Neil Wandel moved to Esperance in 1979 with his wife, one kid, and another on the way. Their operation was a tough lot to crack, but through gumption and careful planning, they navigated the highs and lows of starting a successful farm before becoming Esperance Quality Grains.

In this episode of GRDC’s In Conversation, host Oli Le Lievre speaks with Neil on how the many years of working in the grain industry have affected the community of Esperance. Neil shares his story of dropping out of school to help his father on the farm before beginning his own journey in Western Australia. He highlights the importance of working with your neighbours, seeking leadership roles, the joys of working alongside family, and planning for an increasingly challenging industry.

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GRDC in Conversation is a limited series GRDC Podcast. It features in-depth interviews with growers and other experts in the grains industry who share their expertise, knowledge and experiences by exploring their personal stories, history, influences and motivations. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of GRDC, the interviewees’ employer, institution or other associated parties.

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