Salt of the Earth Farm Stories

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In part two of my chat with Andrew Kettlewell, we dig deeper into the people, moments and decisions that helped shape his career in agriculture and business.
Andrew reflects on lessons learned along the way — from global companies to grassroots agriculture — and why staying connected to the land and community still matters.
It’s a conversation about opportunity, perspective and the long road from Jerilderie to a remarkable career in agriculture.

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Andrew Kettlewell grew up in the Riverina town of Jerilderie, but his story stretches a long way beyond the family farm. In this first episode, Andrew shares the early chapters — growing up in the country, chasing opportunities, and the experiences that shaped his path into farm management.
From small-town beginnings to rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business world, it’s a fascinating look at how curiosity, hard work and a willingness to say yes can take you a long way.

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In this episode, I’m on a property just south of Yass in NSW, joining a research project funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and led by Dr Rebecca Haling from CSIRO.
We’re taking a closer look at serradella — a self-regenerating legume that’s drought resilient, fixes nitrogen, handles acidic soils, runs on low nutrients, and carries a low bloat risk. It’s already proven in WA and north-west NSW, and now researchers are exploring its fit in the higher rainfall pasture zones of south-eastern Australia.
I speak with Dr Richard Hayes from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development about where serradella works and how to establish it with confidence. We also hear from Ed, a local Merino producer seeing strong results — with one key lesson: get that first year of grazing right.
If pasture resilience is on your radar, this episode’s for you.

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In Part B, Dom Shanahan gets into the heart of what matters most—people, safety, and smart decisions on and off the road.
We talk driver safety, B-triples, leadership, and how Dom’s business evolved, including his move from cattle and sheep, to cattle only and the thinking behind that shift. Dom also shares some memorable stories about the characters in his fleet, including the female drivers who’ve made their mark.
It’s a great Aussie yarn about responsibility, growth, and running a big operation while keeping your feet firmly on the ground.

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In Part A, I sit down with a mate of mine, Dom Shanahan, to hear the story behind the man and the miles.
Dom started with just one truck, and today runs a major livestock transport operation with 35 B-doubles on the road. He takes us through his early days, the risks, the setbacks, and the decisions that shaped his journey from the ground up.
It’s a grounded, honest conversation about building a company, earning your stripes, and what it really takes to keep wheels turning in Australia’s livestock transport game—told with Dom’s trademark humour and straight talk.