A Place to Call Home | Stories from Australian Agriculture

Send us Fan Mail G'day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Luke St. George, a first-generation farmer, engineer and entrepreneur from North Queensland. Growing up, Luke always said he wanted to become an engineer so he could one day afford to buy a farm. And at just 28 years old, that's exactly what he did. After building his own engineering and construction businesses, Luke purchased Lancewood Station on the Burdekin River. But getting that first start wasn't easy, from negotiating a mortgagee-in-possession sale and getting knocked back by the bank to developing a rundown property with very little money left over. We dive into how Luke built his businesses, financed his first property, created equity through property development and eventually made the difficult decision to sell Lancewood to focus on family and other opportunities. We also explore his journey into investing and private equity, his approach to building wealth, and his latest venture, Stockman's Wallet, which aims to change the way producers value livestock and make financial decisions. This is a great conversation about backing yourself, recognising opportunities, learning from failure and finding your own pathway into agriculture. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Growing up with the dream of becoming a farmer 🏗️ Starting an engineering business at 24 and building Vision Constructions 🏡 Purchasing Lancewood Station at just 28 years old 🏦 Financing his first property, dealing with bank rejection and getting that first start 🔨 Developing rundown properties and building equity 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Balancing business, farming and family, and making the difficult decision to sell 🌱 Developing Hervey Range and lessons in regenerative agriculture 🥩 Starting Pure Produce and the challenges of paddock-to-plate beef 📈 Selling his engineering business and learning about private equity and investing 💰 Building businesses that have value beyond their cash flow 🐂 Creating Stockman's Wallet and bringing better financial tools to livestock producers 🤖 Artificial intelligence and the future of Australian agriculture 💡 Backing yourself, having a go and learning from failure 🏡 What a place to call home means to Luke Learn More about Luke and what we chatted about 🔗 Luke St. George — LinkedIn https://au.linkedin.com/in/luke-st-george-550a2952 🐂 Stockman's Wallet — Livestock valuations and financial tools https://www.stockmanswallet.com.au/ 🥩 Pure Produce — Regeneratively raised beef https://pureproduce.net.au/ 🏗️ Vision Constructions https://www.visionconstructions.com.au/ Resources Mentioned 🎙️ Moonshots Podcast — Peter Diamandis If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rabobank Australia . A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G'day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Kimmie, founder of The Rural Dietitian, who grew up on a sheep and cattle station near Longreach in Western Queensland and now calls the New England region of NSW home. Kimmie shares her journey from growing up in the bush to becoming a dietitian, meeting her husband Sandy and finding her place in another family farming operation. We talk about the challenges of joining a family business, maintaining your own identity and how some difficult life experiences helped give Kimmie the courage to take a leap and build her own business. What started as an Instagram page has grown into an online dietitian practice supporting rural women and families right across Australia, helping them improve their nutrition, health and wellbeing in a way that actually fits into rural life. We also dive into something that I think we all need to pay more attention to — what we're putting into our bodies. Kimmie helps cut through the noise around fad diets, supplements, weight loss medications and the endless nutrition advice we see online, bringing things back to the basics of eating well. This is a conversation about family, resilience, backing yourself and recognising that looking after our own health is just as important as looking after our families, farms and businesses. There's plenty of laughs along the way and some great practical advice we can all take something from. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Growing up on a sheep and cattle station near Longreach 🎓 Kimmie's journey into dietetics and working in rural healthcare ❤️ Meeting Sandy and building a life together in the New England region 🏡 Joining a family farming operation and finding your own place within it 🤝 The importance of communication, identity and succession planning 🌱 Navigating difficult life experiences and finding the courage to have a go 💻 Starting The Rural Dietitian and building an online business from the bush 👩‍🌾 Supporting rural women and the flow-on benefits for their families 🥗 Why good nutrition matters for our energy, mental health and long-term wellbeing 🚜 Making healthy eating realistic during busy days on the farm 🥩 Getting the basics right with balanced meals, protein, vegetables and healthy fats 🐟 The importance of omega-3s and other nutrients often missing from rural diets 🍔 Cutting through fad diets, nutrition trends and unnecessary supplements 💉 Weight loss medications and why long-term habits still matter 💡 Simple changes we can make to start improving our health today 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Helping kids develop healthier eating habits 🏡 What a place to call home means to Kimmie Find out more about Kimmie and The Rural Dietitian 🌏 Website: The Rural Dietitian 📸 Instagram: @ruraldietitian 🎙️ Podcast: The Rural Dietitian Podcast Resources Mentioned 🎙️ ZOE Science & Nutrition Podcast – Science-based discussions on nutrition, gut health and wellbeing. 🎙️ Married to the Land Podcast – Sharing stories of rural Australian women. 🎙️ Kimmie's episode on Married to the Land – A conversation about motherhood, grief and building a business. 🌱 The Rural Dietitian – Rural Mum Reset Program – Nutrition coaching and practical support for rural women. If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rabobank Australia . A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Krystal Caton, co-owner of Lush Lychees near Rockhampton in Central Queensland and a 2025 Nuffield Australia Scholar. Krystal shares her journey from growing up outside agriculture and working as a schoolteacher, to managing cattle properties with her husband Paul, buying their first investments and eventually taking a leap into the lychee industry with absolutely no experience growing lychees. What started as a run-down orchard has grown into a successful family business, exporting premium lychees around the world, expanding their orchards and developing a farm shop that has become an experience for the local community. We also dive into Krystal’s Nuffield Scholarship, where she explored how family farms can capture more value from the assets they already have, rather than simply focusing on producing more. We talk about the lessons she learnt travelling the world and how she has started putting those ideas into practice through new products and partnerships. This is a conversation about having a go, recognising opportunities, learning along the way and thinking differently about how we build profitable and sustainable farming businesses for the next generation. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Krystal’s journey from teaching into agriculture 🐂 Managing cattle properties and making their first investments 🏡 Buying their first blocks of land and using them to generate income 🍒 Taking the leap into lychee farming with no previous experience 🚜 Rebuilding the orchard and growing Lush Lychees 🌏 Growing a premium product for domestic and export markets 🏪 Building a farm shop and creating an experience for customers 🍦 Value-adding through ice cream, preserves and lychee products 🎓 Krystal’s Nuffield Scholarship and lessons from travelling the world 💡 Finding opportunities to capture more value from existing farm assets 🤝 Using partnerships and innovation to develop new products, including lychee vodka and liqueur 🌱 Building a profitable family farm for the next generation Find out more about Krystal and Lush Lychees 🌏 Website: Lush Lychees 📘 Facebook: Lush Lychees 📸 Instagram: @lushlychees 🔗 LinkedIn: Krystal Caton 🎓 Nuffield Scholar Profile: Krystal Caton – Nuffield Australia Resources Mentioned 🎓 Nuffield Australia 🌏 https://www.farmownersacademy.com/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rabobank Australia . A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a resource created to help the next generation of primary producers. In this episode, I sit down with Zoe Carter, a passionate advocate for Australian agriculture and the founder of Agriculture Jobs Auswide. Zoe didn’t grow up in agriculture, but an early interest in the industry eventually took her from working in meat processing and sheep studs to cattle stations, trucking and farm management across Australia. After a serious horse accident and years of ongoing injuries eventually made physically working on-farm difficult, Zoe had to find another way to contribute to an industry she loved. That journey, combined with her own experiences trying to find agricultural work, eventually led her to create Agriculture Jobs Auswide — a platform designed to better connect agricultural businesses with Australians looking for work. In this conversation, we take a deep dive into employment and workforce challenges across Australian agriculture. Zoe shares what she is seeing from both sides of the jobs market — employers trying to attract and retain good people, and workers trying to find the right opportunities. We talk about what workers actually value in a job, why salary isn’t always the biggest factor, the importance of accommodation, career progression and workplace culture, and how employer reputation can directly affect the quality of applicants a business attracts. We also dig into job advertisements, recruitment, retaining staff, helping newcomers get their first opportunity in agriculture and some of the trends Zoe is seeing through Agriculture Jobs Auswide. This episode is a great resource whether you employ people in your agricultural business, are looking for work yourself, or simply want to better understand how we can build a stronger agricultural workforce. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Zoe’s pathway into agriculture and becoming an advocate for the industry 💼 Why she started Agriculture Jobs Auswide 👩‍🌾 What Zoe is seeing across the agricultural jobs market 🔎 Why there can be a mismatch between people looking for work and the jobs available 📱 The role social media plays in attracting people into agriculture 📝 What makes a good agricultural job advertisement stand out 🏡 Why accommodation, lifestyle and creating a sense of home matter to employees 📈 The importance of career progression and giving employees a pathway to grow 🤝 How employer reputation and workplace culture influence recruitment and retention 👷 What employers can do differently to attract and keep good people 📄 How job seekers can better present themselves through resumes and interviews 🌱 Creating more opportunities for people with little or no agricultural experience to enter the industry Resources Mentioned 🐂 Classic Livestock 🎓 ChemCert 🐄 Young Aussie Farmers Beef Handling Course 🌱 Dairy Australia training & Pastures 101 🥩 MLA Red Meat Ambassador Program Stay connected with Zoe: 📘 Facebook: Zoe Carter 📸 Instagram: Zoe Carter 🔗 LinkedIn: Zoe Carter | LinkedIn 🌏 Website: Agriculture Jobs Auswide | Farm Jobs & Ag Contractors If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rabobank Australia . A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Jack Blaine, a former Australian Army serviceman, founder of Diggers Cattle Co. and the man behind Diggers to Stockmans, an initiative helping veterans transition into the cattle industry. Jack grew up on the Gold Coast with a love for rugby league and a growing interest in agriculture. After finishing school, he chose the Army over the bush, eventually travelling the world playing rugby league for the Defence Force. But the pull towards agriculture never disappeared. After leaving the Army, Jack found his way into the cattle industry, working at a stud before setting out to build his own business in northern New South Wales. We talk about his journey into agriculture, using property and share market investments to get ahead, thinking creatively to access land and the challenges of establishing a paddock-to-plate beef business. Jack also shares how he partnered with his in-laws to purchase their property and why creating a place to raise his family has been such an important part of his journey. A big part of our conversation is Jack's latest initiative, Diggers to Stockmans, which is helping veterans transition from military life into the cattle industry by giving them practical experience and industry connections. This is a great conversation about thinking outside the box, backing yourself, making the most of opportunities and helping others find their own pathway into agriculture. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Jack's journey from the Gold Coast to the Army and into agriculture 🏉 Playing rugby league around the world with the Defence Force 🐂 Getting a foothold in the cattle industry through stud work and agistment 💰 Using property and share market investments to build wealth 🏡 Partnering with family to purchase land and create a place to call home 🥩 Building Diggers Cattle Co. and navigating the paddock-to-plate business 🎖️ Starting Diggers to Stockmans to help veterans transition into agriculture 🤝 The importance of relationships, creative thinking and making the most of opportunities Resources Mentioned 🎙️ The Wealthy Cowboy Show 🎓 ABL Foundation Stay connected with Jack: 📘 Facebook: Digger Cattle Co 📸 Instagram: @diggerscattleco 🔗 LinkedIn: Jack Blaine | LinkedIn 🌏 Website: Diggers Cattle Co. If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rabobank Australia . A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Bree Spreadborough, Senior Relationship Analyst with Rabobank and NRLW player for the Brisbane Broncos. Bree grew up around agriculture, horses and properties across Central Queensland before studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at CQUniversity and beginning her career with Rabobank. Rugby league wasn’t always part of the plan. What started with her brother convincing her to give a local Nines carnival a crack eventually led to the Central Queensland Capras and, in 2024, an unexpected phone call that would see Bree offered a spot with the Brisbane Broncos. We talk about her pathway through agriculture and banking, getting the call from the Broncos while working at Beef Week, adjusting from Rockhampton to Brisbane, and what it really takes to balance a full-time career with the demands of the NRLW. Bree also opens up about breaking her ankle in 2025, the challenge of working her way back from injury, the growth of women’s rugby league and why hard work and persistence have been such a big part of her journey. This is a great conversation about taking opportunities when they come, backing yourself and continuing to have a crack even when the pathway doesn’t look exactly how you expected. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Bree’s rural upbringing and pathway into agriculture 🏦 Building a career with Rabobank 🏉 Her journey from local footy to the Brisbane Broncos ☎️ Getting the call during Beef Week in 2024 💼 Balancing a full-time career with the demands of NRLW 💪 Overcoming injury and working her way back 🔥 Hard work, persistence and making the most of opportunities Resources Mentioned 🎙️ The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎓 Bachelor of Agriculture – CQUniversity Stay connected with Bree: 📸 Instagram: @bree_spreadborough 🔗 LinkedIn: Bree Spreadborough | LinkedIn If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rabobank Australia . A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Sigvart, founder of B Rural Co. A growing rural business built around practical fencing tools, workwear and a strong connection to the bush. Brandon shares his journey from growing up in rural Australia and working in the mines, to saving hard, buying his first property and eventually turning a side hustle into a full-time business. What started with a simple idea for a better fencing product has grown through customer feedback, product development and the power of social media into a recognisable rural brand. This is a conversation about having a go, working hard, backing an idea and using the opportunities in front of you to build the life and business you want. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Brandon’s rural upbringing and passion for the bush 🔨 How B Rural Co. started and where the first product ideas came from ⛏️ Working in the mines, saving hard and buying property 🚀 Turning a side hustle into a full-time business 💡 Developing products through customer feedback and practical problems 📱 Using social media to grow the B Rural Co. brand 💪 Work ethic, persistence and backing yourself Find out more about B Rural Co. 📘 Facebook: B Rural Co | Facebook 📸 Instagram: BRurlaCo 🌏 Website: B Rural Co. Resources Mentioned The Re Ride Podcast If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rabobank Australia . A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail AG INNOVATION SERIES | Innovation Beyond Technology with Josie Copley In the final episode of the Ag Innovation Series, Sam Fryer sits down with Josie Copley from Copley Pastoral to explore what innovation really means in modern agriculture. As part of a fifth-generation family beef business and Brahman seedstock operation, Josie brings a unique perspective to the innovation conversation. Working across livestock production, marketing and communications, she sees firsthand how businesses can evolve through genetics, data, better decision making and a commitment to continuous improvement. Throughout the conversation, Josie challenges the idea that innovation is always about new technology. Instead, she shares why some of the most powerful innovations come from doing the small things consistently well over time. In this episode we discuss: • Innovation beyond technology • Genetics and data-driven breeding decisions • The role of BreedPlan and objective measurement • Building a profitable and sustainable family business • Why adoption is often harder than innovation • The importance of curiosity and continuous learning • Field days and knowledge sharing across the industry • Collaboration between producers, researchers and industry • The role of the next generation in shaping Australian agriculture We also dive into Copley Pastoral's Curious Minds, Profitable Herds Field Day and discuss how events like these help bridge the gap between research, innovation and practical on-farm adoption. One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that innovation doesn't always need to be revolutionary. Sometimes the greatest gains come from making small improvements, staying curious and consistently moving forward. This episode wraps up the Ag Innovation Series, a collaboration between A Place to Call Home and the Pandaemonium Paper exploring the people, ideas and technologies shaping the future of Australian agriculture. Pandaemonium Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Ag Innovation Series | Ceres Tag, Livestock Technology & The Future of Beef Production with Jean Liebenberg with Jean Liebenberg In this episode of the Ag Innovation Series, Sam Fryer sits down with cattle producer and Ceres Tag Business Development Manager Jean Liebenberg to explore what innovation actually looks like in the Australian beef industry. Drawing on his experience as both a producer and ag tech professional, Jean shares his perspective on technology adoption, livestock monitoring and the growing role of data in helping producers make better decisions on farm. Throughout the conversation, we discuss how innovation doesn't always need to be flashy. Sometimes it's about solving real problems, improving efficiency and finding practical ways to make farming operations more productive and resilient. In this episode we discuss: • Innovation through a producer's lens • Technology adoption in the beef industry • Data-driven decision making • Livestock monitoring and animal performance • The role of Ceres Tag in modern beef production • Why innovation needs to solve real problems • Return on investment versus return on effort • Collaboration, mentoring and industry networks • The future of livestock technology • What the next generation of agriculture could look like One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that innovation isn't necessarily about having the latest technology, it's about using the right tools to make better decisions and improve outcomes on farm. This episode is proudly supported by Ceres Tag. Designed specifically for extensive livestock systems, Ceres Tag is helping producers gain greater visibility into their cattle through real-time monitoring and animal performance insights. From tracking grazing behaviour and feed intake through to health monitoring and management decisions, the technology is providing producers with new ways to understand what's happening in the paddock when they can't always be there themselves. For producers operating across large and remote beef enterprises, access to better information can lead to better decisions, improved productivity and stronger business outcomes. To learn more about Ceres Tag, visit: https://cerestag.com/ Pandaemonium Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Ag Innovation Series | Innovation, Agronomy & The Future of Farming with Sam Simons In this episode of the Ag Innovation Series, Sam Fryer sits down with agronomist Sam Simons from Poole Ag to explore innovation through the lens of modern farming systems. Working with producers across broadacre agriculture, Sam is on the front line of some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. From weed resistance and labour shortages through to automation, precision agriculture and emerging technology, he sees firsthand what is driving innovation on farm and what is delivering real results. Throughout this conversation, we discuss the difference between innovation and technology, why necessity often drives change, and how producers can navigate the constant stream of new products, systems and ideas entering agriculture. In this episode we discuss: • What innovation actually means in agriculture • Why necessity is often the driver of change • Weed resistance and the role of innovation in solving complex challenges • Precision agriculture and data-driven decision making • Automation, robotics and emerging technologies • Water efficiency and getting more from every input • Why some innovations succeed while others fail • Innovation adoption and producer confidence • The role producers play in driving innovation themselves • What the future of Australian agriculture could look like Whether you're a producer, agronomist, advisor or simply interested in the future of agriculture, this episode provides practical insights into how innovation is shaping farming systems across Australia. This Ag Innovation Series is proudly a collaboration between A Place to Call Home and the Pandaemonium Paper, exploring the people, ideas and technologies helping move Australian agriculture forward. Pandaemonium Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

Send us Fan Mail AG INNOVATION SERIES | Practical Innovation, Mobble & The Next Generation of Agriculture with Will Bucknell In this episode of the Ag Innovation Series, Sam Fryer sits down with young producer Will Bucknell from Quambone in north-west New South Wales to explore what innovation actually looks like on the ground for the next generation of Australian agriculture. After growing up on his family’s steer trading operation, Will went on to work on large scale cattle stations across Queensland before studying farm management at Marcus Oldham College, where he was exposed to a range of emerging technologies and management systems being adopted across the industry. Since returning home, Will and his family have been gradually implementing new technologies into their own operation, including Mobble, smart tagging, spray drones and improved data management systems — all with a strong focus on practicality, efficiency and return on investment. This episode is part of the Ag Innovation Series, a collaboration between Pandaemonium and A Place to Call Home exploring the people, ideas and technologies helping move Australian agriculture forward. This episode is proudly supported by Mobble — a livestock and farm management platform helping producers streamline record keeping, improve communication across teams and simplify day-to-day farm management. To learn more about Mobble, head to: https://www.mobble.io/ Pandaemonium Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Ag Innovation Series | Adapting, Innovating & Evolving in Viticulture with Liz Riley In this episode of the Ag Innovation Series, Sam Fryer sits down with Liz Riley — an independent viticultural consultant and trainer based in the Hunter Valley, as well as sitting on the Plant Health Australia board and a Nuffield Scholar with more than 25 years of experience working across viticulture, sustainability, biosecurity and agricultural leadership. Liz completed her Nuffield Scholarship in 1996 focusing on integrated pest management in vineyards, an experience that helped shape her approach to innovation, adaptability and continuous improvement across agriculture. Throughout this conversation we explore what innovation actually looks like on the ground, how industries evolve under pressure and why practical solutions often matter more than flashy technology. This episode is proudly part of the Ag Innovation Series, a collaboration between Pandaemonium and A Place to Call Home exploring the people, ideas and technologies helping move Australian agriculture forward. Pandaemonium Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review, it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

Send us Fan Mail AG INNOVATION SERIES | INTRODUCTION with Sam Fryer & Alice Armitage Welcome to the first episode of the Ag Innovation Series — a new collaboration between Pandaemonium and A Place to Call Home. In this introductory conversation, Sam Fryer and Alice Armitage unpack what innovation in agriculture actually means beyond the buzzwords. From drones and AI to genetics, data collection, storytelling and succession, this episode explores the real-world challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Australian agriculture. Across the series, we’ll sit down with producers, founders, researchers and innovators who are pushing the industry forward not for the sake of flashy technology, but to create more productive, sustainable and resilient farming businesses and rural communities. This series is about highlighting the people and ideas shaping the future of agriculture and showcasing how regional Australia continues to innovate, adapt and evolve. Thanks for listening and we’re excited to bring you the conversations ahead. Pandaemonium The independent media outlet sharing stories of positivity and prosperity from country Australia. Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Tamara Finger, owner and manager of TF2 Grazing Company, a beef breeding operation recently relocated to Theodore in Central Queensland. Tamara shares a powerful and practical story of succession done differently — starting with being gifted cattle as a child, building her own herd from a young age, and stepping into property ownership in her early 20s. From growing up in Dysart to working across local government, retail, and federal politics, Tamara’s journey highlights the importance of gaining experience off-farm, understanding business fundamentals, and staying open to opportunity. This is a conversation about taking ownership early, building assets over time, and backing yourself when the right opportunity comes along. In this episode, we chat about: 🏡 Growing up in Dysart and balancing agriculture and mining communities 🐄 Being gifted cattle as a child and building a herd from a young age 📊 Learning business fundamentals early — books, tax, and decision-making 🚜 Gaining experience off-farm through council, retail, and politics 🤝 A unique family succession model focused on early ownership 🏦 Stepping into property at 22 with her sister 📈 Building a breeding operation and growing herd numbers 🔄 Buying out her sister and navigating business and family decisions 📍 Selling and relocating to Theodore to align with long-term goals 🧠 The importance of setting goals and staying adaptable to opportunities 🏛️ Advocacy, AgForce involvement, and shaping the future of agriculture 🌱 Opportunities through innovation, technology, and genetics Resources mentioned 📊 Beef Central Podcast (The Weekly Grill) 🌎 Cattle Chats (US-based podcast) If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au 🎙️ This episode is brought to you by Rural Succession Solutions. If you’ve ever found succession conversations difficult — or avoided them altogether — you’re not alone. Rural Succession Solutions work with rural families to guide those conversations, helping bring clarity, alignment, and a clear plan for the future of the farm. Their structured process focuses on communication first — because without it, even the best plans can fall apart. If you’re looking to protect your family, your business, and your legacy, it’s well worth reaching out. 👉 Learn more: https://ruralsuccessionsolutions.com.au/ Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Buchmann from JAB Agri Solutions, based in Southeast Queensland. Amanda is a passionate advocate for the red meat and broader agricultural industry, focused on bridging the gap between industry knowledge and new entrants coming into agriculture. From growing up around livestock with her grandparents to building a career outside the industry in pharmacy and law, Amanda has taken a unique path back into ag — now combining her life experience with a mission to educate and support producers. This conversation dives deep into the realities of entering agriculture today, the importance of education and compliance, and the role every producer plays in strengthening the future of the industry. In this episode, we chat about: 🏡 Growing up in Warwick and early exposure to livestock through family 🚛 Lessons learned from time spent in livestock transport with her dad 📚 Building skills outside agriculture in pharmacy, law, and conveyancing 🐄 Returning to ag and starting a small cattle operation with her family ⚠️ The challenges new entrants face when buying land and livestock 📉 Common mistakes producers make when starting out 📊 Why record keeping, traceability, and compliance are critical 🛑 The risks of poor biosecurity and lack of education in the industry 🧠 Breaking down barriers between industry knowledge and new producers 🤝 Building JAB Agri Solutions to educate and support small-scale producers 🌱 Understanding ESG, natural capital, and telling your story as a producer 📈 How good management and record keeping can improve profitability 🌏 The importance of advocacy and strengthening the agricultural supply chain Resources mentioned 📊 Integrity Systems (NLIS & LPA) 🌱 Australian Rural Leadership Program 📖 Stolen Focus by Johann Hari If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au 🎙️ This episode is brought to you by SkyKelpie . You can learn more at: SkyKelpie - Drone Mustering & Aerial Stockmanship Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast , a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Lindsay Barlow from Triple B Brangus, based in Dingo, Central Queensland. Lindsay and his family have built a highly regarded Brangus stud from the ground up, producing bulls for both southern and northern markets, while navigating one of the most important and often challenging parts of agriculture — succession. Lindsay’s story starts far from where he is today, growing up on a pineapple farm on the Capricorn Coast before eventually finding his way back to cattle after a period of uncertainty post-school. What followed was decades of building, learning, and working through a long and complex succession journey within a family business. This conversation dives deep into what it really takes to build a seedstock operation, the realities of succession, and the mindset required to create a sustainable future in agriculture. In this episode, we chat about: 🏡 Growing up on a pineapple farm and early exposure to agriculture 🐄 How a Brahman bull over Angus cows sparked a lifelong Brangus journey 📈 Building the Triple B Brangus stud from a foundation herd 🤝 The realities of succession in a family business over decades 🧠 Why communication, trust, and patience are critical in succession 📉 The risks of wills being contested and planning ahead 🌱 Gradually taking on responsibility vs being thrown in the deep end 🐂 Expanding into northern Australia with a Charters Towers bull sale 📊 Using data, Breedplan, and DNA to create a point of difference 🚜 The workload and pressure behind running a seedstock operation 👨‍👩‍👦 The importance of having the right partner and support system 🌏 Why knowledge, education, and networks are key for the next generation Resources mentioned 📊 Breedplan (performance recording and genetic evaluation) BREEDPLAN 🌱 Young Beef Producers Forum (Roma) Young Beef Producer's Forum - Australia If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au 🎙️ Podcast Partner — JobSafe Pro This episode is proudly brought to you by JobSafe Pro. Built by farmers, for farmers — JobSafe Pro helps you simplify safety and compliance by keeping everything in one place, from inductions and chemical registers to machinery logs, incident reporting, timesheets and payroll. Job Safe Pro Pty Ltd - An app to simplify workplace safety and compliance Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast , a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Seamus O’Connor from O’Connor Agriculture , based across the Calliope and Boyne Valley regions west of Gladstone in Queensland. Seamus and his wife Hannah are building a diversified farming business running breeders, backgrounding cattle, producing hay, and more recently selling beef direct to their local community. But their journey into farming hasn’t been straightforward. Seamus grew up in agriculture southwest of Goondiwindi before heading away to boarding school, studying engineering at the University of Queensland, and building a career in the resource sector during the LNG boom. Like many people who grow up in the bush though, agriculture has a way of pulling you back. What started with buying a small block of land and agisting cattle eventually turned into building a farming business from the ground up — navigating drought, market crashes, financial challenges and plenty of lessons along the way. This is a conversation about first-generation farming, enterprise stacking, resilience, and the mindset required to build a life on the land from scratch. In this episode, we chat about: 🏡 Using property investing as a stepping stone into farming 🐄 Buying their first block of land and starting with agistment cattle 📉 The lessons from drought, market downturns and early mistakes 🌾 Shifting towards regenerative grazing principles 📊 Enterprise stacking and building multiple income streams 🚜 Starting a hay production enterprise 🥩 Selling beef direct to consumers through boxed beef 📱 The power of social media in connecting farmers and customers 👨‍👩‍👦 Building a farm business while raising a young family 🌱 Why mindset and curiosity are key to building a future in agriculture Resources mentioned 📘 Dirt to Soil — Gabe Brown 📘 A Bold Return to Giving a Damn — Will Harris 📘 Nourishment — Fred Provenza Courses mentioned: 🌱 Grazing for Profit Follow Seamus 📸 Instagram: O’Connor Agriculture 📘Facebook: O’Connor Agriculture If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au 🎙️ Podcast Partner — Halter This episode is proudly partnered with Halter . Halter® | Virtual Fencing and Pasture Management Halter is the app and smart collar helping producers run more productive cattle properties . It provides virtual fencing and remote shifting , allowing you to move and manage mobs straight from your phone. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Vass, a fifth-generation cane farmer from the Burdekin in North Queensland. Mark’s journey into agriculture hasn’t been a straight line. Starting out as a boilermaker, Mark spent time working across the country before jumping into running a music festival with his brother in his early 20s — an experience that taught him plenty about risk, business, and resilience. Like many people who grow up in the bush though, agriculture has a way of pulling you back. What started with a simple conversation with his dad eventually turned into leasing country, stepping into the family operation, and building his own farming business — all while continuing to grow and expand through diversification and business outside of agriculture. This is a conversation about taking risks, learning through failure, building from the ground up, and the importance of integrity, community, and backing yourself. In this episode, we chat about: 🏡 Growing up in the Burdekin and life on a cane farm 🔧 Starting out as a boilermaker and working away 🎶 Running a music festival in his early 20s — and what it taught him 📉 Losing money in business and the lessons that come with it 🌱 The decision to return to agriculture and lease family country 🚜 Building a farming business from the ground up 🌾 Diversifying beyond sugarcane and exploring alternative crops 📊 Why relying on one commodity can limit growth 🏗️ Building a business outside of agriculture alongside farming 💰 The realities of getting started in farming today 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Succession, family, and thinking long-term 🔥 Dealing with naysayers and focusing on your own path 🌱 Why integrity and community matter in business and life Resources mentioned: 🤝 How to Win Friends and Influence People | Dale Carnegie Follow Mark and Next Gen Building co 🌏 Website: Next Gen Building Co If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au 🎙️ Podcast Partner — The Cathedral School This episode is proudly partnered with The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James in Townsville . If you’re a family in regional or remote Australia thinking about schooling options, Cathedral offers a strong boarding experience designed to support students both in and out of the classroom. They’re hosting a Boarding Experience Weekend on the 9th and 10th of May , giving families the opportunity to explore the school, meet staff and students, and experience boarding life firsthand. It’s completely free to attend, but places are limited. Boarding Experience - Cathedral Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Nick Holliday from Belvedere Farm. Nick and his wife Brydie are building a diversified farming business producing grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork and eggs, selling their products direct to consumers. But Nick’s pathway back into agriculture hasn’t been the typical one. Coming from generations of agricultural families where each generation has had to start again, Nick spent time building a career in law, union organising and advocacy before eventually finding his way back to the land. What started with buying a small parcel of land has gradually grown into a farming business built around direct-to-consumer sales, regenerative thinking, and creating a farm that could support the next generation. This is a conversation about starting small, learning new enterprises from scratch, and building a resilient farm business over time. In this episode, we chat about: 🌱 Growing up in agricultural families and the challenge of starting again ⚖️ Nick’s career in law, union organising and advocacy 🏡 Buying their first 20 acres and beginning their farming journey 🐄 Producing grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork and eggs 📦 Building a direct-to-consumer farm business 🌾 Soil health and regenerative agriculture principles 📱 Using social media and storytelling to connect farmers and consumers 👨‍👩‍👦 Creating a farm business that could support the next generation 🧠 The importance of personal development and leadership in agriculture Courses mentioned: 🌱 Holistic Management Training 🤝 Red Earth Community Foundation Leadership Program Follow Nick and Belvedere Farm 📘 Facebook: Belvedere Farm 📸 Instagram: Belvedere Farm 🌏 Website: Shop | Eat from a Thriving Ecosystem — Belvedere Farm If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au 🎙️ Podcast Partner Speed Tagger, Tough Tags This episode is proudly partnered with Speed Tagger and their Tough Tags range. Tough Tags are Australian owned and operated in regional Queensland and designed for real grazing environments. They feature permanent laser printing that won’t rub off, fast turnaround ordering direct from the tag company, free shipping Australia-wide, and a four-year warranty. Plus, 10 cents from every tag sold goes towards supporting rural charities, giving back to the communities that keep the agriculture industry running. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast , a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Teek Carmichael , based around Condamine in Queensland , who somehow manages to wear a few different hats across agriculture, business, fitness, and community. Teek works in finance with Business and Rural Solutions , helps run the family cattle and feedlot operation with her husband Ben , and is also a personal trainer building community through fitness in the bush. From growing up outside Injune as a bush kid… To heading to Brisbane for university and elite-level netball … To finding her way back into the Australian beef industry and helping build a family feedlot enterprise from the ground up … This is a conversation about life in rural Australia, agriculture, feedlots, community, resilience, and building your own path in the ag industry . It’s about navigating life between two family farming businesses . It’s about learning new enterprises from scratch. And it’s about remembering that looking after yourself matters just as much as looking after the business. In this episode, we chat about: 🌱 Growing up outside Injune and life as a bush kid 🏐 Moving to Brisbane for university and playing elite-level netball 🐄 Returning to agriculture and marrying into a farming family ⚖️ Balancing time between two family farming businesses 📈 Building and learning a feedlot enterprise from scratch 👥 The importance of building the right team around an agricultural business 💪 Why fitness and mental health matter in agriculture 🤝 Community connection in rural towns like Condamine 📱 Using social media to help tell agriculture’s story 🌾 Creating your own path in agriculture without giving up your passions Resources mentioned 📘 Business and Rural Solutions 📘 Beef Central – Week in Beef Podcast Follow Teek 📸 Instagram: @teekcarmichael If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au 🎙️ Podcast Partner — Halter This episode is proudly partnered with Halter . Halter® | Virtual Fencing and Pasture Management Halter is the app and smart collar helping producers run more productive cattle properties . It provides virtual fencing and remote shifting , allowing you to move and manage mobs straight from your phone — no shifting breaks, no extra fencing, and no chasing labour. With 24/7 location tracking and pasture insights , you can see exactly where your cattle are at any time and make better decisions around grazing management. Halter has been built alongside beef producers to help reduce infrastructure costs, improve pasture use, and increase productivity on farm . To learn more, visit halterhq.com Support the show