatened species, magnificent native animals and birds of prey. Their National Landcare Awards celebrate the family’s commitment to innovation in this space. To learn how they’ve done it Andrew Nichols and his son Michael join me now to discuss:

• This father and son pair, share their favourite place to enjoy the scenery and wildlife on the property at Sisters Creek in north-western Tasmania.
• Andrew shares the beginning of the farm and how it has evolved over the years.
• Michael has taken on the rotational cropping, grain, beef cattle and forestry.
• Tasmania grows 40% of the world’s legal narcotics through Poppies and Michael is the president of the Tasmania Poppy Growers Association.
• Andrew has always had a love for nature and when he arrived in Australia, he realised he could use the native remnant bushland to his advantage.
• Navigating the land care values with production and profit.
• This strategy has seen the property win two National Landcare Awards.
• As a result of creating these spaces, wedge-tailed eagles, the threatened freshwater lobster and burrowing crayfish are all thriving.
• Using precision agriculture in the day to day running of the property.
• What Michael and Andrew love most about life on the land.
• A few common misconceptions they have experienced in their time.
• What they love most about this special piece of land.
• Andrew shares some unexpected wildlife stories.
• The 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.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Produced by Pretty Podcasts