Humans of Agriculture

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

Proudly brought to you by Rabobank
The future of Australian agriculture depends on the next generation of farmers, producers and agribusiness leaders.

That's why Rabobank is committed to supporting young farmers with more than finance. Through industry insights, specialist agribusiness expertise, networking opportunities and long-term partnerships, Rabobank supports the next generation as they build their skills, knowledge and connections.

Rabobank is committed to supporting farming businesses as they plan for the future and transition across generations.

Visit rabobank.com.au to learn more.

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

Proudly brought to you by Rabobank
The future of Australian agriculture depends on the next generation of farmers, producers and agribusiness leaders.

That's why Rabobank is committed to supporting young farmers with more than finance. Through industry insights, specialist agribusiness expertise, networking opportunities and long-term partnerships, Rabobank supports the next generation as they build their skills, knowledge and connections.

Rabobank is committed to supporting farming businesses as they plan for the future and transition across generations.

Visit rabobank.com.au to learn more.

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

Proudly brought to you by Rabobank
The future of Australian agriculture depends on the next generation of farmers, producers and agribusiness leaders.

That's why Rabobank is committed to supporting young farmers with more than finance. Through industry insights, specialist agribusiness expertise, networking opportunities and long-term partnerships, Rabobank supports the next generation as they build their skills, knowledge and connections.

Rabobank is committed to supporting farming businesses as they plan for the future and transition across generations.

Visit rabobank.com.au to learn more.

Welcome to the Tom & Mick Show! This week, Tom & Mick sit down with Anna Speer, whose career has taken her from teaching and AgTech to leadership roles with AuctionsPlus, Australian Agricultural Company, Woolworths and now Stone Axe.
Anna shares what she’s learnt about building strong teams, making commercial decisions and creating long-term value, while unpacking how Stone Axe is building a vertically integrated Wagyu business from conception through to consumption.
In this episode:
Anna’s unconventional career through agriculture and AgTech
What private equity brings to an agricultural business
How vertical integration can reduce exposure to market volatility
Using 10-year herd modelling to make better decisions today
Managing rising feed, fuel and labour costs
Why building your own brand isn’t always the best strategy
Wagyu genetics, premium markets and future growth
Building teams and adapting your leadership to different people
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and catching up with Anna Speer
01:52 Anna’s career from the Territory to AuctionsPlus, AACo and Woolworths
08:17 Joining Stone Axe and what private equity really means
11:11 Making fast, commercially sound decisions
15:50 The Stone Axe story and building Wagyu genetics
21:00 Managing market cycles and price volatility
25:33 Forward selling and planning years ahead
29:44 Protein trends and the Wagyu supply outlook
32:59 Managing rising input costs
36:36 Wagyu versus Angus, branding and partnerships
41:32 Leadership, personal growth and raising good humans

Proudly brought to you by Rabobank
The future of Australian agriculture depends on the next generation of farmers, producers and agribusiness leaders.

That's why Rabobank is committed to supporting young farmers with more than finance. Through industry insights, specialist agribusiness expertise, networking opportunities and long-term partnerships, Rabobank supports the next generation as they build their skills, knowledge and connections.

Rabobank is committed to supporting farming businesses as they plan for the future and transition across generations.

Visit rabobank.com.au to learn more.