Original publish date: 19 Jan 2021.

Sarah Nolet grew up in Silicon Valley, California, in the home of tech companies and the world of entrepreneurship.

Although her dad had a hobby farm, the agriculture industry was not something she ever imagined working in. But after living and working on farms in South Africa for a year, she fell into the agriculture rabbit hole.

Now in Australia, Sarah has combined her technology background with her love for ag by creating AgThentic, a food and agriculture strategy firm. In this episode, she discusses innovation in the Australian agriculture space, the importance of storytelling, and how AgThentic’s programme Farmers2Founders works with farmers and producers over twelve weeks to bring their innovative ideas to life.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original publish date: 13 Apr 2021.

Warren Davies, aka ‘The Unbreakable Farmer’, is a keynote speaker covering topics such as mental health and resilience. Warren worked on his family’s farm for six years upon leaving school, developing a love for the dairy industry.

In this episode, Warren shares his story as well as how he was forced to adapt and build resilience through a series of challenging events. He also talks about how he’s used this experience as a way to connect and help communities devastated by fire, flood and drought.

Connect:

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Original publish date: 22 Dec 2020.

Social media can sometimes be seen as the creator of social problems, especially when it comes to mental health. But farmer Ben Brooksby decided to use it in a positive … yet unconventional way. As a result of a cheeky photoshoot with a friend, he started The Naked Farmer — an Instagram page that has over 100,000 followers.

Ben believes using social media positively can change your mental health. And in this episode, he talks about the growing impact that The Naked Farmer movement is making. As he says, "It takes guts to take your gear off … as it takes guts to talk about mental health."

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Johnston, like most rural kids, was shipped off to a Sydney boarding school which is where he first became aware of the disconnect between the product and consumer.

In this episode, Sam shares how these experiences inspired him and his mate to start #thankafarmerforyournextmeal, a social media campaign-turned-movement with the goal to showcase the Australian ag industry while educating folks on where their food comes from.

Resources and links:

• Thank A Farmer For Your Next Meal

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shanna Whan is the CEO of Sober in the Country, a national advocacy program for social change in the bush.

In this episode, Shanna shares her (very) personal journey, from growing up in her local rural scene to her battle with alcohol — which led her to start 'Sober in the Country'. She’s determined to spread the message that ‘It’s ok to say no to a beer’ throughout Australia’s rural communities.

Shanna has worked as a rural journalist, a jillaroo, and a photographer, which gives her a unique perspective on Australian agricultural communities.

Mental health support:

If you need mental health support, please visit your local hospital emergency department or contact the following support services:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• ​Family Drug Support: 1300 368 186
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• MensLine: 1300 789 978
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

Resources and links:

• Sober in the Country
• SITC Bush Tribe

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amelia (Milly) Nolan is the Event Coordinator for The Livestock Collective, an organisation with a vision to increase connection to, and understanding of, agriculture in the wider community.

While that’s her official role, her knowledge and passion sit firmly within agriculture. In this episode, Milly shares her first-hand connection to agriculture, why she believes advocacy is so important, and her experience of flourishing in what is often seen as a male-dominated industry.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morgan Dahl is a hardworking, fifth-generation farmer from Queensland (amongst several other occupations!). When Morgan was younger, he embraced his entrepreneurial side intending to save enough money to buy his first farm. He now has a holding of 2,200 acres and continues to work off-farm while still helping on the family beef cattle farm in Miriam Vale.

From running an importing business to working as a qualified electrical technician, Morgan knows how to hustle and put a plan into action. In this episode, he shares how his first property was a 600-acre tree farm that required refurbishing to remove 400 acres of failed Tasmanian hybrid trees. The property now successfully runs beef cattle and has given Morgan leverage to buy a second property.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachael Treasure is a regenerative agriculturalist at Ripple Farms Partners, as well as a best-selling author. Her first novel — Jillaroo — forged a new genre, kick-starting a boom in rural women’s fiction.

In this episode, Rachael shares her journey from agriculture, through journalism, and back to agriculture. She also shares her personal experience of the gender divide in the industry. And we also discuss how, together with her fiance Daniel, she’s regenerating a run-down farm, paying careful attention to soil ecology and sustainable practices and inspiring other farmers to do the same.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Andrews is the Co-founder and CEO of Connected Farms, a business formed to specifically provide connectivity solutions to the agriculture sector.

In this episode, Tom shares his journey from growing up in a small Scottish farming village to falling in love with rural Australia. We also discuss Connected Farms' vision to improve 'over paddock connectivity' and some exciting developments in the future of rural connectivity.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Barnes is the Founder of Mates Dog School and the Co-president of the newly revived Dunkeld CWA — both in Dunkeld, Victoria. Kelly originally studied agriculture before a chronic pain condition forced her to give up farmwork.

In this episode, Kelly shares how her experience inspired her to come up with Mates Dog School — a place where farmers, together with their dogs, learn low-stress stock handling, enhance the dog-owner bond, and build resilience through social connection and peer support.

Connect:

• Rural Bank website
• Rural Bank on Facebook
• Rural Bank on Twitter
• Rural Bank on LinkedIn
• Rural Bank on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.