Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story

Angie Asimus

Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story is hosted by television presenter and journalist, Angie Asimus and is powered by the National Farmers Federation. It's dedicated to connecting our wonderful farmers with health conscious consumers and ethically minded shoppers. Together, we can all learn more about the food we eat and the fibre we wear. This is your exclusive look behind the farm gate. As a country girl herself, Angie knows you'll love what you hear. From the freshest produce, to carbon neutral wool. What about female shearers and farms that give more to the land than they take in the battle against climate change? Is it possible to drought and flood proof your business through diversification so prices don't fluctuate so much at the supermarket? We tackle the most common misconceptions about life on the land and have many laughs along the way with some of the most memorable characters you could ever meet. Partnered with Australian Farmers - https://farmers.org.au/

  1. 3d ago

    S5 Ep 12 - Land in Safe Hands

    The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. So we've chosen someone whose passion for agriculture started at a very young age on her family's grazing property in Queensland. She's turned that passion into a career with a focus on exceptional land management. To further her skills in the area, she's currently completing her PhD. To learn more about her varied agricultural career and her passion for horse-riding,  Ang Hammond joins me now. Ang reflects on growing up on a grazing property and shares some of her favourite places and memories from a life deeply connected to the land. Agriculture was always part of Ang's world, and she speaks about the strong sense of community within the industry and the lifelong relationships she has built along the way. She shares fond memories of life in Lightning Ridge, including the unique multicultural community that made such a lasting impression and continues to draw her back. Determined to forge an independent career in agriculture, Ang spent five years riding racehorses before completing her studies and discovering her true passion within the industry. Ang discusses how inheritance was traditionally passed through the male line and reflects on how she challenged those expectations and carved out her own path. She explores the important connection between land stewardship and mainstream agriculture, and why both must work hand in hand for the future of farming. Working with Landcare Australia, Ang describes the role as feeling like "coming home" and explains why the work is so personally meaningful. Ang shares her involvement in industry research projects funded by the Federal Government and the key learnings she has taken from that work. She discusses the changes currently being implemented across the agricultural sector and the positive impact they are having on farming landscapes and sustainability. On a personal note, Ang reveals plans for an upcoming horse-riding adventure through Argentina with her husband. For Ang, the best part of life on the land has always been the people and the communities that make the industry so special. One of the most unexpected changes she has witnessed throughout her career has been the growing number of young women entering the agricultural industry. Ang addresses common misconceptions about women in agriculture and shares the changes she believes are still needed across the sector. Looking ahead, Ang shares her ultimate dream for the future and her hopes for the next generation in agriculture. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus  Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers  Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram      Landcare Australia  Facebook @landcareaustralia  Instagram @landcareaustralia X @ LandcareAust LinkedIn @LandcareAustralia Connect with Angela Hammond on LinkedIn       Produced by Pretty Podcasts

    34 min

  2. May 23

    S5 Ep 11 - Peppergreen Farm

    Close to the centre of Bendigo in Victoria, is a little oasis. On the historic 5-acre site, a true social enterprise. A little farm with a big heart, offering jobs to around 70 people with disabilities and all the proceeds go straight back to the upkeep of the farm. And with Bendigo being voted a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, there is suddenly a lot of interest in the fabulous produce being grown locally. To learn more, Daniel Robinson, Manager of Peppergreen Farm joins me now. Daniel shares why one of his favourite places on the property is overlooking the natural wetlands and taking in the view across the farm — a site that holds incredible significance. Daniel shares the rich history of Peppergreen Farm, with the site holding deep cultural significance from the traditional custodians, the Dja Dja Wurrung, through to its Chinese gold rush heritage, including a historic brick kiln hidden beneath the property. More than just a farm, Peppergreen supports the wider community through meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities, while combining food production, hospitality, catering services, NDIS meal support, and grounds maintenance services across the Bendigo region. He shares why the workforce at Peppergreen Farm is so unique, with around 70 staff members, 70% of whom are people living with disabilities. Education is also a core value of the organisation, and Daniel discusses the important role learning and development play across the farm. The site itself has a rich history, including an impressive historical Chinese kiln that remains part of the property today. Peppergreen Farm does much more than simply grow produce, and Daniel explains the many other facets of the social enterprise. As a supplier to many local restaurants, Daniel reflects on Bendigo becoming a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and why it's such an exciting place to be. He shares what day-to-day life on the farm looks like and how staff support, teach and learn from one another. Daniel explains what he loves most about working in agriculture and being part of a model with such a strong social purpose. He reflects on the most unexpected moments and surprises throughout his journey so far. Daniel addresses common misconceptions surrounding workers with disabilities and the work being done at Peppergreen Farm. Looking to the future, Daniel shares his ultimate vision and dream for what lies ahead. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus  Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers  Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram    Peppergreen Farm Connect with @peppergreenfarmau  on Instagram   Produced by Pretty Podcasts

    28 min

  3. May 9

    S5 Ep 10 - The Travelling Farmer

    Farming is often as much about looking after your own patch of land - as it is learning from others. Weather extremes and changing seasons can make grazing cattle year-round incredibly difficult. In his quest for answers former Nuffield Scholar Stuart Tait has travelled to New Zealand, Europe, the UK, North and South America to learn about filling the pasture-based feed gap to boost beef profits. He's also offered up his farm as the site of a first of its kind pilot plant to turn straw into fertiliser. When he's not travelling world, he's managing his family farm in the NSW Central Tablelands. Stuart Tait joins me now. Stuart calls his family farm in Mandurama home, with his favourite spot being along the Belubula River.  In 2017, Stuart was awarded a Nuffield Australia Scholarship, which saw him travel to 14 countries over 18 months to explore global farming practices.  He has developed a strong interest in addressing the pasture-based feed gap during the winter months and explains what this means for producers.  Stuart discusses the challenges of climate variability and the importance of being able to fatten and finish beef across a full 12-month cycle.  He shares his experience designing a forage-based system using a variety of pasture species, including key learnings from New Zealand and the cost of producing a kilogram of dry matter.  Stuart explores ways to make feed go further, including alternative options to traditional hay and silage, and maximising available resources.  While there's no simple solution to improving grazing profitability, Stuart outlines innovative approaches to managing feed shortages in colder, drier months, such as stockpiling pasture, self-feeding silage, and bale grazing.  With four generations living on the family farm, Stuart reflects on how his role has evolved over time and the lessons he's learned along the way.  He shares what he loves most about life on the land, particularly the changing seasons throughout the year.  Stuart opens up about some of the challenges he has faced throughout his farming journey.  He addresses common misconceptions around using straw as fertiliser and discusses plans to establish a pilot plant in the coming years.  Looking ahead, Stuart shares his vision for the future and what lies ahead for him and his two sons.  We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.   Links: Angie Asimus  Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers  Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram    Nuffield Scholars   Produced by Pretty Podcasts

    25 min

  4. Apr 25

    S5 Ep 9 - Roseville Park Merinos

    You have to go back a long way to find the beginnings of this family farm. The year 1880 to be exact when a Mr Charles Coddington dreamt of creating the finest sheep stud in Australia, travelling down-under from England. Now the 5th generation is running with his vision and winning awards along the way. The current custodians are Mathew Coddington and his wife Cherie. Together they are still breeding top Merino sheep throughout NSW, south of Dubbo. Matthew joins me now.   Roseville Park has a long history of breeding sheep across multiple properties, with Cherie loving time with the goats and Matthew enjoying the outdoors and family time. The Coddington family legacy began in 1880 when Matthew's ancestor moved to Australia to establish a Merino sheep stud. As fifth-generation producers, Matthew and Cherie are passionate about integrating modern technology, genomics and science into the business. Their award-winning success, including major industry accolades, is driven by a strong sense of open-mindedness. They take a strategic approach to farming by thinking outside the box, utilising creek flats and grazing land alongside a planned feedlot and even shearing twice a year. Matthew shares how succession planning is an ongoing and important conversation within the family business. What they love most about life on the land is being part of a multigenerational farming legacy. A common misconception they see is the growing disconnection between people and agriculture. One of the unexpected aspects of their journey highlights how the industry continues to evolve in ways they hadn't anticipated. Their vision for the future of Roseville Park Merinos is to continue building on their legacy while adapting to modern advancements in agriculture. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus  Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers  Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram    Roseville Park Merinos     Produced by Pretty Podcasts

    35 min

  5. Apr 11

    S5 Ep 8 - Storybook Alpacas

    They're the quirky creatures with super soft fleece, members of the camel family and often unfairly criticised for spitting. Alpacas occupy a unique corner of the agriculture industry and, one central west New South Wales farm boasts the state's largest herd. These animals have won the heart of the next generation, with young farmer Rubey Williams working on the family property and she is already turning heads as an industry leader. To learn more, Rubey Williams of Storybook Alpacas joins me now.      Rubey's favourite place is the old shearing shed on their Mittagong property, which holds both personal memories and historical significance as one of the first alpaca sites in Australia.   She also values a specialised area on their newer Central West property designed for reproductive technologies, representing future opportunities for the business.   As a second-generation alpaca farmer, Rubey has grown up in the industry and purchased her first show-quality alpaca at just 13 years old.   Although she initially began studying pre-med, COVID led her back to the farm where she rediscovered her passion for agriculture.   Rubey made the decision to leave university and instead invest in the family alpaca business, while continuing her studies in agribusiness.   Alpacas are part of the camelid family and are primarily bred for their fleece, which is soft, fine and suitable for those who are sensitive to wool.   Rubey's main interest lies in the fibre market, working with other growers to market and sell alpaca fleece both domestically and internationally.   Rubey's involvement with the Royal Agricultural Society has broadened her perspective and allowed her to connect with other sectors across agriculture globally. She is the youngest qualified alpaca judge in Australia.  What Rubey loves most about life on the land is the resilience it builds and the strength of rural communities.   A common misconception is that alpacas spit all the time, when in reality it is simply a defence mechanism used when they feel threatened or annoyed.   One of the most unexpected outcomes in her journey was how COVID changed her career path and led her back to agriculture.   Rubey's ultimate dream is to continue growing the family business, expand into new agricultural areas and build on the opportunities in the Central West. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.      Links:  Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram  Partnered with Australian Farmers   Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram     Storybook Alpacas    Produced by Pretty Podcasts

    22 min

  6. Mar 28

    S5 Ep 7 - Dairy Grand Champion

    Full cream, light, skim, homogenised, unhomogenised – milk takes many forms. But right now, a moment for the lactose free variety. Riverina Fresh's Lactose Free Milk has been crowned the best dairy product at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards. It is the dairy industry's highest honour. To learn more about what it takes to be the grand champion and some interesting observations about the impact of weight loss drugs on the future of the dairy industry, Executive Chairman of Riverina Fresh Craig Shapiro joins me now.    Craig celebrates Riverina Fresh winning Grand Champion Dairy Product for its lactose-free milk, explaining that adding lactase is a simple and natural process that makes it easier to digest.   Despite being lactose-free, the milk retains exceptional aroma, texture and body, and Craig notes it is one of the best milks for coffee.   Riverina Fresh is proudly based in Wagga Wagga with deep country roots, and its farmer-supplied, domestically focused model allows for strong quality control.   With over 100 years in business, Craig shares that lactose-free milk became important as part of bridging the gap between city consumers and understanding where their food comes from.   The award highlights a true Australian success story, with the product being 100% Australian to qualify.   Beyond taste, Craig emphasises that strong values like sustainability, ethics and animal welfare are central, with care extending from the farmers through to the final product.   He also discusses the emerging impact of weight loss drugs on food systems and the interesting flow-on effects within the dairy industry.   What Craig loves most about contributing to agriculture is that the more he learns, the more invested he becomes in sustainability and agrifood technology.   One of the most unexpected experiences has been travelling to America and seeing how deeply social media connects to the sale of produce.   Craig believes a common misconception isn't misunderstanding his role specifically, but rather a broader lack of awareness about where food comes from across agriculture.   His ultimate dream for the future is a sustainable dairy industry where farmers are paid fairly and appropriately.    We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.      Links:  Angie Asimus   Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram  Partnered with Australian Farmers   Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram   Riverina Fresh     Produced by Pretty Podcasts

    25 min

  7. Mar 14

    S5 Ep 6 - Food Fabulous Food

    Food Glorious Food is a song made famous the first time in Oliver Twist. Now, not a boy called Oliver, but girl called Olivia has created her own version of the classic, Food Fabulous Food. The young farmer behind the music is Olivia Akers, who produced that song from her family's dairy farm in Northern Victoria. And she joins me now. Olivia's favourite place on her family farm is spending time with her pony.  Olivia shares the inspiration behind her song Food Fabulous Food, which celebrates agriculture and life on the land.  At just 12 years old, Olivia's creativity and initiative make her achievements even more impressive.  She entered the song and video into several competitions, where it placed in the top four in the state for the Ag Day competition and was also included in a school film festival.  The video was very well received, with teachers and peers eager to watch and share it.  Olivia explains that many of the ideas for the song and video were inspired by the roles and experiences she has on the farm.  Her passion for acting and music ultimately inspired her to create the video project.  Many people who have watched the video say they learned a lot about life on the land through her project.  What Olivia loves most about growing up on the land is being outdoors, being as loud as she likes and spending time with all the animals on the farm.  Olivia shares a story about a spider that highlights the disconnect that can sometimes exist between city and country living.  She also explains how she used AI tools to help produce the video and create the music, including backing tracks and beats.  Olivia describes her experience working in a recording studio and how much she enjoyed the process.  She is currently auditioning remotely and actively pursuing her dream of becoming a singer and actor. Olivia shares her bright hopes and ambitions for the future.  We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.      Links:    Angie Asimus   Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram  Partnered with Australian Farmers   Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram     See the full Learning Arts Festival Clip Here:  Student Film Festival 2025: Junior Years (3–6) winners and finalists | Arts Learning Festival    Produced by Pretty Podcasts

    16 min

  8. Feb 28

    S5 Ep 5 - George the Farmer

    What happens when your farm-obsessed son just can't find that one special book or toy to match his passion for all things rural? Well if you're a graphic and web designer – you just make your own. George the Farmer was created in 2014. Since then, there is an interactive story app, storybooks music, paddock to plate videos and touring performances. This little character is a powerhouse from regional South Australia. Simone Kain is the woman behind the popular brand, and she joins me now.  Simone shares that her son was the inspiration behind George the Farmer, having always wanted to be out on the farm with his dad, and reflects on her favourite places on the farm, where she grew up.  Her early career in graphic and web design helped kick-start George the Farmer, allowing Simone to create much of the content herself, from apps and online resources to songs and books. George the Farmer has grown into a fun yet educational tool that encourages children to learn about life on the land while inspiring future careers in agriculture and educating adults along the way. Because food and fibre affect everyone, both in the city and the country, Simone loves that George the Farmer is reaching audiences across Australia and around the world. Receiving multiple awards, it highlighted a major gap in agricultural understanding, and she is proud to have industry support and to see the content making a real impact. Simone now works on George the Farmer full-time, with 14 picture story books, five board books and eight early learner readers, all self-published and 100 per cent owned by her. Despite its global reach, George the Farmer remains owned and operated by Simone from regional South Australia. Simone shares that what she loves most about life on the land is the lifestyle and connection it brings. A common misconception she challenges is that agriculture isn't innovative and that women don't play significant roles within the industry. The most unexpected outcome was the rapid uptake of George the Farmer and its inclusion in both Australian and US school curriculums. Simone's dream for the future is that when children think of agriculture, they immediately think of George the Farmer.   We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.     Links:   Angie Asimus     Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram      Partnered with Australian Farmers       Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram       George the Farmer      Produced by Pretty Podcasts

    23 min
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About

Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story is hosted by television presenter and journalist, Angie Asimus and is powered by the National Farmers Federation. It's dedicated to connecting our wonderful farmers with health conscious consumers and ethically minded shoppers. Together, we can all learn more about the food we eat and the fibre we wear. This is your exclusive look behind the farm gate. As a country girl herself, Angie knows you'll love what you hear. From the freshest produce, to carbon neutral wool. What about female shearers and farms that give more to the land than they take in the battle against climate change? Is it possible to drought and flood proof your business through diversification so prices don't fluctuate so much at the supermarket? We tackle the most common misconceptions about life on the land and have many laughs along the way with some of the most memorable characters you could ever meet. Partnered with Australian Farmers - https://farmers.org.au/

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