I have heard it said that “doing a traditional thing in a traditional industry may no longer be relevant.”

I have also heard it said that the point of entrepreneurship is to “create a legacy”…. that is to create something that makes an impact of significance in the market, that will last beyond your life-time.

Certainly there are great examples of individuals and teams out there daring enough to be highly entrepreneurial, deeply strategic and very innovative in finding ways to ‘get it done’.

For mine, Liam Leneghan and his GO.Farm Story presents an outstanding example of this, in modern day Australian Agriculture.

Just over 10 years ago, GO.Farm Australia was simply an idea in the mind of a very credible and progressive Australian Agriculturalist.

Today, GO.FARM’s vision for transforming Australian agriculture has driven the development and management of $1.2B worth of agricultural assets, including 96,000ha of farmland producing high-value crops such as almonds, mandarins, tomatoes, winegrapes, grains, pulses and oilseeds.

With a strong focus on innovation through a Responsible Agriculture lens, GO.FARM’s investment strategies deliver a positive impact for its environments and local communities, while generating significant wealth for its investors.

From an idea, combined with a deep determination to transform Australian farmland… GO.Farm is now a growing team of over 250 people, committed to this vision.

It is a truly compelling story, that I feel we can all learn from. Through this I am reminded of the benefits of being unconventional; that leadership starts with making informed and risk-aware predictions about the future; that business ownership is about being courageous and dertermined; of the power of having conviction; of learning from mistakes and ‘going again’; of the value in making unreasonable request of people with influence; of the importance of a commitment to our own learning and growth; and the importance of surrounding yourself in high-calibre people on this journey we all play in business.

Some individuals are simply truly pioneering and daring to make an impact.

Liam, I commend you on your courage, deep conviction and your modern-day pioneering. I hope our conversation pays some tribute to your impressive career, and the successes of GO.Farm and your team.

Congratulations mate.

Hutch & the FOA Team

In this episode, I speak with Tim McGavin, Founder and Managing Director of Laguna Bay, one of the largest privately owned agricultural investment funds globally. 

Reflecting on his farming background and extensive career, we explore life growing up on a station west of Barcaldine, QLD alongside his ‘bushy’ father and family. We explore Tim’s early years through school, his journey into agriculture and the intriguing and unique pathway he has taken to achieve significant success within our industry. 

Our conversation touches on the pivotal role of Marcus Oldham in shaping the next generation of Australian agricultural leaders. We explore its innovative approach to education, its extensive Alumni network and its influential impact on the industry. 

Importantly, we speak of Marcus Minds, a new initiative developed to help farm owners learn the key principles of high performance. This collaboration between Laguna Bay and Marcus Oldham draws upon the expertise of leading specialists and focuses on helping people overcome personal challenges, pursuing mindset mastery, pathways for self-development, a higher quality of life and building resilience. 

Much like the personal development and entrepreneurial principles taught at Farm Owners Academy, Marcus Minds is bringing an important new way of thinking and leading into our industry.  

Tim and I both acknowledge that farming can be a lonely and challenging environment in which to live and operate. Yet, we agree that to achieve the highest level, we must first master the mind. 

To quote Tim, “I’ve learnt that if you get the inside right, the outside falls into place.” 

Marcus Minds is a free resource available to all, and I recommend checking it out. 

Congratulations Tim, on your pioneering of this project and congratulations on a fascinating career. Thank you for sharing your story and insights for success in this conversation so openly.  

And thank you for helping us highlight the great work of both Marcus Minds and Marcus Oldham Agricultural College in supporting excellence in Australian agriculture. 

And what a story it is. 

Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team  

As always, it is great to speak with Terry Tran and get an update on what is happening across our economy and the global investment landscape.

In this episode, and 6 months after our last update from Terry, we cover all things interest rates, inflation, commodities outlooks, exchange rates and economies.

We get Terry’s valued insight across the USA, China, Russia/Ukraine and other global developments, and how these might impact equity investment decisions in the near and long term.

We are excited to bring another exclusive Freedom Trader investment webinar to the Farm Owners Academy community at 7:20 pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, 5th November, details are here.

If you are interested in exploring world-class coaching on how to invest successfully in the global market, then we recommend this webinar and Terry’s Freedom Trader program, details here.

Thank you, Terry. Congratulations on the work you do supporting so many families to pursue and achieve financial freedom.

I look forward to a beer on your new veranda and to enjoying the view across Sydney’s incredible cityscape very soon!

Sincerely,

Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team

P.S. If you're also looking to tackle stress and improve your well-being, our FREE 2024 Edition of The Low-Stress Farmer’s Handbook is now available. Discover essential strategies for reducing stress, avoiding burnout, and building resilience. It's packed with practical advice tailored to farmers' unique challenges. Click here to get your copy now: Download the Handbook.

We all have a role to play in inspiring our next generation of farmers – now there is a compelling program and pathway to make this happen.

In this episode, Hutch speaks with Chloe Smart, Training and Career Development Coordinator at AgCareerStarts. As Chloe explains, AgCareerStarts provides on-farm employment opportunities for 17 to 24 year olds interested in pursuing a career in agriculture. Backed by the National Farmers Federation (NFF), the initiative provides the link between a recent school leaver or ag college/university graduate with a professional farm business owner, keen to nominate themselves as an AgCareerStarts Host Farmer.

In addition, we speak with Host Farmer Simon Cameron, a fine wool merino producer from the Northern Midlands of Tasmania. Simon’s farm, ‘Kingston’ comprises 3125 ha of which about 12% is developed with introduced grasses. The rest is split between lightly timbered bush country and native grasslands. Their wool production is accredited under SustainaWOOL Gold and the Responsible Wool Standard, making Simon a great example of the on-farm opportunities we can create for young people wanting to forge a career in our industry.

Post university, Chloe travelled across Northern SA and Western NSW as a contract musterer and senior station hand on a 280,000-acre Merino Sheep property in Hay, NSW. She understands on-farm roles and the challenges associated with farm life, as well as how difficult it can be for young people to shape their early careers in our industry.

This is an important and highly professional initiative I am only too happy to advocate for.

I commend Chloe and her team and NFF for pioneering this initiative, and congratulate the many host farmers already active in helping our next generation to positively enter our industry.

For more information, click here.

The deadline for applying to secure an AgCareerStarts Team Member for 2025 is Friday 4th October 2024.

I am sure Chloe and her team will be only too happy to speak with you and answer any questions you have.

Thank you, Simon, for sharing your experience, and congratulations to Chloe and your team on the great work that you do!!

Here’s to the next generation!

Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team

P.S. If you're also looking to tackle stress and improve your well-being, our FREE 2024 Edition of The Low-Stress Farmer’s Handbook is now available. Discover essential strategies for reducing stress, avoiding burnout, and building resilience. It's packed with practical advice tailored to farmers' unique challenges. Click here to get your copy now: Download the Handbook.

‘Farm Systems’ or ‘Grower Groups’ play a pivotal part in our farming landscape. 
 
Of these, Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) is the pinnacle. 
 
Providing large-scale, in-season crop & pasture production trials, the latest research intelligence and important production improvement training to progressive farmers across Victoria’s Wimmera & Mallee for over 30 years, BCG is one of our nation’s major contributors to in-paddock production advancement. 
 
Perhaps equally important is the community assembled, the farm management support provided, the collaboration now possible, and the knowledge-sharing and the boundary-pushing outcomes achieved for bringing many hundreds of passionate, forward-thinking farm owners together. 
 
In this episode, I speak with Harm van Rees, a legend and gentleman of our industry, who has been part of the BCG story since its inception. 
 
With BCG Founders Ian McLelland and John Ferrier, and as an independent agronomist for over 30 years, Harm has pioneered countless research and extension projects that help farming families push the boundaries of production. He has consulted directly to many hundreds of farming families over his career, and travelled the world on behalf of GRDC, CSIRO and other research institutes always with a dedication to pushing production boundaries. 
 
Farm Owners Academy is proud to be partnering with leading Grower Groups across Australia, and bringing our business education and coaching capability to their communities. If you are part of a leading Grower or Farming Systems Group in Australia or New Zealand, please reach out to us here to explore opportunities to collaborate. 
 
I hope this discussion with Harm van Rees does both his important career and the BCG story justice. 
 
To CEO Fiona Best and the entire BCG team, and on behalf of our industry (if I may be so bold), I want to say thank you, well done and congratulations on your passion, dedication and support to Australian Farming Families. 
 
Thank you Harm, wonderful to connect, and here’s to a positive finish to this production season! 
 
Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team 
 
P.S. If you're looking to tackle stress and improve your well-being, we have just released our FREE 2024 Edition of The Low-Stress Farmer’s Handbook. Discover essential strategies for reducing stress, avoiding burnout, and building resilience. It's packed with practical advice tailored to farmers' unique challenges . Click here to get your copy now: Download the Handbook. 

It’s incredible seeing the results members of our Platinum Mastermind are achieving, their commitment to the program and the progression of their business and personal development.

FOA Alumni Members David (Diesel) & Rhianne Low, make a great example of this.

Commencing the program in July 2017, Diesel & Rhianne have become valued members and real contributors to our growing community. Starting as a mixed farm struggling for profitability, the operation was completely dependent on them, with Diesel typically working 80 hours per week. It is fair to say that they have completely transformed their business and lives.

Benchmarking and the support of our Analytics Team helped them decide to focus on ONE enterprise to achieve more focus and scale.

Forecasting and Decision Support Tools have allowed them to set down a financial roadmap that provides them more confidence in the resilience and performance of their business model for years to come.

Their 2 Page Strategic Plan helps them remain aligned and focused together as they prioritise business improvement through structured annual and quarterly meetings.

Having a Business Coach dedicated to their success has helped them navigate some challenging business and personal times, and consistently held them accountable for the implementation of their plan and toward their compelling goals.

FOA’s Personal Development Training has helped them together move from a mindset of blame, lack and hardship to one of positivity, abundance and gratitude.

The Business Development Training has supported them to set down structures, systems and professional disciplines that drive on-farm efficiency, and support an on-farm team that helps them get it done and enjoy more balance, fun and freedom in their lives.

Last, but certainly not least, the friendships and the community they are now part of is a highlight of their 7-year journey with FOA.

The FOA Team are delighted to welcome Rhianne Low into our Team as an Accountability Coach. We also highly value Diesel’s contribution as a mentor to others in the program.

Diesel & Rhianne, thank you for your positivity and for being such dedicated members of the FOA Alumni & Community. And thank you for sharing your story and FOA journey with us.

Simply, incredible.

Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team

In this episode, I am delighted to introduce to you Zoe Lamont, owner of Farm Door Riverina, a growing regional food business providing ready-made, wholesome meals to busy families, retirees and the elderly across Australia.

Growing up on a farm near Junee, Zoe has deep ties to the land and a vision for bringing high-quality, wholesome, locally sourced food to families across Australia.

Zoe shares her journey from farm life to buying and then building a highly successful business, with her husband Frank, that not only supports local producers but also brings the best of what we grow directly to people's tables. We explore:

• The origins of Farm Door Riverina
• Frank & Zoe's mission to bridge the gap between farm and table
• The challenges and triumphs of scaling a food business
• The importance of innovating and adapting your business models in order to grow
• How Farm Door is providing wholesome food solutions to busy urban families, retirees and the elderly alike.

A team now of over 30 providing over 3,000 meals per day, Zoe & Frank’s story is a powerful reminder of how good quality food can change lives and bring happiness and wellness to households across Australia. 

It is also a reminder to us all to stay true to our values, even when the chips are down, and put integrity and a commitment to quality at the forefront of everything we do.

If you are looking to provide farm produce more directly to the consumer or explore new ways to diversify your farm's income, this episode will leave you inspired to think bigger about the impact you can have.

More information about Frank, Zoe and the Farm Door story can be found here: https://farmdoor.com.au/pages/our-story

Thank you, Frank, Zoe and your team for all you do. I appreciate you sharing your story.

Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team

In complement to our last two episodes that focus on on-farm culture and team, in this episode, I explore a question we receive often:

            When is the right time and how do we best establish an Advisory Board?

There is an important set of business practices and disciplines that need to be in place and effective prior to establishing a Board. It is important that as business owners we retain ownership and full responsibility for key elements of our businesses’ strategic plan, performance analysis, budgets and operational plans. It is important we have reasonable expectations of Board Members and do not expect them to do the ‘hard work’ on these important elements of business leadership for us. It is also important to be very careful who we invite onto our Board, and what we should reasonably expect from them.

Let’s be real for a moment, farm business ownership is a very complex assignment. We are exposed to the vagaries of the season and the markets. We run complex businesses in isolated settings with our families.

To be in the top 20% of our industry – like the elite athletes we see achieving so much presently at the Olympics – it is important that we have the right advisers around us and that we engage with them in a proactive and highly professional way. It is also important that we immerse ourselves with peers and in a community that is growth-oriented, open-minded and committed to excellence.

I feel privileged to be part of the Farm Owner Academy team and community, and I thank all of our Platinum Mastermind and Alumni Members for their contribution to our elite and high-performing community of farming families.

I hope this episode adequately answers these important questions, and challenges you to ensure you have the people you most need around you to support your success.

Keep winning!

Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team

CULTURE - we all have one, whether we like it or not. Within our business, our family, even our community.

Leaving our culture unchecked can be a disaster. Accepting a sub optimal culture can be destroying... for you AND those around you.

At Farm Owners Academy, we believe deeply in creating high-performing teams and cultures, both in family AND business.

Once again giving you special insight into our Platinum Mastermind program, this episode is an excerpt from a previous 'Growth Call' webinar that I run monthly with our members.

In this particular coaching call, I call on my old mate and past business partner, Simon Harris to dive deep into the essential elements of building a thriving culture within your farm business. Si brings a wealth of experience and insights into creating an environment where your team can excel and your business can flourish.

Specifically, we explore:

• What is company culture
• What are the 6 types of cultures
• How does your culture rate
• What we can do to improve the culture of the companies we lead, and
• The unique set of 'SOFT & FLUFFY RITUALS' that can be the key to the foundations of a great team and high-performance culture.

Throughout our conversation, we emphasise the impact that a positive culture can have on overall business performance. From increased employee engagement to improved operational efficiency, creating the right culture is a game-changer for any farm business. Si provides actionable tips and real-world examples that you can implement in your own operations to start seeing immediate benefits.

Whether you're struggling with team dynamics or looking to take your farm's culture to the next level, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice. Tune in to discover how you can create a thriving culture that drives success in your farming business.

Enjoy!

Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team

It is clear to me that so many of us are under-resourced.

As such, we dedicate 20-40 hours per week to low-value farm activity, often at the expense of CEO-level tasks. For me, this continued focus on low-value activity might save a wage, but it's costing you a FORTUNE. This episode is all about how to break free from that cycle and step into the role of a true business leader.

Giving you special insight into our Platinum Mastermind program, this episode is an excerpt from a previous 'Growth Call' webinar that I run monthly with our members.

During this call, I am joined by Farm Owners Academy CEO, Sam Johnson, and we have an open conversation with our members about:

• Identifying where and why we are under-resourced.
• Shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of growth and abundance, which allows us to see the value in investing in our teams.
• Practical steps to justify the financial investment in new hires and the long-term benefits this brings.
• Strategies for recruiting effectively, even in a challenging job market and how to build a team that supports your vision.
• Creating a clear organisational structure that defines roles and responsibilities, ensuring everyone is aligned and working towards common goals.

Thank you, Andrew Driscoll, for sharing your experience in this area, and thank you all for your involvement in this important conversation. Andrew's journey from feeling overwhelmed to strategically resourcing his farm provides a real-world example of the transformation possible when we back ourselves and our vision.

To have a FREEDOM FARM, we need to build out our dream team. Let's back ourselves to each get on and get this done!

Keep winning.

Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team

Nuffield International’s vision is to inspire people to make a difference in the world of agriculture.

It is fair to say this great organisation is truly achieving it’s global vision- directly as a result of the many great leaders of Nuffield, like Jim Geltch, who have committed much of their careers to making this happen.

It was a privilege for me to speak this week with a fellow scholar and good friend of my father’s, Jim Geltch about the Nuffield farming scholarship program and the significant impact this unique and very special organisation has had on our industry, both locally and globally. For more information on how to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship, click here

Jim started farming in 1971 in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area at Whitton growing rice, row cropping and ultimately into tomato production. This led him to later taking up a leadership position managing the Australian operations for New Zealand’s tomato processing company, Cedenco.

As a long-serving guardian of the Nuffield farming scholarship program, Jim served as CEO Nuffield Australia 2005-2016, Nuffield International CEO 2008-2020, having completed a Nuffield Scholarship tour himself in 1986.

Over that time Nuffield expanded to be a truly international foundation and a greatly expanded global community of scholars.

Jim has since been awarded an Australian Order for Services to Agriculture, and the Rabobank Leadership Award recognising the fundamentally important role he had played developing upcoming leadership in the Australian and New Zealand food, fibre & agribusiness sector.

It is my hope, through this interview, that we advocate for the Nuffield farming scholarship program and that we honour the immense contribution that Jim has had made to this organisation and it’s community of industry leaders.

Thank you Jim for a career advocating for the next generation of leaders in our industry, and for your immense contribution to Nuffield and to Australian Agriculture.

Sincerely,

Jeremy