Humans of Agriculture

Gus and Aleena Greenaway farm fine wool Merinos between Gunnedah and Mullaley in NSW. Their experience through the 2017 to 2019 drought continues to shape how they make decisions today, from the numbers they watch and the trigger points they set to the people they bring into the business.
In this episode, we discuss:
How the 2017 to 2019 drought changed the way they think about risk and timing
Using numbers and clear parameters to make decisions before conditions deteriorate
Why making the call is only part of the challenge, and how they avoid constantly second-guessing themselves afterwards
Working backwards from what they want their farm and their life to look like in five years
The value of surrounding themselves with advisers, coaches and people who challenge their thinking
How the Farm Business Resilience Program helped create greater clarity and confidence in decision-making
Why outside perspective can be valuable even when the person advising you is not a farmer
The role of vulnerability and being willing to admit you do not have all the answers
What stays front of mind when the next drought could always be six months away
Chapters

(00:00) - Introduction to farm decision-making and resilience

(01:00) - Farmers Gus and Alina Greenaway's background and farm setup

(02:08) - Focus on decision-making and building resilience in farming

(03:05) - Farmers describe their farm location and operations

(04:37) - Rainfall season and its impact on farm decisions

(06:39) - Building a team and seeking expert advice

(09:07) - Adapting operational calendar to seasonal conditions

(11:07) - Setting long-term goals and the role of coaching

(14:05) - Lessons from the 2017-2019 drought experience

(19:47) - Managing emotions and trusting decisions in farming

(22:25) - The importance of data and objective decision-making

(27:36) - Reflections on the Farm Business Resilience Program

(33:30) - Preparing for future droughts and seasonal variability

(37:24) - Closing remarks and program promotion

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the NSW Government.
Find out what’s on and register at nsw.gov.au/fbrp

Adam and Jody Turner are first-generation farmers who bought Spring Hill in the Hunter Valley in 2016, just before the 2017-2019 drought. Since then, they’ve grown from a lifestyle-farming ambition into a multi-farm, paddock-to-plate business spanning livestock, processing, retail, and direct-to-consumer food.

In this episode, we discuss:
How drought shaped the way they think about risk and decision-making
Why cash flow forecasting and knowing their numbers gave them more confidence to grow
The role of business coaching in clarifying priorities and major investment decisions
How water infrastructure, soil health and ground cover have become central to drought preparation
The livestock triggers they use around early weaning, culling and confinement feeding
Why they focus on what is happening on the ground rather than letting seasonal forecasts drive decisions
How a shared vision and values help them move quickly on opportunities
The role of team culture, peer support and asking for help
How connecting production directly with the customer has changed how they plan and budget
Chapters

(00:00) - Building a business without an exit plan

(02:01) - Becoming first-generation farmers

(04:38) - From cattle production to a paddock-to-plate business

(07:22) - Buying the farm just before drought

(09:34) - Learning, adapting and building the right team

(14:22) - Business coaching, cash flow and scaling up

(17:46) - Making confident decisions based on numbers and values

(20:10) - Building drought resilience through water and soil health

(21:25) - Livestock decisions, feed budgeting and protecting pasture

(26:41) - Connecting farm production with the customer

(28:08) - Knowing your numbers and learning from other farmers

(31:29) - Finding support and preparing for the next dry season

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the NSW Government.
Find out what’s on and register at nsw.gov.au/fbrp

At 28, Sarah Wheeler has already experienced enormous loss, rediscovered her place in agriculture and ridden 5,500 kilometres on horseback across regional Australia, raising more than $650,000 for charity along the way.

But this conversation is about much more than the ride.

Sarah shares how losing her dad at 12 and her mum in her mid-20s changed her perspective on life, how working across rural Australia helped her find her feet again, and why the people she met during nine months on horseback became one of the journey's most powerful parts.

We also talk about the part that doesn't make the highlight reel: coming home after achieving something enormous and wondering, 

"What now?"
Sarah is now building G'day Grief, with a vision to bring people experiencing loss together through nature, animals and shared experiences. And she's already dreaming about another adventure involving horses, dirt bikes, the Murray River, the Nullarbor and potentially a few things she doesn't yet know how to do.

Chapters

(00:00) - Finding her way back to agriculture

(03:04) - Sarah's sisters and the family farm

(04:12) - Losing Mum and keeping the farm moving

(06:19) - What rural community really means

(07:57) - The idea to ride 5,500 kilometres

(11:11) - Announcing the ride before knowing how she'd do it

(13:27) - The people who made the journey

(15:00) - Raising more than $650,000

(16:49) - What happens after achieving something enormous

(18:22) - Turning pain into purpose

(19:12) - Building G'day Grief

(21:44) - Creating something for people experiencing loss

(25:16) - Sarah's next big adventure

(27:46) - Why giving it a go matters more than finishing

(28:34) - Learning to live with grief

Little Big Dairy Co is growing!
We're working with them to find 2 x roles: a Farm Operations Manager and, separately, an Executive Assistant to the CEO.

They run three businesses in one: a 1,000-hectare fodder operation, a herd of registered Holsteins, and an on-farm factory. Two new roles have opened as a result.

We are sitting down with Campbell Chesworth (director and Nuffield Scholar) to explain what the business is building, who they need, and why these roles have no uncapped potential.

Seen the ad? This is your sign to apply.
👉 Apply now HERE!

Chapters
01:31 Campbell’s three-month sabbatical that became a career in the family business
04:11 Nuffield takeaways: circularity, confidence, and people as the biggest investment
07:00 Developments: Eight new robotic milkers, a new freestall barn and an effluent upgrade
09:57 Is ag tech replacing jobs or creating better ones in Dairy?
11:30 The Farm Ops Manager role: about the farm
13:36 What a great hire looks like in this role
14:15 The EA role: working alongside CEO Emma Elliott across accounts, HR and operations
17:18 Boots on the ground: a family that works beside its team
18:20 Why now: succession, building systems, and the move into butter and cottage cheese
20:00 Final word: throw your hat in
Who they’re after
Farm Ops Manager: eager to learn, takes initiative, and owns problems from fault to fix. You’ll work alongside Campbell, Steve and the farming team.
Executive Assistant: can-do attitude, keen to take on responsibility, and ready to learn the business from one of the sharpest operators in Australian dairy.
Ready? Apply here

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Elle Moyle, a Zanda McDonald Award finalist, veterinarian and farmer with Pathfinder Angus in Western Victoria.
Elle reflects on her path from working as a district vet, including international biosecurity work, to returning to the family farming business and building her own agricultural interests.
A big part of the conversation is Elle’s experience with the Zanda McDonald Award. While she made the final three but didn’t win, the experience helped build her confidence, expand her network and create relationships that continue to shape her career.
Elle also shares what she has learnt about building genuine professional relationships, the value of putting yourself forward for opportunities, and what is happening at Pathfinder Angus as the family business continues to grow.

In this episode:
Elle’s move from veterinary work to full-time farming
Her experience as a Zanda McDonald Award finalist
Why you don’t have to win to get enormous value from the award
Building confidence, networks and long-term professional relationships
The growth of Pathfinder Angus and Elle’s role in the family business
Why Elle encourages others to put themselves forward
Applications for the Zanda McDonald Award are open from 1 October to 31 October 2026.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Elle Moyle’s journey and the Zanda McDonald Award

(02:11) - From veterinary work to full-time farming

(04:00) - Veterinary and biosecurity work

(05:21) - Why Elle applied for the Zanda McDonald Award

(06:15) - Lessons from being a finalist

(07:34) - Building a lasting network

(10:04) - Learning from industry leaders

(11:12) - The growth of Pathfinder Angus

(12:23) - Why more young agricultural professionals should apply

(13:45) - What’s ahead for Pathfinder Angus