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

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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

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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

Victoria’s Strathbogie Ranges offer a rugged landscape, breathtaking views and an unforgiving climate. It’s a backdrop that has resulted in award-winning wine. Fowles Wine aims to farm with the utmost respect for the natural environment. It’s a commitment that has transplanted the owner from a chance to work as a New York lawyer to an expert in cold-climate wine, 90 minutes outside Melbourne. To learn more Matt Fowles joins me now to discuss:

• Matt is based in the Strathbogie Ranges and shares his favourite spot on this cold landscape.
• We hear the backstory of how Matt came to own a vineyard in 2006, as he has a background in law.
• Some of Matt’s learnings from the first few years in business.
• Matt has a real focus on respect for the environment and shares some of the farm practices.
• Using the insectarium to boost the number, and biodiversity of insect life on the farm.
• Working with local, and many endangered micro-bats as a non-chemical solution to the issue unwanted pests.
• Working with the chaos of the natural landscape is Matt’s passion and it’s inspired a recently released vintage called ‘FieldSong’.
• Sharing the farm with a restaurant which also sends food waste back to the chooks.
• What Matt loves most about life on the land.
• A common misconception of wine.
• The most unexpected experience Matt has had while on this journey.
• His ultimate dream for the future of Fowles Wine.

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

Fowles Wine

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If 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.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Hay Inc.

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For someone who is a first-generation dairy farmer – my guest today has accomplished a lot in a short space of time. She’s a director on the GippsDairy Board, sits on the Victorian Young Farmers Advisory Council and has a high community involvement dedicated to finding pathways for young women in the industry. Perhaps surprising given a school career adviser told her, agriculture wasn’t for women. Jessica Knight, or the Grounded Farm Wife (as she’s known by her online following), joins me to discuss:

• Jess says, ‘I didn’t grow up on a farm but got there when I could’ and, shares her favourite place on the dairy farm.
• Growing up in town, Jess spent her weekends on her grandfather’s farm which sparked her desire to have a career in the industry.
• A school guidance counsellor told Jess ‘girls don’t do ag’ and as a result she pursued different path initially.
• Meeting and marrying a dairy farmer – finally she felt at home.
• From a childhood memory to Jess’ experience on the farm as an adult.
• Jess has become a fierce advocate for women in ag and has seen a lot of positive change over the recent years.
• She really wants women to find a life on the land that suits them, and shares some of the less obvious pathways into agriculture.
• Jess is a farmer’s wife and a farmer in her own right. She gives us a snap-shot into the hands-on role she takes on in the running of the farm.
• The ‘Grounded Farm Wife’ blog offers so many handy tips for others balancing life on the land, family, community and a career.
• What Jess loves most about life on the land.
• The most common misconception about this life.
• An unexpected revelation for Jess.
• And finally, 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

Grounded Farm Wife

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In a world driven by artificial intelligence and autonomous machines – the agriculture industry is changing dramatically. But with more technology, does life become more complicated? One farming couple is striving to create better and simpler practices with farm-bots. They used their own farm in Central Queensland as the testing ground and now – these mechanical helpers are being deployed to farms across the country. To learn more Jocie and Andrew Bate join me now to discuss:

• Jocie and Andrew have different places on their farm that they enjoy spending time.

• Since the late 1970s, Andrew’s family has been working on the farm and he shares how the use of machinery has changed over the years.

• Bigger is not always better and Andrew explains the machinery trends – they are getting bigger and so much more complicated.

• In 2012, Andrew started to wonder if there was a better way and introduced robotics to the farm.

• Partnering with two universities, they opened their property up to being the testing ground and before they knew it, they had a prototype.

• The current design of the SwarmBots, what they do and, how they help farmers.

• How these robotics can use targeted weed recognition, meaning farmers are able to use 1% of their previously needed pesticides.

• Commercially, they have farmed over 3 million acres with these robotics, and counting.

• The difference between ‘farming automation’ and ‘farming with autonomous robots’.

• In 2020, the Bates brought on investors so they were able to raise funds to take this industry to the next level.

• What Jocie and Andrew love most about life on the land.

• The most common misconception around SwarmFarm Robotics

• An unexpected event to happen since starting to work the land with Robotics.

• Jocie and Andrew ‘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

SwarmFarm Robotics

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t love a spud! Baked, mashed, jacket, wedge, or hash brown – they’re all good. In fact, 85% percent of us have potatoes in the home pantry. But perhaps more unexpectedly, the huge industry behind this vegetable warrants a World Potato Congress. And this year’s is happening in our own backyard in Adelaide on the 23rd-26th of June. The colourful ambassador for the event is Robbie Davis – and she’s never spent a single day as a potato farmer. The event is hosted by Potatoes Australia with significant support from the SA Government, Primary Industries and Regions SA and Business Events Adelaide. To learn more about this intriguing event, Robbie joins me to discuss:

• Robbie is not a potato grower but, she is a farmer and shares her favourite thing about being the ambassador for the World Potato Congress.
• So, what is the World Potato Congress, and why is it important?
• This year it’s Adelaide’s turn to host the World Potato Congress and the theme for this year.
• Robbie shares the hidden super powers of the potato.
• We hear how this journey of potatoes began for Robbie as she shares some experiences since joining the world of potatoes in 2012.
• What Robbie loves about taking on leadership roles in the industry.
• The passion Robbie has for the industry is evident and she shares some of her highlights from her time in agriculture.
• Are there any exciting new developments happening in the potato world?
• What Robbie loves most about working in ag.
• The most unexpected thing to happen in Robbie’s career since becoming the voice for potatoes.
• A common misconception about the humble potato.
• 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

World Potato Congress

Produced by Pretty Podcasts