Humans of Agriculture

Millie Moore didn’t leave her job because she was unhappy. She left because she was curious.
After four and a half years in a corporate ag role, Millie made a decision that many people talk about but few actually take. She quit, moved to Canada, and went ranching to properly immerse herself in the beef industry and test herself on the ground.
That choice led to something bigger. In this episode, Millie shares how ranch life in Alberta opened doors to meat judging, scholarships, and ultimately a fully funded Masters in meat science at the University of Illinois.
This conversation explores career risk, confidence, building networks without a farming background, and why agriculture offers far more pathways than most people realise. It also kicks off a year-long series with Millie, where she’ll continue to share what she’s learning across the US, Canada, and Australia.
⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Quitting a corporate job to go ranching
02:10 — University, early career, and choosing what not to do
03:20 — Why Millie stayed 4.5 years in her first role
04:40 — The fear and reality of moving overseas
06:30 — First impressions of ranch life in Canada
08:45 — Canada vs the US beef industry
09:05 — Not coming from a farming background
10:30 — “If you want to be in beef, go be in beef”
11:40 — How Millie built her network from scratch
13:40 — Why agriculture feels hard to break into (and why it isn’t)
15:20 — Dealing with rejection and imposter syndrome
19:55 — Meat judging and why it shapes so many careers
22:10 — The US meat judging circuit explained
24:40 — Sponsorship, alumni, and industry support
26:20 — Returning to study and why Illinois made sense
28:30 — What’s next and a year of conversations ahead

EvokeAG 2026:
I'm excited to be one of the MC's for evokeAG in 2026. This event is unlike any other in Aussie agriculture and brings together the brightest minds from across the AgriFood ecosystem focused on solutions to some of our planets biggest challenges. Get your tickets at evokeAG.com

At just 19 years old, Sam Rogers is building one of Australia’s most exciting agtech startups. Founder of GrazeMate, Sam is using autonomous drones, robotics, and AI to help farmers and ranchers move cattle, measure pasture, and gain real-time insights straight to their phone. In this episode, Sam shares his journey from growing up on a cattle station in North Queensland to raising capital, relocating to the US, and taking GrazeMate global. This conversation explores innovation in agriculture, resilience, robotics, and what the future of farming could look like when technology meets deep agricultural knowledge.
Keywords: agtech, agriculture innovation, autonomous drones, robotics in farming, cattle mustering technology, GrazeMate, EvokeAG, future of agriculture, ag startups, Australian agtech
Episode Summary

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Sam Rogers, the 19-year-old founder of GrazeMate, an agtech startup redefining how cattle are managed using autonomous drones and artificial intelligence.
Sam shares his remarkable personal story, growing up on a cattle property in North Queensland, competing internationally in robotics as a teenager, surviving a spinal tumour, and climbing peaks in Nepal. These experiences shaped his mindset and ultimately led him to build GrazeMate, a technology that helps farmers muster cattle, estimate liveweight, analyse pasture, and manage grazing with far greater efficiency.
The conversation explores Sam’s rapid rise in the agtech world, including global media attention, raising investment, relocating to California, and preparing to take the stage as a Groundbreaker at EvokeAG. Together, Oli and Sam unpack the opportunity agriculture presents for solving some of the world’s biggest challenges, the power of robotics at scale, and why the future of farming depends on aligning innovation with real on-farm needs.
This is a powerful story about curiosity, resilience, and the role young innovators can play in shaping the future of agriculture.
Chapter Markings

00:00 Why now matters and the idea behind robot cowboys
00:35 Welcome back to Humans of Agriculture and introducing Sam Rogers
03:49 Media attention, Forbes features, and global interest in GrazeMate
05:07 What farmers around the world are really struggling with
06:46 Growing up on a cattle station in North Queensland
08:26 The influence of family, curiosity, and learning by doing
09:43 Early robotics, AI competitions, and environmental motivation
12:09 The origins of GrazeMate and spotting the on-farm opportunity
14:00 Surviving a spinal tumour, Everest Base Camp, and mindset shifts
16:53 Why agriculture is the most important industry in the world
19:39 Technology, incentives, and what society chooses to reward
20:50 Why GrazeMate moved to the US and what is happening on the ground
24:18 Building a world-class team and earning investor trust
27:01 Teaching robots at scale and the future of autonomous systems
29:46 EvokeAG, coming home, and Sam’s message to Australian agriculture
31:39 Final reflections and looking ahead

EvokeAG 2026:
I'm excited to be one of the MC's for evokeAG in 2026. This event is unlike any other in Aussie agriculture and brings together the brightest minds from across the AgriFood ecosystem focused on solutions to some of our planets biggest challenges. Get your tickets at evokeAG.com

Clancy Mackay’s story is one of the most extraordinary ever shared on Humans of Agriculture and there’s a reason it remains our most downloaded episode of all time.
This is a full re release of our most listened to episode ever.
In this conversation, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Clancy Mackay to share one of the most extraordinary stories ever told on Humans of Agriculture.
From growing up off grid in the Northern Territory with no power or running water, to breaking horses, mustering cattle, riding saddle broncs in the US, flying helicopters across remote Australia, and navigating profound personal loss, Clancy’s journey is raw, confronting, and deeply human.
This episode explores resilience beyond the buzzword. It is about grit, grief, purpose, and learning how to keep moving forward when life repeatedly tests you. It is also about respect for animals, people, and place, and why calm leadership and deep understanding matter more than force or ego.
Why this episode matters
Clancy’s story is not polished or comfortable. It is honest.
It reminds us that agriculture is built on people who endure, adapt, and keep showing up. People shaped by hardship, curiosity, and responsibility rather than shortcuts or certainty.
This is an episode to sit with.
 An episode to return to.
 And an episode worth sharing.

EvokeAG 2026:
I'm excited to be one of the MC's for evokeAG in 2026. This event is unlike any other in Aussie agriculture and brings together the brightest minds from across the AgriFood ecosystem focused on solutions to some of our planets biggest challenges. Get your tickets at evokeAG.com

I loved the day we had with the team at Rohde's and the way we crafted this into an amazing video and our last #ThisIsAussieAg video in audio format did pretty well -  you can check it out on our YouTube in full!
Watch it on YouTube here - link to our video

EvokeAG 2026:
I'm excited to be one of the MC's for evokeAG in 2026. This event is unlike any other in Aussie agriculture and brings together the brightest minds from across the AgriFood ecosystem focused on solutions to some of our planets biggest challenges. Get your tickets at evokeAG.com

In today’s episode, I wanted to do something a little different and share an update on where Humans of Agriculture is heading. Over the last six years we’ve told hundreds of stories and met thousands of people, and it’s clear that the beating heart of our work isn’t just the stories themselves, but the people behind them.
We’re stepping into a new chapter. One that builds on our storytelling roots, but focuses more deliberately on careers, connection, and helping people see what’s possible for them in agriculture.
After that, I sit down with two remarkable leaders. First up is Billy Slater, who shares insights on confidence, preparation, transition, and why the biggest moments require the smallest focus. Then, I chat with Adrian Capogreco, Managing Director of Nutrien Ag Solutions, about leadership, resilience, community, and the future of the industry.
Episode Chapters
00:00 — Welcome and Why This Episode Is Different
01:20 — What’s Ahead: Upcoming Conversations and Guests
02:24 — The Honest Update: Where Humans of Agriculture Is Heading
04:49 — How the Project Started and Why It Still Matters
06:55 — The Pivot: From Storytelling to Stories + Careers + Community
08:40 — Introducing HOA Recruitment
09:36 — Oli’s Personal Challenge: The Longest Resume in Agriculture
10:35 - Setting Up Today’s Conversations
11:00: Leadership with Billy Slater
11:46 — Preparing for Transition and Backing Yourself
12:55 — Earning Confidence
13:34 — Overcoming Self-Doubt
14:45 — Handling Big Moments
15:38 — Vulnerability, Courage, and Team Culture
17:00 — Positive Reinforcement and High Standards
18:32 — Oli’s Reflections on Billy’s Lessons
19:30 - Leadership and the Future with Adrian Capogreco
19:41 — Introducing Adrian at the Nutrien Stand
19:56 — Adrian’s Non-Negotiables in Leadership
20:20 — A Non-Negotiable in Life: Balance
20:55 — Advice for First-Time Managers
21:55 — The Quirks and Strengths of Agriculture
22:40 — Mindset When Things Get Tough
23:45 — What’s Next for Nutrien
24:45 — Wrapping Up with Adrian

EvokeAG 2026:
I'm excited to be one of the MC's for evokeAG in 2026. This event is unlike any other in Aussie agriculture and brings together the brightest minds from across the AgriFood ecosystem focused on solutions to some of our planets biggest challenges. Get your tickets at evokeAG.com