This episode is the final part of our two-part chat with Sophia Croker. In the last episode, Phia explained the life of the average bee and the extraordinary life of a mobile beekeeper.

In this episode, Phia discusses how treating varroa mites can impact the honey and beeswax, how supporting local beekeepers helps you to avoid potentially counterfeit honey in supermarkets, and why you should stay away from almond honey.

Resources and links:

• The Bee Drover website
• Phia’s Bees on Facebook
• Phia’s Bees on Instagram

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sophia Croker, or Phia as she’s better known, is a Beekeeper and the Founder of the Bee Drover. Phia is a fourth-generation beekeeper with mobile colonies that she droves all over rural New South Wales. 

In this episode, Phia explains what everyone should know about bees, the role of bees in horticultural production, and what it’s like to make a living moving bees around the bush.

This episode is part one of our two-part chat with Phia.

Resources and links:

• The Bee Drover website
• Phia’s Bees on Facebook
• Phia’s Bees on Instagram

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Nash is a Farmer at Coonabarabran with her husband, Co-founder of FOALS, and the woman behind First Time Farmer. Katie has built a following online by documenting her journey from city girl to full-time farmer and bridging the gap between city and country by sharing candid insights into farm life.

In this episode, Katie opens up about how it felt to move from Darwin to Coonabarabran to farm during the midst of a drought. She shares how those experiences led to the creation of First Time Farmer, how she navigated becoming a farming influencer following the unexpectedly massive online response to her content, and how she hopes FOALS can amplify the voices of rural Australians to shine a spotlight on critical issues faced by farming communities around Australia.

Resources and links:

• First Time Farmer website
• FOALS on Instagram
• Katie Nash on Instagram
• Katie Nash on Facebook

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Johnstone is the Owner of Mostyn Highland Fold. Mostyn Highland Fold is a boutique Highland cow breeding operation outside Toowoomba and also offers visitors a unique farm experience.

In this episode, Lisa explains why she chose the iconic Highland cow breed for her farm and the challenges and rewards of working with this breed. She also discusses why she opened Mostyn Highland Fold up to visitors, what experiences are available to guests, and how connecting with animals has led many guests to reconnect with themselves.

Resources and links:

• Mostyn Highland Fold website
• Mostyn Highland Fold on Instagram
• Mostyn Highland Fold on Facebook

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penelope Swales is the Owner of Piggery Road Permaculture. Piggery Road Permaculture grows healthy, chemical-free produce for sale and offers workshops and courses in permaculture to the wider Gippsland region.

In this episode, Penelope shares her remarkable journey to micro-farming. She shares her insights into micro-farming and permaculture, as well as the challenges she faced when first starting, and how selling her produce directly at markets has led to stronger connections with her customers and community.

Resources and links:

• Piggery Road Permaculture on Facebook
• No-Till Growers website
• Penelope Swales website
• Totally Gourdgeous on Bandcamp
• Alistair Hulett ‘Songs for Social Justice Award’ website

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is the final part of our two-part chat with Jenny Jenner. In the last episode, Jenny shared the origin of the Kalbar Sunflower Festival and how it has grown into a massive annual charity event.

In this episode, Jenny opens up about the legacy of her late husband, Russell, and the experience of documenting his fight with cancer in the documentary, Growing Happiness. She shares the story of how Russell came to be known as the Sunflower Man and why the Kalbar Sunflower Festival is dedicated to spreading joy and raising money for cancer and palliative care initiatives.

You can stream Growing Happiness on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV now.

Resources and links:

• Kalbar Sunflowers website

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenny Jenner is the Owner of Kalbar Sunflowers and the Founder of the Kalbar Sunflower Festival. The Kalbar Sunflower Festival is an annual celebration of sunflowers and joy in Queensland’s Scenic Rim and doubles as a major fundraising event.

In this episode, Jenny shares why she and her husband, Russell, made the switch from farming lucerne to growing sunflowers. She outlines the Instagrammable origins of the Kalbar Sunflower Festival and how it has grown into an event that raised over $160,000 for cancer care and palliative care in 2025.

This episode is part one of our two-part chat with Jenny.

Resources and links:

• Kalbar Sunflowers website

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh Murray is the Founder and COO of Josh’s Rainbow Eggs. Josh’s Rainbow Eggs is an environmentally sustainable, family-owned, free-range egg farm supplying grocery stores across Victoria.

In this episode, Josh reveals the surprising origins of Josh's Rainbow Eggs and how the business has grown since he started it when he was just 9 years old. He shares insights into the day-to-day operations of egg farming and how he and his team are addressing challenges in the egg industry including avian influenza. Josh gets candid about growth and explains how Josh's Rainbow Eggs has continued to expand with zero marketing in the last two years.

Resources and links:

• Josh’s Rainbow Eggs website
• Josh Murray on LinkedIn

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Weidemann is a Farmer in the Wimmera and former Chair of Grain Producers Australia (GPA), where he currently serves as a Board Member and R&D Spokesperson. GPA represents Australia's broadacre, grain, pulse and oilseed producers at the national level to promote a strong, innovative, profitable, and sustainable grains industry that is competitive on a global scale.

In this episode, Andrew shares what he has learnt from twenty years in ag leadership and advocacy, the vital work of Grain Producers Australia and the Birchip Cropping Group, and how he got involved with founding the first Community Bank with Bendigo Bank.

Resources and links:

• Grain Producers Australia website

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn
• Bendigo Bank on YouTube

In this podcast any opinions, estimates and projections are for informational purposes only and any advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your personal needs, objectives and financial circumstances. You should consider whether it is appropriate for your situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tash Johnston is the Founder of Farm Angels. Farm Angels, formerly Drought Angels, provides financial assistance, food hampers, care packs, and mental well-being support to struggling primary producers and their families across Australia.

In this episode, Tash discusses the mission of Farm Angels to help farmers in hardship and the devastating story that prompted her to found the organisation. She shares the challenges they’ve faced over the years, the wins they’ve achieved (including the Flanno for a Farmer campaign), and why the personal touch is integral to the organisation. Tash also opens up about a time in her own life when she and her family, like many of the people helped by Farm Angels, needed some help.

Mental health support:

This episode contains discussions of suicide and mental health.

In the event of an emergency, dial 000. 

For other mental health support, please visit your local hospital emergency department or contact the following support services:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

Resources and links:

• Farm Angels website
• Flanno for a Farmer website

Send us your story:

• Do you know someone (or are you someone) who’d make a great potential guest on a future episode of Beyond the Farm Gate? Drop us a line at [email protected].

Connect:

• Bendigo Bank Agribusiness website
• Bendigo Bank on Facebook
• Bendigo Bank on X
• Bendigo Bank on LinkedIn

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.