Ancret Shipton farms in the Bega Valley, not far from where she grew up, but she never envisioned herself as a farmer. That was until she met Michael, who just wanted to be in dairy. Ancret however considered herself the farmers wife; the sounding board, the support and backstop for Michael’s farming dreams. That was until he suddenly passed away after receiving a cancer diagnosis a short 9 weeks earlier that would change their lives forever. 

In this incredibly emotive chat, Ancret shares how they progressed from workers, to sharefarmers and into farm ownership, the grief she has experienced since Michael’s death, the 2 pages of information and 3 pieces of advice he left her with, how she’s managed the farm for the last 4 years with unwavering support from her farming advisors and local community and how she’s dealing with the secondary grief of farming without Michael. We recorded this chat late last year, and since then I’ve often reflected on the resilience Ancret has shown and the many lessons we can all take away from this heartbreaking story, so let’s get into it. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us in Northern Victoria in 2024, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Warragul in Gippsland on July 29th & 30th 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

Andrea Vallance started her working career as a woodwork teacher, but quickly moved into farming after marrying Bruce. Although he wasn’t in dairy at the time, agriculture was in his blood, so when an opportunity came to lease a farm in Mepunga they jumped at it. They’ve since built up the business, now currently in an equity partnership, by continually seeking advice and upskilling and always focusing on an efficient grass based system. Andrea is deeply involved within her community and we chat about the Timboon Agriculture Project and DemoDairy Foundation and her passion for providing educational and career opportunities for the next generation. 

You can find out more about the DemoDairy Foundation on the website and apply for scholarships and grants by clicking the APPLY button. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us in Northern Victoria in 2024, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Warragul in Gippsland on July 29th & 30th 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details and early bird tickets! 

Julie Moore is a self proclaimed dairy tragic, born and bred within dairy, she has enormous passion for cows and has spent her life balancing farming, family and community. And now begins the process of slowing down with retirement in sight.

She’s spent years donating her time volunteering on a number of agricultural boards including being the current NSW Women in Dairy Treasurer, and has spent the last 10 years showing and stewarding the Guernsey breed at Sydney Royal building up the entrant numbers and helping bridge the gap between the city and agriculture. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us in Northern Victoria, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Gippsland in July 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

Celina Pellett was an outdoor loving thrill seeker, born in New Zealand on a path to have a very physical career until a freak accident completely changed all of her plans, combining that with covid limiting her ability to find work, it was knocking on a farmers door asking for work that has seen her find a love for dairy she never knew existed. 

With a thirst for knowledge, she has jumped straight into learning everything she can, being awarded the 2023 Trainee of the year for Hunter and Central Coast and the NSW Woman in Trade Award. It’s a really great chat, so let’s get into it.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us on July 30 & 31st in Northern Victoria, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Gippsland in July 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Nick Hutchinson is the General Manager of Fleurieu Milk Company, having been involved with the company for over 12 years ago, the business & Nick have seen incredible growth over that time, with now over 100 people employed and having complete traceability across their raw milk collection, the processing and distribution of their dairy products.         

In today’s chat Nick shares how his role began and how it’s evolved over the years alongside the continued slow and steady growth of the company with the innovation & efficiency in the manufacturing side of the business. We chat about the patriotic nature of south australians and how they’ve been able to use that to their advantage with their various product offerings, and the push for a circular economy with the addition of kegs of milk going into retail stores and cafe’s. And we chat about the exciting plans within the agritourism space.

I am making some exciting plans of my own for 2025, but I need your help, so if you are loving the podcast, I would love to hear from you about what you want 2025 to look like. I am already in conversations about getting to more states and dairying regions to share so many more incredible people & their stories but would love your feedback, so please if you have any suggestions or feedback, good, bad or otherwise please send me a message either direct via the website or on my socials!

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us on July 30 & 31st in Northern Victoria, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Gippsland in JULY 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

Brookbora Jersey’s has been developing and improving the genetics of the herd for 60 years, with his father and grandfather at the helm, but after the recent death of his dad Robert, it’s now Daniel Bacon who is continuing that legacy whilst also forging his own path on the farm. In this chat he shares openly about his time as a nutritionist and his love for fully feeding cows, how an incredible spreadsheet helps them breed with confidence and see them as Number 2 BPI Jersey herd in the country, he shares the changes to the farming system in recent times trying to maintain prioritizing the important things in life, and we chat about the incredible community that has rallied around them since the death of Robert.

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us on July 30 & 31st in Northern Victoria, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Gippsland in 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Victoria Mulchay has always known farming was going to be in her life, but what started as a fill in for the herd manager, at their family corporate business 10 years has into evolved into a separation from the corporate business, construction of 2 compost barns and plans for further expansion with water use efficiency, animal welfare and business sustainability at the forefront. In this week's episode Vic shares openly about the changes on the farm, how they’ve worked through the planning and buildings of the barns and why they’ve chosen the compost system. 

We were grateful to tour the barn for Day 2 of Cream of the Crop Conference in July. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us on July 30 & 31st in Northern Victoria, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Gippsland in 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Jess Gavenlock grew up in the United States, in a large family passionate about cows and was heavily involved in the handling and showing of cattle. But it was whilst on exchange that she met her husband Brad and fell not only in love, but found a home in Australia. They now run Cherrylock Cattle Co in Northern Victoria where they board and manage elite genetics as well as prepping and showing cattle. 

If you are wanting to get in touch about maximising your genetics or how they can help in the show ring you can find Cherrylock Cattle Co. on Facebook  

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us on July 30 & 31st in Northern Victoria, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Gippsland in 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Nick Mignanelli is an energetic young farmer who is focused on doing better every day, whether it’s pastures, fencing or breeding, he is making small but impactful changes on farm to get the most out of his patch of dirt in South Australia and has such a great outlook on life and farming. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us on July 30 & 31st in Northern Victoria, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Gippsland in 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to [email protected] or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you. 

Sally Bethune is from Lake Boga in Victoria and alongside managing a 1000 cow dairy farm, her and husband Paul have value added to the business in the form of a micro milk processing facility producing milk, yoghurt and Bethune Lane Dairy’s star of the show belgian chocolate plus milk. Sally joined me before Cream of the Crop at the end of July, sharing all about her non-traditional farming skills which have since become an essential part the farming business, how the farm has changed drastically over the years and is incredibly open and honest about the many challenges and opportunities when starting a value add. 

For a full list of Bethune Lane Dairy Stockists to get some of their products head to the website. 

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP 

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Over 110 incredible women joined us on July 30 & 31st in Northern Victoria, and we are excited to announce we are heading to Gippsland in 2025. Keep an eye on Instagram  or Facebook   or check it out on the Website for all of the details. 

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.