For many years now, New Zealand-born Fiona Baird has been bringing fun, fashion, and an incredible work ethic to her role as a stockwoman on live export shipments from Australia throughout Southeast Asia. Her story stands out because, despite the grit and grime of working with animals all day, she maintains her high style standards with well-done hair and bold red lipstick and a touch of chanel perfume. However, Fiona’s journey wasn’t always centered on live exports. She has lived a vibrant life, with many twists and turns since her childhood on a farm in the South Island of New Zealand, from a makeup artist in Melbourne to closing her eyes and pointing to a place on the Australian map landing her a job as a barmaid in Camowheel in QLD. In this episode we will also touch on greif, for Fiona it was loosing her father and we talk at length about the impact of what that has had.

Follow Fiona on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:

@appletreeflat_nz
@FarmHer Hands

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Boarding school it can be an overwhelming decision and process, but the team from Boarding Schools Expo are here to help make that process easier. On October 11th join the Australian Boarding Schools Summit live online. Join expert panellists, parents, students and the schools themselves and deep dive into the stuff you want to know about.

Boarding Schools Expo Australia - helping families for 20 years - right from the heart of rural Australia.

This week on the podcast, we're thrilled to introduce Jade Mackay, a dynamic marketing consultant and rural business woman whose diverse journey bridges both urban and rural landscapes. Jade currently resides in Goondiwindi with her husband, Jack, and their 3-year-old son, Tom. Jack, an agronomist by trade, manages his own farm, growing wheat, barley, and chickpeas.

Jade's career path has been marked by pivotal moments and bold decisions, including a major shift at 35 when she realized that city life wasn't her ultimate destination. After earning a degree in Business with a focus on Marketing and PR, her first role as a Marketing & Admin Coordinator for Port Douglas Daintree Tourism set the stage for an impressive career. She went on to work for major companies like Wagamama in Sydney and Boston, David Jones, Foxtel, and News Corp in Sydney, Walt Disney and BSkyB in London, Virgin Mobile in Sydney, RB Sellars and White Story in Melbourne, and Goondiwindi Cotton back in Goondiwindi.

Jade and Jack, who met in 2018, have been married for five years. Their journey to parenthood was not without its challenges; after a five-year battle, they welcomed their beautiful son, Tom. Now, living rurally, Jade finds inspiration in the agriculture industry, particularly with the rapid advancements in technology. She sees immense potential for growth but emphasizes the critical need to attract more people to regional areas to support this development.

Passionate about creating change, especially as a rural woman, Jade believes in the power of community involvement. Whether it's joining a committee, volunteering, or taking on local work, she feels that immersing oneself in community life not only creates opportunities but also enriches the overall experience of living in rural areas.

Tune in to hear Jade's story of resilience, adaptability, and her vision for the future of rural industries and communities!

Follow Jade on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:

@

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Welcome Jill Kelly to the podcast. For over a decade, Jill has served as a district vet for Local Land Services in Western NSW, providing invaluable support to farmers with ruminant nutrition, welfare, and farm sustainability. When she's not dissecting sheep carcasses, Jill unleashes her creative side as a painter, known by the handle Miss Vet.

The phrase, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going," truly embodies Jill's spirit. During the drought in 2011, while the #BuyFromTheBush Campaign gained recognition, Jill initiated a personal project called the Drought Smoko. This effort, born out of necessity, saw her baking a cake every Tuesday and spending the morning discussing livestock management topics with local farmers, offering much-needed support and camaraderie during tough times.

Jill is a wealth of knowledge and is going to cover a lot in this conversation.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate and review it, and let us know any guests or topics you'd like us to cover.

Follow Jill on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:

@miss.vet

Enjoyed the episode- producing these podcast are a blast and take time, I would love it if you could show me some love and support, by liking, rating and sharing this episode or you can do so by - Buying me a coffee

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In this episode, we delve into Sahra's remarkable journey. Choosing love, she met her husband Hamish, a farmer, and became a mom in 2017. This new chapter brought its challenges, including postpartum depression, but Sahra navigated through it with resilience. Her vibrant past includes dynamic stints in the hospitality and fashion industries, roles in federal and state government, and launching her own business at just 25. Now, Sahra enjoys the rhythm of agricultural life, finding peace in her NSW garden. This bond with her mother-in-law, Trisha, led to their business venture, Le Sac. This heavy-duty cotton canvas gardening belt features reinforced pockets, perfect for securely holding essentials. Whether for gardening, photography, or daily use, Le Sac is the ultimate accessory for those on the go. Tune in to hear Sahra's inspiring story of love, resilience, and entrepreneurship.

Follow Sahra on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:

@lesac

Mamamia Outloud

Books

Elizabeth Strout

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Enjoyed the episode- producing these podcast are a blast and take time i would love it if you could show me some love and support, you can do so by -Buy me a coffee

Please make sure you leave a review or rate this episode.

@married_tothe_land

Primrose Sturrock, 38, hails from Drillham, QLD, and grew up on a 25,000-acre, fourth-generation mixed grazing and farming operation between St. George and Dirranbandi.

The youngest of three sisters, she attended St. George State School and later, Clayfield College in Brisbane for her secondary education. Despite achieving a high OP score, Primrose eschewed university in favour of hands-on experience.

She spent her gap year breaking horses in western QLD before working with top trainers in Texas and California, eventually finding herself training horses in Hawaii. Upon returning to Australia, she worked under renowned trainer Ian Francis before starting her own horse-breaking business in Central QLD.

Her adventurous spirit led her to diverse roles, from painting barns in Norway to living off-grid in Bulgaria, and working on motor yachts in Florida. Now, Primrose is married to Riley Sturrock, with whom she has three children—Jock (10), Arabella (8), and Hughie (6).

They manage a 12,000-acre beef cattle operation, a 5,000-head feedlot, and an earthmoving business. Primrose also runs a holistic interior design business from home. Her journey has been marked by significant moments, from the upheaval of moving from her childhood farm to the challenges of motherhood and balancing work in a male-dominated industry.

Through it all, she has remained committed to her family, her businesses, and her community, embodying resilience and adaptability.

Follow Primrise on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:

@primroseinteriors

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Bronte Austin, a 29-year-old agricultural powerhouse from Rockhampton. Bronte shares her journey from boarding school to becoming an animal production specialist. She discusses her education, including a gap year mustering on properties around her home of Yarka and studying agriculture at the University of New England. Bronte's career spans roles across Nutrien Roma, and currently Nutrien Rockhampton. She highlights pivotal moments, such as overcoming workplace challenges and creating her current role.

Married to Connor Austin, Bronte also shares insights into their relationship and the strong support of her family. Passionate about ag advocacy, she is co-chair of the Agforce Young Producers Council and involved in policy work. Bronte offers advice for young women in rural areas, emphasizing resilience and community support. Bronte is a knowledgeable woman who really does understand the whole area of ag and why we need to preserve it.

Tune in to hear how she balances family, farm work, and a thriving career, all while advocating for the agricultural industry.

Follow Bronte on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or socials suggestions:

@flock_n_herd_nutrition

@thelivestockcollective

@ausgoodmeat (because they share positive industry stories),

Podcasts

Farms Advice Podcast Jackson Cresswell
A Place to Call Home
The AgriCoach

Enjoyed the episode- producing these podcast are a blast and take time, I would love it if you could show me some love and support, by liking, rating and sharing this episode or you can do so by - Buying me a coffee

Please make sure you leave a review or rate this episode.

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Raechel Whitchurch crafts songs that resonate deeply. Her childhood performing in her family band fostered a strong connection to rural Australia. She spent her early years living in a caravan, traveling, and performing, before establishing herself as one of Australia's most promising new country artists. Her debut album, Finally Clear, debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Charts, and her highly anticipated sophomore album, What a Time to Be Alive, which was released in May 2024.

PLEASE NOTE THIS EPISODE CONTAINS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MISCARRIAGE if this episode triggers any concerns please reach out to the right areas of support.

The Pink Elephants Support Network - Understanding Miscarriage

Follow Raechel on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:

@raechelwhitchurch

@fannylumsden

@surething_agency

Enjoyed the episode- producing these podcast are a blast and take time, I would love it if you could show me some love and support, by liking, rating and sharing this episode or you can do so by - Buying me a coffee

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Join us on this episode as we dive into the inspiring journey of Courtenay DeHoff, a renowned keynote speaker, network television personality, and proud cowgirl. With over fifteen years of experience in television, Courtenay's skills in shooting, editing, and producing high-quality content have made her a sought-after figure in the media industry.

Courtenay stands out in a world of cookie-cutter on-camera personalities by embracing her cowgirl roots and sharing stories on her own terms. She has dedicated her career to giving prominence to the agriculture community, showing that being a cowgirl is a state of mind, not just a lifestyle.

As the founder of the global brand movement Fancy Lady Cowgirl, Courtenay celebrates women from all walks of life and encourages them to embrace their true identity for greater success and fulfillment. Her motivational speaking engagements have taken her across the country, sharing stages with notable figures like Mike Rowe, Laila Ali and multiple U.S. Presidents. Recently, she delivered a keynote address to 65,000 attendees at the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention.

An advocate for agriculture, Courtenay has taught tens of thousands about the importance of sharing their stories to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities. As the executive producer and co-host of "Backroad Cowgirls," she highlights the diverse faces and stories of agriculture.

Courtenay's mission is to empower women to overcome feelings of unworthiness and unleash their inner cowgirl to live legendary lives. A former collegiate and professional rodeo athlete, she is also a proud bucking bull mom, with her bull Top Dollar competing at PBR events on CBS Sports.

Tune in to hear Courtenay's powerful insights and stories that will inspire you to embrace your true self and live boldly.

Follow Courtenay on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or socials suggestions:

@courtdehoff
@edmylett

Enjoyed the episode? Producing these podcasts are a blast and take time, I would love it if you could show me some love and support, by liking, rating and sharing this episode or you can do so by - Buying me a coffee

Please make sure you leave a review or rate this episode.

@married_tothe_land