A Place to Call Home | Stories from Australian Agriculture

A Place to Call Home Group
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A Place to Call Home, hosted by Sam Fryer, is a podcast for the next generation of Australian primary producers, sharing the stories, lessons and insights from people building a life on the land. Through honest conversations with farmers, industry leaders and rural entrepreneurs, each episode explores the journeys behind agriculture — the successes, the challenges, and the decisions that shape life in rural Australia. Guests share first-hand experiences from across the industry, along with practical knowledge to help guide those looking to build their future in agriculture and find a place to call home. Whether you're already farming, looking to return to the land, or simply passionate about the future of Australian agriculture, this podcast is here to support the journey. Copyright: A Place to Call Home Group

  1. 4d ago

    #89: From Schoolteacher to International Lychee Exporter with Krystal Caton from Lush Lychees

    Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Krystal Caton, co-owner of Lush Lychees near Rockhampton in Central Queensland and a 2025 Nuffield Australia Scholar. Krystal shares her journey from growing up outside agriculture and working as a schoolteacher, to managing cattle properties with her husband Paul, buying their first investments and eventually taking a leap into the lychee industry with absolutely no experience growing lychees. What started as a run-down orchard has grown into a successful family business, exporting premium lychees around the world, expanding their orchards and developing a farm shop that has become an experience for the local community. We also dive into Krystal’s Nuffield Scholarship, where she explored how family farms can capture more value from the assets they already have, rather than simply focusing on producing more. We talk about the lessons she learnt travelling the world and how she has started putting those ideas into practice through new products and partnerships. This is a conversation about having a go, recognising opportunities, learning along the way and thinking differently about how we build profitable and sustainable farming businesses for the next generation. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Krystal’s journey from teaching into agriculture 🐂 Managing cattle properties and making their first investments 🏡 Buying their first blocks of land and using them to generate income 🍒 Taking the leap into lychee farming with no previous experience 🚜 Rebuilding the orchard and growing Lush Lychees 🌏 Growing a premium product for domestic and export markets 🏪 Building a farm shop and creating an experience for customers 🍦 Value-adding through ice cream, preserves and lychee products 🎓 Krystal’s Nuffield Scholarship and lessons from travelling the world 💡 Finding opportunities to capture more value from existing farm assets 🤝 Using partnerships and innovation to develop new products, including lychee vodka and liqueur 🌱 Building a profitable family farm for the next generation Find out more about Krystal and Lush Lychees 🌏 Website: Lush Lychees 📘 Facebook: Lush Lychees 📸 Instagram: @lushlychees 🔗 LinkedIn: Krystal Caton 🎓 Nuffield Scholar Profile: Krystal Caton – Nuffield Australia Resources Mentioned 🎓 Nuffield Australia 🌏https://www.farmownersacademy.com/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by Rabobank Australia. A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

    #89: From Schoolteacher to International Lychee Exporter with Krystal Caton from Lush Lychees

  2. Oct 9

    #88: Why Good Workers Aren’t Applying for Your Ag Jobs with Zoe Carter From Agriculture Jobs Auswide

    Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a resource created to help the next generation of primary producers. In this episode, I sit down with Zoe Carter, a passionate advocate for Australian agriculture and the founder of Agriculture Jobs Auswide. Zoe didn’t grow up in agriculture, but an early interest in the industry eventually took her from working in meat processing and sheep studs to cattle stations, trucking and farm management across Australia. After a serious horse accident and years of ongoing injuries eventually made physically working on-farm difficult, Zoe had to find another way to contribute to an industry she loved. That journey, combined with her own experiences trying to find agricultural work, eventually led her to create Agriculture Jobs Auswide — a platform designed to better connect agricultural businesses with Australians looking for work. In this conversation, we take a deep dive into employment and workforce challenges across Australian agriculture. Zoe shares what she is seeing from both sides of the jobs market — employers trying to attract and retain good people, and workers trying to find the right opportunities. We talk about what workers actually value in a job, why salary isn’t always the biggest factor, the importance of accommodation, career progression and workplace culture, and how employer reputation can directly affect the quality of applicants a business attracts. We also dig into job advertisements, recruitment, retaining staff, helping newcomers get their first opportunity in agriculture and some of the trends Zoe is seeing through Agriculture Jobs Auswide. This episode is a great resource whether you employ people in your agricultural business, are looking for work yourself, or simply want to better understand how we can build a stronger agricultural workforce. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Zoe’s pathway into agriculture and becoming an advocate for the industry 💼 Why she started Agriculture Jobs Auswide 👩‍🌾 What Zoe is seeing across the agricultural jobs market 🔎 Why there can be a mismatch between people looking for work and the jobs available 📱 The role social media plays in attracting people into agriculture 📝 What makes a good agricultural job advertisement stand out 🏡 Why accommodation, lifestyle and creating a sense of home matter to employees 📈 The importance of career progression and giving employees a pathway to grow 🤝 How employer reputation and workplace culture influence recruitment and retention 👷 What employers can do differently to attract and keep good people 📄 How job seekers can better present themselves through resumes and interviews 🌱 Creating more opportunities for people with little or no agricultural experience to enter the industry Resources Mentioned 🐂 Classic Livestock 🎓 ChemCert 🐄 Young Aussie Farmers Beef Handling Course 🌱 Dairy Australia training & Pastures 101 🥩 MLA Red Meat Ambassador Program Stay connected with Zoe: 📘 Facebook: Zoe Carter 📸 Instagram: Zoe Carter 🔗 LinkedIn: Zoe Carter | LinkedIn 🌏 Website: Agriculture Jobs Auswide | Farm Jobs & Ag Contractors If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by  Rabobank Australia. A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

    #88: Why Good Workers Aren’t Applying for Your Ag Jobs with Zoe Carter From Agriculture Jobs Auswide

  3. Oct 2

    #87: From Digger to Stockman with Jack Blaine

    Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Jack Blaine, a former Australian Army serviceman, founder of Diggers Cattle Co. and the man behind Diggers to Stockmans, an initiative helping veterans transition into the cattle industry. Jack grew up on the Gold Coast with a love for rugby league and a growing interest in agriculture. After finishing school, he chose the Army over the bush, eventually travelling the world playing rugby league for the Defence Force. But the pull towards agriculture never disappeared. After leaving the Army, Jack found his way into the cattle industry, working at a stud before setting out to build his own business in northern New South Wales. We talk about his journey into agriculture, using property and share market investments to get ahead, thinking creatively to access land and the challenges of establishing a paddock-to-plate beef business. Jack also shares how he partnered with his in-laws to purchase their property and why creating a place to raise his family has been such an important part of his journey. A big part of our conversation is Jack's latest initiative, Diggers to Stockmans, which is helping veterans transition from military life into the cattle industry by giving them practical experience and industry connections. This is a great conversation about thinking outside the box, backing yourself, making the most of opportunities and helping others find their own pathway into agriculture. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Jack's journey from the Gold Coast to the Army and into agriculture 🏉 Playing rugby league around the world with the Defence Force 🐂 Getting a foothold in the cattle industry through stud work and agistment 💰 Using property and share market investments to build wealth 🏡 Partnering with family to purchase land and create a place to call home 🥩 Building Diggers Cattle Co. and navigating the paddock-to-plate business 🎖️ Starting Diggers to Stockmans to help veterans transition into agriculture 🤝 The importance of relationships, creative thinking and making the most of opportunities Resources Mentioned 🎙️ The Wealthy Cowboy Show 🎓 ABL Foundation Stay connected with Jack: 📘 Facebook: Digger Cattle Co 📸 Instagram: @diggerscattleco 🔗 LinkedIn: Jack Blaine | LinkedIn 🌏 Website: Diggers Cattle Co. If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by  Rabobank Australia. A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

    #87: From Digger to Stockman with Jack Blaine

  4. Sep 25

    #86: From the Bush to the Brisbane Broncos with Bree Spreadborough

    Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Bree Spreadborough, Senior Relationship Analyst with Rabobank and NRLW player for the Brisbane Broncos. Bree grew up around agriculture, horses and properties across Central Queensland before studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at CQUniversity and beginning her career with Rabobank. Rugby league wasn’t always part of the plan. What started with her brother convincing her to give a local Nines carnival a crack eventually led to the Central Queensland Capras and, in 2024, an unexpected phone call that would see Bree offered a spot with the Brisbane Broncos. We talk about her pathway through agriculture and banking, getting the call from the Broncos while working at Beef Week, adjusting from Rockhampton to Brisbane, and what it really takes to balance a full-time career with the demands of the NRLW. Bree also opens up about breaking her ankle in 2025, the challenge of working her way back from injury, the growth of women’s rugby league and why hard work and persistence have been such a big part of her journey. This is a great conversation about taking opportunities when they come, backing yourself and continuing to have a crack even when the pathway doesn’t look exactly how you expected. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Bree’s rural upbringing and pathway into agriculture 🏦 Building a career with Rabobank 🏉 Her journey from local footy to the Brisbane Broncos ☎️ Getting the call during Beef Week in 2024 💼 Balancing a full-time career with the demands of NRLW 💪 Overcoming injury and working her way back 🔥 Hard work, persistence and making the most of opportunities Resources Mentioned 🎙️ The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎓 Bachelor of Agriculture – CQUniversity Stay connected with Bree: 📸 Instagram: @bree_spreadborough 🔗 LinkedIn: Bree Spreadborough | LinkedIn If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by  Rabobank Australia. A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

    #86: From the Bush to the Brisbane Broncos with Bree Spreadborough

  5. Sep 18

    #85: Building B Rural Co. Work Ethic, Innovation and Backing Yourself with Brandon Sigvart

    Send us Fan Mail G’day and welcome to the A Place to Call Home Podcast, a podcast sharing the stories of people building a life in agriculture across rural Australia. In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Sigvart, founder of B Rural Co. A growing rural business built around practical fencing tools, workwear and a strong connection to the bush. Brandon shares his journey from growing up in rural Australia and working in the mines, to saving hard, buying his first property and eventually turning a side hustle into a full-time business. What started with a simple idea for a better fencing product has grown through customer feedback, product development and the power of social media into a recognisable rural brand. This is a conversation about having a go, working hard, backing an idea and using the opportunities in front of you to build the life and business you want. In this episode, we chat about: 🌾 Brandon’s rural upbringing and passion for the bush 🔨 How B Rural Co. started and where the first product ideas came from ⛏️ Working in the mines, saving hard and buying property 🚀 Turning a side hustle into a full-time business 💡 Developing products through customer feedback and practical problems 📱 Using social media to grow the B Rural Co. brand 💪 Work ethic, persistence and backing yourself Find out more about B Rural Co. 📘 Facebook: B Rural Co | Facebook 📸 Instagram: BRurlaCo 🌏 Website: B Rural Co. Resources Mentioned The Re Ride Podcast  If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au This season of A Place to Call Home is proudly brought to you by  Rabobank Australia. A big thank you to Rabobank Australia for supporting the podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of people building their future in Australian agriculture. Support the show

    #85: Building B Rural Co. Work Ethic, Innovation and Backing Yourself with Brandon Sigvart

  6. Jun 17 ·  Bonus

    Ag Innovation Series | Innovation Beyond Technology with Josie Copley

    Send us Fan Mail AG INNOVATION SERIES | Innovation Beyond Technology with Josie Copley In the final episode of the Ag Innovation Series, Sam Fryer sits down with Josie Copley from Copley Pastoral to explore what innovation really means in modern agriculture. As part of a fifth-generation family beef business and Brahman seedstock operation, Josie brings a unique perspective to the innovation conversation. Working across livestock production, marketing and communications, she sees firsthand how businesses can evolve through genetics, data, better decision making and a commitment to continuous improvement. Throughout the conversation, Josie challenges the idea that innovation is always about new technology. Instead, she shares why some of the most powerful innovations come from doing the small things consistently well over time. In this episode we discuss: • Innovation beyond technology • Genetics and data-driven breeding decisions • The role of BreedPlan and objective measurement • Building a profitable and sustainable family business • Why adoption is often harder than innovation • The importance of curiosity and continuous learning • Field days and knowledge sharing across the industry • Collaboration between producers, researchers and industry • The role of the next generation in shaping Australian agriculture We also dive into Copley Pastoral's Curious Minds, Profitable Herds Field Day and discuss how events like these help bridge the gap between research, innovation and practical on-farm adoption. One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that innovation doesn't always need to be revolutionary. Sometimes the greatest gains come from making small improvements, staying curious and consistently moving forward. This episode wraps up the Ag Innovation Series, a collaboration between A Place to Call Home and the Pandaemonium Paper exploring the people, ideas and technologies shaping the future of Australian agriculture. Pandaemonium Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

    Ag Innovation Series | Innovation Beyond Technology with Josie Copley

  7. Jun 10

    Ag Innovation Series | Ceres Tag, Livestock Technology & The Future of Beef Production with Jean Liebenberg

    Send us Fan Mail Ag Innovation Series | Ceres Tag, Livestock Technology & The Future of Beef Production with Jean Liebenberg  with Jean Liebenberg In this episode of the Ag Innovation Series, Sam Fryer sits down with cattle producer and Ceres Tag Business Development Manager Jean Liebenberg to explore what innovation actually looks like in the Australian beef industry. Drawing on his experience as both a producer and ag tech professional, Jean shares his perspective on technology adoption, livestock monitoring and the growing role of data in helping producers make better decisions on farm. Throughout the conversation, we discuss how innovation doesn't always need to be flashy. Sometimes it's about solving real problems, improving efficiency and finding practical ways to make farming operations more productive and resilient. In this episode we discuss: • Innovation through a producer's lens • Technology adoption in the beef industry • Data-driven decision making • Livestock monitoring and animal performance • The role of Ceres Tag in modern beef production • Why innovation needs to solve real problems • Return on investment versus return on effort • Collaboration, mentoring and industry networks • The future of livestock technology • What the next generation of agriculture could look like One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that innovation isn't necessarily about having the latest technology, it's about using the right tools to make better decisions and improve outcomes on farm. This episode is proudly supported by Ceres Tag. Designed specifically for extensive livestock systems, Ceres Tag is helping producers gain greater visibility into their cattle through real-time monitoring and animal performance insights. From tracking grazing behaviour and feed intake through to health monitoring and management decisions, the technology is providing producers with new ways to understand what's happening in the paddock when they can't always be there themselves. For producers operating across large and remote beef enterprises, access to better information can lead to better decisions, improved productivity and stronger business outcomes. To learn more about Ceres Tag, visit: https://cerestag.com/ Pandaemonium Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

    Ag Innovation Series | Ceres Tag, Livestock Technology & The Future of Beef Production with Jean Liebenberg

  8. Jun 3 ·  Bonus

    Ag Innovation Series | Innovation, Agronomy & The Future of Farming with Sam Simons

    Send us Fan Mail  Ag Innovation Series | Innovation, Agronomy & The Future of Farming with Sam Simons In this episode of the Ag Innovation Series, Sam Fryer sits down with agronomist Sam Simons from Poole Ag to explore innovation through the lens of modern farming systems. Working with producers across broadacre agriculture, Sam is on the front line of some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. From weed resistance and labour shortages through to automation, precision agriculture and emerging technology, he sees firsthand what is driving innovation on farm and what is delivering real results. Throughout this conversation, we discuss the difference between innovation and technology, why necessity often drives change, and how producers can navigate the constant stream of new products, systems and ideas entering agriculture. In this episode we discuss: • What innovation actually means in agriculture • Why necessity is often the driver of change • Weed resistance and the role of innovation in solving complex challenges • Precision agriculture and data-driven decision making • Automation, robotics and emerging technologies • Water efficiency and getting more from every input • Why some innovations succeed while others fail • Innovation adoption and producer confidence • The role producers play in driving innovation themselves • What the future of Australian agriculture could look like Whether you're a producer, agronomist, advisor or simply interested in the future of agriculture, this episode provides practical insights into how innovation is shaping farming systems across Australia. This Ag Innovation Series is proudly a collaboration between A Place to Call Home and the Pandaemonium Paper, exploring the people, ideas and technologies helping move Australian agriculture forward. Pandaemonium Website: https://www.pandaemonium.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.andaemonium/ If you enjoyed this episode Please share it with a friend or leave a review — it really helps these stories reach more people across rural Australia and the agriculture industry. Stay connected with A Place to Call Home: 📘 Facebook: A Place to Call Home 📸 Instagram: @aplacetocallhomepodcast 🔗 LinkedIn: A Place to Call Home Podcast 🌏 Website: www.aplacetocallhome.com.au Support the show

    Ag Innovation Series | Innovation, Agronomy & The Future of Farming with Sam Simons
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A Place to Call Home, hosted by Sam Fryer, is a podcast for the next generation of Australian primary producers, sharing the stories, lessons and insights from people building a life on the land. Through honest conversations with farmers, industry leaders and rural entrepreneurs, each episode explores the journeys behind agriculture — the successes, the challenges, and the decisions that shape life in rural Australia. Guests share first-hand experiences from across the industry, along with practical knowledge to help guide those looking to build their future in agriculture and find a place to call home. Whether you're already farming, looking to return to the land, or simply passionate about the future of Australian agriculture, this podcast is here to support the journey. Copyright: A Place to Call Home Group

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