Beyond the Farm Gate

After initially cutting their teeth leasing a farm, Josie Zilm and her husband bought 600 acres just outside of Sale in Gippsland on the La Trobe River, where they run Angus breeders and trade cattle. Their farm — Amella Pastoral — has now survived the driest three years since records began in the area.

In this episode, Josie shares what she and her husband have done to mitigate the risks associated with seasonal conditions, how they use social media as a tool for marketing the farm, and the importance of promoting women in agriculture.

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

Sam Marwood grew up on a 180-hectare dairy farm in rural Victoria and assumed that when he grew up, he would inherit the family property. His dreams were dashed when he learnt that his parents would be selling up to finance their retirement.

Like many other Australians, Sam assumed that without land to inherit, owning a farm would be impossible. But after fifteen years of working in government, Sam decided to follow his childhood dreams and make a change. He now runs Cultivate Farms, a social enterprise match-making service that connects aspiring farmers with retiring farmers and investors. As it turns out, there are other ways to work towards owning your own farm.

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.

Glenden Watts is a seventh-generation farmer on the 2,500-acre Glengower farm in Central Victoria, which his family have owned since the 1870s. Traditionally a mixed sheep and cropping operation, in the last couple of decades it's become a cropping dominant operation.

Glenden studied at Marcus Oldham College before returning to the family farm in 2013, excited and ready to put what he'd learnt into practice. But upon his return, he faced a string of bad luck. Juggling bushfires, drought and a young family, he realised that something had to change.

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.