Beyond the Farm Gate

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.

Zarly Steffensen and Devon Hansen are the husband and wife duo behind Whipbird Cafe near Kingaroy. Whipbird Cafe is a farm-to-table restaurant serving unique, seasonal menus that use produce grown on their farm and a dedicated nose-to-tail philosophy.

In this episode, Zarly and Devon share how they incorporate meat and produce grown on their farm into the restaurant and how a commitment to using whole animals has reduced food waste and led to more creative menus. They also discuss how they support the local community, the challenges in maintaining staff as a small business in a rural area, and why they still describe themselves as lucky.

Resources and links:

• Whipbird Cafe 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.

Bryce Camm is the CEO of Camm Agricultural Group, Director of Cattle Australia, and former Chairman of Beef Australia. Bryce oversees his family’s 65,000 head of cattle across nine stations and a feedlot, manages over 100 staff, and is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders in Australian beef.

In this episode, Bryce shares how Camm Agricultural Group has evolved over four generations of cattle farming to improve cattle and cropping objectives while embracing more sustainable land management. He also discusses the role of Beef Australia and Cattle Australia in addressing sustainability questions in Australian beef and how these organisations are helping to train future leaders today. 

Resources and links:

• Camm Agricultural Group website
• Cattle Australia website
• Beef 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
• Rural 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.

Jackie Elliott is the Founder of Rural Women’s Day. Rural Women’s Day is a not-for-profit organisation committed to connecting rural women in Australia and New Zealand through community, collaboration, and celebration.

In this episode, Jackie explains the origins and rapid expansion of Rural Women’s Day, how Rural Women’s Day champions women, and how it has uplifted thousands of women across Australia.

Resources and links:

• Rural Women’s Day website
• Rural Women’s Day on Instagram
• Rural Women’s Day on Facebook
• Rural Women’s Day on LinkedIn
• Ducks on the Pond podcast 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:

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Christie is a fourth-generation dairy farmer in Northwest Victoria. David and his wife Katrina run his family’s farm in Rochester, where they’ve introduced an innovative approach to reducing heat stress on their cows.

In this episode, David shares why they choose to use a day shed and a night shed, the role of compost in their farming operation, and how they increased their output by double cropping.

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:

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Stanton is the Owner of The Nyngan. The Nyngan is a boutique hotel and pub that Emily and her husband James bought and restored almost four decades after it originally closed.

In this episode, Emily discusses why she and James felt drawn to the ambitious renovation project, what reopening the pub has meant for the Nyngan community, and the toll that stress took on her body throughout the process. She also opens up about the role of social media in the renovation process and the unexpected item they found buried out the back that helped them go viral.

Resources and links:

• The Nyngan website
• The Nyngan on Facebook
• The Nyngan on Instagram
• The Nyngan on TikTok

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:

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leila McDougall is a Farmer and the writer and star of the film Just A Farmer. Just A Farmer follows Alison, a mother who is left to care for her children, an alcoholic father-in-law, and a failing farm alone following the death of her partner by suicide.

In this episode, Leila shares her inspiration for writing Just A Farmer and discusses the process of making a movie. She explains why she’s passionate about mental health awareness in rural areas, how she hopes to help farmers doing it tough, and why she wants to make Just A Farmer more accessible to people across Australia.

This episode contains discussions about mental health and suicide. If this episode brings up any difficult feelings for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Resources and links:

• Just A Farmer website
• Watch Just A Farmer on Apple TV
• Lifeline website
• Beyond Blue 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:

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.