BusinessManagementEducation

Profitable Farmer

Farm Owners Academy

This show is all about increasing the profitability of your farm so you work smarter and not harder. Your host, Jeremy Hutchings (Managing Director at Farm Owners Academy), reveals the best farming business tips for more leverage in your farm business.

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#201
September 24 · 1 hr 2 min
#201 - Do You Have Your Life in Order? with Longevity Expert Marcus Pearce
What if living longer had less to do with finding the perfect diet, supplement or exercise program… and more to do with how we live, what we believe and who we surround ourselves with? In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Marcus Pearce, a longevity strategist, speaker, author and host of 100 Not Out. Marcus recently joined us at our FOA Deep Dive Workshop, and I was struck again by the way he challenges so many of the assumptions we carry around health, ageing and what it means to live a genuinely exceptional life. We explore: Why purpose, physical activity and social connection are some of the strongest foundations for a long, high-quality life. What decades of interviewing centenarians and “exceptionals” have taught him about living well. The importance of protecting the parts of life that farming can easily crowd out such as health, friendships, family, fun and time away from the business. Marcus’ Exceptional Life Quiz, and why making your lowest-scoring area your highest priority can be a powerful place to start. Take the quiz here One of the biggest reminders from this conversation is that we often assume there will always be more time. More time to get fitter. More time to see our mates. More time to take the trip. More time to slow down and enjoy what we’ve built. But none of us really knows how much time we have. Make the important things urgent. Call that mate you haven’t spoken to for some time. Book that fishing trip. Make small steps to look after your personal health as a priority. Have dinner at the dining table. Tell those you care about you love them. Create something outside the farm that lights you up. And keep building a business that supports the life you want, rather than a life that exists purely to support the business you have. Marcus, thank you. I appreciate you positively re-framing the importance of longevity for us: it’s not about how long we can stay alive… but how strong, connected, purposeful and alive we can be, as we age. Here’s to living and farming well. Keep being incredible! Hutch & The Farm Owners Academy Team P.S. Marcus’ message is a great reminder that living well for longer isn’t just about health. It’s about having the freedom, energy and headspace to enjoy the life you’re building. If you’re running a farm and want more freedom, more control and more space to enjoy life beyond the farm, the TOP Producers Workshop is a great place to start. Find out more here.
#200
September 10 · 1 hr 4 min
#200 - Uncertainty Is the Only Certainty - Building Resilience with Maria Ruberto
Uncertainty Is the Only Certainty: Building Resilience with Psychologist Maria Ruberto Two hundred episodes in, and the thread running through nearly all of them is this: the numbers matter, but what's going on in our heads and hearts is what determines whether we thrive or just survive. So for this milestone, I wanted to talk human emotions properly, starting with the one none of us can avoid. Uncertainty is almost the only certainty we've got as farmers. But it isn't a sign that something's wrong with you. It's a normal state your brain moves into when it can't predict what happens next, and once you understand that, you can move through it with a lot more strength. That's exactly what we dig into today with psychologist Maria Ruberto. Maria Ruberto is a psychologist, certified applied Neuropsychotherapist and Founder of Salutegenics. With more than 30 years of experience across education, clinical practice, leadership and workplace wellbeing, Maria delivers science-backed training programs that help individuals, teams and organisations build resilience and strengthen their ability to support the wellbeing of others. Her approach focuses on understanding the powerful connection between biology, psychology and behaviour. In this Learning from Legends episode, we reconnect with Maria, who has previously presented to our FOA alumni and joined us on the podcast before, to unpack a topic every farmer knows intimately: uncertainty, and how we manage our exposure to it. We explore: Why uncertainty is a normal, biological state rather than a personal failing, and what happens in the brain the moment it can't predict what's coming next The truth about stress: why it's not the enemy, how it enables us to perform, and the point where sustained pressure tips into burnout Simple, science-backed ways to reset in under two minutes, including a slow out-breath technique and a head-turn technique that calms the nervous system Why connection with others isn't a nice-to-have but a biological imperative, and how the right people around us create real protection during hard times Five practical strategies for building our tolerance to uncertainty and distress, including agency mapping (what we can control, influence, and must let go of). To connect with Maria, reach out directly at admin@salutegenics.com.au. Maria, thank you for the generosity of your time and for the clarity you bring to something so many of us feel but rarely have the language for. It was wonderful reflecting on how the mind works under pressure, and even better knowing there are real, practical tools we can put to work on-farm. Until next time, keep being incredible. Hutch & The Farm Owners Academy Team P.S. Scaling well takes energy, and burnout has a way of undoing all of it. If you're feeling the weight of workload, weather, or finances lately, grab our free Low Stress Farmer's Handbook to check where you sit on the burnout scale and pick up some practical strategies for building resilience. Download here.
#199
August 27 · 45 min
#199 - Proud to Be Pioneering the Uptake of AI in Our Industry, with Sam Johnsson, CEO, Farm Owners Academy
AI is moving fast — incredibly fast — and whether we like it or not, the game has changed. In this week’s episode, I sit down with Sam Johnsson, CEO of Farm Owners Academy. Sam, along with Michaela, Greg, and the broader FOA team, has been doing outstanding work in this space, not just exploring what AI can do, but figuring out how we can use it practically to build better businesses and better outcomes for farm owners. We unpack what AI really means for agriculture and why I believe the opportunity in front of us is enormous. From using ChatGPT or Claude as a smarter research partner, through to analysing data, improving decision-making, building systems, automating repetitive work and even capturing 40 years of knowledge from inside a farmer’s head, the capability is extraordinary. But we also talk about the other side of it: security, accuracy, the risk of AI being “confidently wrong”, and why good judgement, trusted advisers and knowing what good looks like still matter enormously. Sam also shares a really useful framework for understanding where you are on the AI journey, and, more importantly, how to take the next step without feeling like you need to become a technology expert overnight. My encouragement is simple: don’t sit on the sidelines. Get curious. Have a play. Start small. Because this technology is going to touch almost every part of business and life, and I think those who learn to use it well will have an extraordinary advantage. I really enjoyed this conversation with Sam, and I hope it gives you the confidence and a few practical ideas to start putting AI to work in your business. Keep winning! Hutch & The Farm Owners Academy Team P.S. If this episode has you thinking it's time to get more out of AI in your farm business, Sam is running a 90-minute live workshop on 21 & 22 October. You’ll learn how to spot the work where AI can create genuine leverage, then set it up with the context, standards and guardrails it needs to do that work properly in your operation. See the workshop and register here.
#198
August 13 · 38 min
# 198 - How Much Profit Should Your Farm Really Be Making? With your host, Jeremy Hutchings, Managing Director, Farm Owners Academy
There is a question every farming family should be able to answer with confidence: How well is our farm business actually performing — and what is it truly capable of? Not just whether there’s cash in the bank. Not whether we’ve had a good season. And not whether we’re doing things a bit better than they’ve always been done. I mean really understanding the strength of the business model underneath it all. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to spend time on-farm with a number of our members, sitting around kitchen tables, driving around properties and getting deep into the numbers behind their businesses. And one exercise in particular has created some incredibly valuable conversations. It’s about reverse engineering the potential of the farm. In this episode, I want to take you through that same exercise, and I unpack some of the key numbers I use to stress test a farm business: Return on assets managed Net Profit as a percentage of income Appropriate levels of gearing Labour investment Interest cover I then use these to ask a much bigger question: Given the assets you have access to today, what level of income and profit should your business be capable of producing? Because for many farming families, the opportunity isn’t necessarily about buying the farm next door. It may be about getting far more from the farm you already have. I uncover why scale should be measured in revenue, not hectares, and the three ways you can build it: through simplification, intensification and, only then, expansion. I also consider the idea of getting a balance between business model, scale and gearing — and why getting those three things working together can completely change the financial strength of your farming business. This isn’t about chasing numbers for the sake of numbers. And it certainly isn’t about suggesting there’s one perfect enterprise or one perfect way to farm. It’s about knowing what good looks like. It’s about giving yourself and your family a clear set of targets, understanding the gap between where you are today and where the business could be, and then asking better questions about how you close that gap. So grab a pen and a piece of paper for this one. Work through the numbers for your own farm as we go, challenge a few assumptions, and perhaps uncover some of the latent income and profit sitting inside the business you already have - and if you'd like to go a bit deeper with your numbers & analysis, head to our website and grab your free copy of "The Profitable Farming Playbook" which will help you track the key targets that lead to stronger decisions, better profit, and long-term success. Because sometimes the greatest opportunity isn’t more land. It’s a stronger business model on the land you’re already farming. Keep winning! Hutch & The FOA Team P.S. Knowing your numbers gives you a much clearer picture of what your farm business is capable of. If you want to go deeper, you can access our CFO Program for just $97 using promotional code PODCFO97 at checkout (usually $197) or book a Complimentary Coaching Call with our team to talk through your business and where you can improve performance.
#197
July 30 · 1 hr
# 197 - A Legal Perspective on Farm Succession - Pat Barrett, Walsh & Blair
Pat Barrett has spent nearly twenty years at Walsh & Blair, and before that he was playing regional rugby for the Wagga Waratahs, learning lessons about mateship, discipline, and common goals that he still leans on today when he sits across the table from farming families trying to navigate succession. In this episode, I sit down with Pat, director at Walsh & Blair and one of the most respected rural lawyers in the Riverina, to talk about what actually makes succession work. And what quietly wrecks it. We started with rugby, and the idea that not knowing the rules can get you hurt. So often we throw the next generation into farming with no rules, no structure, and no shared understanding of what success even looks like. Pat's seen that play out again and again, and had some really practical thinking on how to fix it. Here's what we got into: What happens when everyone in a family business is carrying a different version of the common goal, and why that's the difference between touch footy on the beach and playing for real The three stages of a proper transition: management, business, and land, and why trying to do all three at once is where things get messy and emotional Why bringing your accountant, banker, consultant, and lawyer into the same room beats passing messages between them like a game of Chinese whispers Why paying family members a market wage builds accountability instead of entitlement Pat's a straight shooter, and what got me thinking was his point about timing. He reckons the older generation has a window early on, while it's still exciting and before any history's built up, to get things agreed on properly. His advice to the next generation was the mirror image of that. It might feel awkward going in, but as Pat says it's "a lot more awkward later on down the track" if you don't. If you're the older generation holding on a bit too long, or the next generation wondering what you've actually agreed to, this one's worth your full attention. 👉 You can learn more about Pat and the team at Walsh & Blair at www.walshblair.com.au A huge thanks to Pat for his time and his candour, and for the impact he and his firm have had on hundreds of farming families across the Riverina and beyond. Here's to getting the agreements right, before you need them. Hutch & The Farm Owners Academy Team
#196
July 17 · 1 hr 8 min
# 196 - The Power of Aligning Your Family to a Clear, Common Goal, with FOA Coaches Elle Webb & Kerrie Smith
If a plan only lives in your head, no one else can help you make it happen. That's the line that sits at the heart of this conversation. Because so often on a family farm, there isn't one plan. There are two, or three, or four, each one living quietly inside a different family member's head, each one slightly different, and none of them written down anywhere everyone can see. In this episode, I'm joined by two of our senior FOA coaches, Elle Webb and Kerrie Smith. Both started, in their own words, at a zero out of ten when it came to having a clear, documented, common plan for their farm businesses. Both now run their businesses off a simple two-page, Clarity Action Plan that keeps the whole family and team pointed at the same goal. We explore: What life actually looks like without a shared plan: reactive decisions, disorganisation, and family members quietly filling the information gap with their own version of the story Why a BHAG (a big, hairy, audacious goal) needs to stretch 30, 50, even 80 years out, and how to break that down into 10-year, 3-year, and 1-year goals without getting stuck on the how What a Brick List is (anything left undone, sitting in your head and weighing you down) and why simply writing it down and prioritising it is one of the fastest ways to free up headspace and get moving again When and how to bring your employed team into the annual, quarterly, and weekly planning rhythm, and why that alignment is what turns individual effort into real momentum What it means to have a coach as your "unreasonable friend," asking the questions you can't ask yourself or your own family, and why that discomfort is so often where the growth happens It took Elle around 35 to 40 versions of her plan over three years before it finally clicked. And what came through clearly for both of them is that the ten-year goal was never just about a bigger business. It was about a business that could fund real holidays, hand genuine ownership to their kids, and give the whole family the freedom to build the life they actually wanted, not just the one the farm demanded of them. If you'd like a copy of our Clarity Action Plan template or the five questions every strategic plan needs to answer, email us at support@farmownersacademy.com and we'll send it straight through. Elle and Kerrie, thank you both for your honesty about where you started and for the wisdom and care you bring to our members every single day. You make an extraordinary team. Till next time, Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team
#195
July 3 · 1 hr 1 min
# 195 - Breeding Better, Building Smarter The Science of Genetic Gain with Dr Mark Ferguson, neXtgen Agri
What if the best investment you could make on your farm costs nothing extra to feed, never needs a day off, and compounds in value every single year? That's the case Dr Mark Ferguson has been making for 30 years. And the numbers back him up. Mark is a sheep geneticist turned ag tech founder who grew up on a family farm in the Victorian Mallee. After completing his PhD in Merino genetics, he founded neXtgen Agri to help sheep and beef producers across Australia and New Zealand breed better and build more profitable enterprises. He also heads up Genesmith, an AI-powered sheep facial recognition platform and hosts the Head Shepherd podcast. In this episode, we reconnect to talk genetics, entrepreneurship and what it really takes to build a business that compounds in value over time. We explore: The research behind the modern Merino, how fat and muscle selection transformed lamb survival and what that means for your flock today How to make genuinely objective breeding decisions and break free from the emotional, vision-driven choices that quietly hold most operations back The kitchen table origins of neXtgen Agri, what a trip to Stanford University sparked, and the lessons Ferg learned building a 19-person trans-Tasman business Genesmith: the AI-powered facial recognition platform trying to solve one of the sheep industry's oldest problems, dam-lamb matching at commercial scale, and what it needs to get there How to attract and retain great people in ag, give them the freedom to grow and build a team that performs beyond any individual To connect with Dr Mark Ferguson, visit www.nextgenagri.com or email mark@nextgenagri.com. The Genetic Plan and other resources are available at thehub.nextgenagri.com. If you are interested in Genesmith, whether as a supporter, partner or someone who wants to help drive the project forward, get in touch via the details above. And if you haven't already, search Head Shepherd wherever you listen to podcasts. Ferg, thanks for your time, your openness and your complete dedication to helping farming families get more from their genetics. The industry is better for it. It was great to re-connect again.
#194
June 18 · 56 min
# 194 - The Origin & Impact of the McGrath Foundation, with Co-founder Tracy Bevan
Some friendships change your life. This one changed Australia. When Tracy Bevan met Jane McGrath at an airport café in 1996, they were simply two British women far from home, trying to find their place in a new country while their husbands travelled the world playing cricket. What neither of them knew was that a friendship forged over cups of tea, loneliness, laughter and life's challenges would go on to impact hundreds of thousands of Australian families. Tracy co-founded the McGrath Foundation with Jane in 2005. Two cricket wives, a kitchen table, no roadmap. Before Jane passed away in June 2008, Tracy made her a promise: to keep going, to honour what they had started together and to ensure no family would ever face cancer alone. She has spent nearly two decades since keeping that promise. Today, 367 McGrath Cancer Care Nurses, 174,000+ families supported, and a mission that has changed what a cancer diagnosis looks like in Australia. In this episode, Tracy shares the story behind one of Australia’s most loved charities - not from a corporate lens, but from the heart of a best friend who has spent nearly two decades honouring Jane’s legacy. We explore: How a difficult childhood taught Tracy resilience and the powerful lesson that helped her break free from the past Jane McGrath’s breast cancer diagnosis that changed everything and how one moment between two best friends sparked a national movement How one extraordinary nurse helped Jane navigate her darkest days and inspired a mission to ensure no family faces cancer alone What it really takes to build a lasting organisation from scratch, growing from a kitchen-table idea to one of Australia's most trusted charities Today, one in two Australians will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. You may already know someone who has. It's a sobering reminder that the work of the McGrath Foundation is far from finished. Behind every diagnosis is a family navigating uncertainty, fear, and change and that's why the Foundation's support is needed now more than ever. To learn more, seek support, or contribute to this incredible mission, visit the McGrath Foundation website. Tracy, thank you for keeping your promise to Jane and reminding us that one act of care can become a ripple that reaches families we may never meet, in places we may never see. Sincerely,  Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team 
#193
June 5 · 1 hr 3 min
# 193 - The 3 BIG Mistakes Grain Growers Are Making And What It’s Costing, with Market Check Leaders, Brett Stevenson & Nick Crundall
There’s an old saying that uncertainty creates opportunity. But if you're a grain grower right now, uncertainty can also create confusion, hesitation, and some pretty costly decisions. Over the past few years, we've seen massive swings in commodity prices, input costs, weather patterns, and global politics. For many farm businesses, it feels like the rules keep changing. One minute we're talking about record production and oversupply. The next, global conflict, fund money, and drought concerns are driving volatility back into the market. In this episode, I'm joined by Market Check’s Managing Director and Founder, Brett Stevenson and CEO, Nick Crundall to unpack what has changed in global grain markets over the past nine months and what Australian grain growers need to be thinking about right now. More importantly, we explore the mindset and disciplines that separate consistently successful grain marketers from everyone else. We cover: How global conflict, rising fertiliser costs, and speculative investment are influencing grain prices and market volatility. Why global wheat stocks are tightening after record production years and what that means for the outlook for Australian growers. Insights around hedging, forward selling and grain storage, including why many growers continue to leave money on the table despite producing excellent crops. The common mistake of allowing tax planning and cash flow pressures to drive grain marketing decisions instead of following a clear strategy Nick shares some compelling analysis comparing hedging versus traditional forward selling and the long-term performance difference between growers who actively manage risk and those who don't. You can access Market Check's analysis here. This conversation also reinforces themes I explored with Jeff McDonald around financial clarity, proactive planning, and leading your business with confidence rather than reacting to circumstances. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, I'd encourage you to do so here. Nick and Brett, thank you both for your time, your honesty, and your willingness to share what you've learned over many years working alongside growers. Here's to a great season ahead, Sincerely, Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team.
#192
May 21 · 40 min
# 192 - The Incredible AgriWebb Story – Part 2 with Co-Founder, John Fargher
In Part 1, John Fargher took us back to the beginning, exploring the early days of AgriWebb and the farming families who backed a young ag tech company long before the rest of the industry could see what it would become. If you haven't listened to that one yet, we recommend starting there. In Part 2, the story gets bigger. Because beneath the global partnerships and the rapid growth, this episode is really about how farming families move from recording the past to actually getting ahead of it. At the centre of it all is still the farm business itself. The producer who knows their country better than anyone but is making critical decisions without the right information in front of them. The family navigating rising expectations around data, sustainability, succession, and performance, often without the tools or support to do it confidently. John talks openly about the gap between what is possible and what most farming families are actually doing, and how AgriWebb's direct to farm model is closing that gap every day. Their collaboration with Figured takes it even further, finally connecting the operational and financial picture of a farm business in one place, so that the decisions being made on the ground are backed by the numbers that matter. In this episode, we explore: How AgriWebb's two-part business model works and why the enterprise model is unlocking value for farmers in ways the industry has never seen before The Sainsbury's and ABP partnership, six years in, 500+ farms, and results th
#191
May 8 · 59 min
# 191 - The Incredible AgriWebb Story – Part 1 with Co-Founder, John Fargher
John Fargher grew up on a remote family station in the Northern Flinders Ranges, where distance, drought, hard work and innovation were simply part of life. He saw first-hand how quickly farming can change. A station that once needed 40 people could later run with four or five. Horses gave way to motorbikes. Water runs that once took days could be done in hours by plane. Each shift changed what was possible, and left John asking one question: what is the next step change in livestock agriculture? That question became AgriWebb. In this episode, John Fargher, co-founder of AgriWebb, shares the story behind one of Australia’s great ag tech businesses, from a floppy disk sitting unused in a station office to a global platform now used across 28 countries, tracking more than 20 million head of livestock. He talks openly about the early days, the failed hardware ideas, the farmer who almost said no but then chose to back them, and why that moment still gets him emotional more than a decade later. We explore: What AgriWebb is seeing across global agriculture and why Australian agribusiness may be slower to invest than other markets How AI is shifting livestock management from recording what happened to forecasting what is coming Why the future of farm data is about planning ahead, not just tracking the past How AgriWebb now supports farmers across Australia, the UK, the US, Brazil and beyond For farmers, this is more than a technology story. It is a reminder that progress rarely comes from one big leap. It comes from practical people backing better ways of working before the rest of the industry catches up. This is Part 1 of the AgriWebb story, with more to come in the next episode. Thank you John, for sharing the story so openly, and for the work you and the AgriWebb team continue to do in helping move agriculture forward. Keep winning, Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team
#190
April 24 · 1 hr 12 min
# 190 - Are Your Business Structures Impeding Your Farm Business’s Success? with Andy Fenton
A good season can hide a lot. So can a strong balance sheet. But performing well on the surface does not always mean the business is built on the right foundation. Risk builds quietly. Options narrow over time. And by the time most farm owners recognise it, they have less room to move than they thought. In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Andy Fenton, Managing Director of Fenton Financial, who brings more than 20 years of experience across financial planning, funds management and investment banking, to unpack a confronting but important idea: It can be our business structures that kill our farm businesses. Not all at once. Not dramatically. But over time, through outdated structures, poor protection, limited leverage, unnecessary tax inefficiency, and too much control sitting with the bank. Andy explains why so many farming businesses are still operating in structures that were inherited, kept because they were simple, or never reviewed as the business grew. He talks through what can go wrong when land, machinery and trading operations are tied together in the wrong way, and why that can leave farming families more exposed than they realise. We cover: why outdated structures can quietly hold a farm business back the risks of having land and trading activities sitting together how tax averaging and poor structuring can limit flexibility why banks can gain too much control when security is not set up well how better structures can improve protection, succession and wealth creation We often see farming families operating in structures that no longer fit the business. That’s why conversations with specialists such as Andy matter. While Farm Owners Academy is not an accounting firm, we help members ask better questions, think more strategically, and strengthen the business behind the farm through the deeper support available in our 3-year comprehensive Platinum Mastermind program. If this episode has raised questions about how your business is structured, you can learn more about Andy and his work at https://fentonfinancial.com.au/ Andy, thank you for bringing a clear and commercially grounded perspective to how structure, tax and leverage can shape the level of risk, control and succession in a farm business. Till next time, Jeremy Hutchings & The Farm Owners Academy Team
#189
April 10 · 52 min
# 189 - Fertiliser & Fuel Prices: How to Lead Through This New Economic Uncertainty with Tracy Secombe & Sam Johnsson
Are you concerned by the uncertainty surrounding increased fuel prices? Is the current global turmoil challenging your view on how to best navigate this season? The biggest risk right now is not fuel, fertiliser, interest rates, or global instability. It's panic. Uncertainty has a way of hijacking clear thinking. It pulls people into worst-case scenarios and pushes reactive decisions before the facts are fully in. That is where the real damage starts. Not in the disruption itself, but in the response to it. Because when something shifts, whether it is a headline, a price rise, or a disruption, the natural human response is not calm, measured thinking. It is alarm. It is projection. It is the tendency to ask, “What if this gets worse?” rather than, “What is actually true right now?”. In this conversation, Sam Johnsson, Tracy Secombe and I unpack what it really looks like to lead through uncertainty, not just from a business perspective, but from a mindset and leadership standpoint. We cover: how to check your state first and move from angst and panic back to composure and optimism why stepping away from drama, media, and negativity helps you come back to facts and make logical, informed decisions how to use forecasting to assess worst case, average case, and best case, and adapt your approach accordingly how practices like gratitude, exercise, and self-regulation help lift your mindset so you can lead your family and team more strongly You do not need to pretend uncertainty is not there. You do need to lead yourself well enough that it does not make your decisions for you. Sam and Tracy, thank you for the practical insight and steady perspective you’ve brought to this conversation on how to lead through uncertainty. Navigating the financial side of the business in times like this can feel overwhelming, and you’re not alone. Many farm owners have felt that same pressure and have used the Cash Flow Optimiser to turn uncertainty into clearer thinking and more confident decisions. If that’s where you’re at right now, you can find out more here. Keep winning, Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team
#188
March 26 · 42 min
# 188 - Knowing Your Numbers How to Build A Stronger Farm Financial System with Jayne Walsh, Tim Fowler, Renee Nicholls, and Bec Balfour
This week, Sam Johnsson hijacks the podcast while I’m off on a skiing holiday in Austria and he takes on a topic that might not sound flashy, but can quietly change everything in a farm business: building a strong financial system. Because for a lot of farm owners, the numbers are still something that sit in the background until they become a problem. And that’s a hard way to lead. When the books are behind, the reporting is patchy, or the numbers only come out at tax time, it leaves people making big decisions without a clear view of where the business is actually at. That creates stress, second-guessing, and a constant sense of being on the back foot. In this conversation, Sam is joined by Jayne Walsh, Tim Fowler, Renee Nicholls, and Bec Balfour to unpack what good financial management actually looks like in a real farm business. Between them, they bring lived experience from multi-generational farming operations, succession, enterprise management, and bookkeeping support for rural businesses. And what comes through clearly is this: strong financial systems are not just about compliance. They are about clarity, confidence, and better decisions. We explore the gap between “doing the books” and actually using your numbers to lead the business well. From clean data and simple chart-of-accounts structures, through to forecasting, enterprise analysis, cashflow visibility, and stronger conversations with banks, this is a practical discussion about getting out of reactive mode and into a much more proactive way of operating. Here’s what we uncover: Why weekly reconciliations and end-of-month processes create confidence in the numbers How forecasting helps you adjust as the season changes instead of reacting too late The value of enterprise-level reporting to understand what is and is not making money Why banks and lenders respond better when your numbers are current, clear, and well presented Practical first steps for farm businesses wanting to improve their financial systems this year If you’ve ever felt like the financial side of the business is heavier than it should be, this episode is a good reminder that you’re not bad at business, you just might not have the right system yet. Because the goal here is not to become an accountant. It’s to build enough visibility and rhythm around the numbers that you can lead with more confidence, make better decisions earlier, and stop carrying that constant uncertainty in your head. Bec Balfour from Rembiz Bookkeeping and Renee Nicholls from RN Business Consulting both work with rural businesses to bring more clarity, structure, and confidence to the numbers. You can reach Bec at rembiz.com.au or rebecca@rembiz.com.au, and Renee at rnbusinessconsulting.com.au or renee@rnbusinessconsulting.com.au. Sam, Jayne, Tim, Renee, and Bec - thank you for a conversation that gets to the heart of what strong farm finance looks like. There’s real value in this one for any farm owner who wants to feel more in control of the business, rather than be overwhelmed by it. Keep winning, Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team
#187
March 12 · 49 min
# 187 - Legacy Isn’t Land: Rethinking What Succession Success Looks Like with Mike Stephens
Selling the family farm can feel like the ultimate failure. For a lot of farming families, it can carry guilt, grief, and the sense that something precious has been lost. But Mike Stephens challenges that story head-on. Mike is the founder of Meridian Agriculture, one of Australia’s oldest and most experienced agricultural consulting firms, and the author of Life After Farming. For decades, he has helped farming families navigate the people side of agriculture with practical support around succession, transition, and decision-making. He argues the real measure of “successful succession” is not whether the land stays in the family, but whether the outcome meets the needs of the whole family, passes the fairness test, and protects relationships. We explore why the “never sell” narrative adds pressure to families already carrying enough, how to get the right conversations on the table (early), and what it looks like when a family chooses a positive exit and thrives in the next chapter. Here’s what we uncover: Why selling the family farm is not a failure of succession Why fairness is the hard but necessary test, especially between farming and non-farming siblings The cost of staying in the game at all costs, including debt, pressure, and resentment How to approach succession conversations properly, starting with confidential one-on-one input before bringing key issues to the family table The power of starting early: it may be too early for a succession plan, but it’s never too early to plan for succession If your family is carrying the weight of succession conversations, this episode offers a clearer reference point for what good decision-making can look like. Not perfect. Not painless. But fair, practical, and grounded in what matters most. Mike, thank you for bringing such clarity and steadiness to one of the hardest conversations farming families ever face. Your perspective gives people permission to think more honestly about legacy, fairness, and what a good outcome really looks like. In your corner,   Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team  
#186
February 26 · 42 min
# 186 - An Overheated Stock Market Crash in 2026? How to Get Ready with Terry Tran
As we step into 2026, there’s a lot of noise out there. Geopolitical tension. AI hype. Market highs. Media drama. And if you’re a farm owner trying to make steady, strategic decisions in the middle of a tight season… it can feel like one more thing to carry. In this episode, I sit down with my good mate Terry Tran, founder of Freedom Trader, to cut through the headlines and look at what the data is actually telling us. Because while the media sells emotion, markets move on numbers. And if you’re building off-farm wealth whether inside super, a managed fund, or direct equities, this matters. We uncover: What’s really driving the market surge (and why it’s not as broad as it looks) Why AI investment is inflating valuations across tech What Warren Buffett and other “smart money” investors are quietly doing What questions you should be asking your advisor or super fund And how to prepare so you’re not a spectator when opportunity returns If you’re looking for a clear, practical framework to assess markets, filter quality investments, and build an off-farm portfolio with confidence, join Terry’s exclusive FOA webinar on March 17th at 7:20pm AEDT. Register here. You can also learn more about Terry’s philosophy, real-money approach to risk management, and the Freedom Trader Blueprint program via his website here. Thank you Terry for your generosity, your clarity, and for continuing to equip farming families with the tools to invest with confidence and discipline. Yours in investing, Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team  
#185
February 13 · 1 hr 8 min
#185 - From Farm Operator to Farm CEO with Ben & Kate Johns
What if the real constraint in your business isn’t effort, seasons, or skill, but the role you’re still stuck playing? For Ben and Kate, this question didn’t arrive neatly. It crept in over time. Their journey took them far from the farm first, through university, into investment banking in London, and straight into the pressure cooker of the GFC. Long hours. High stakes. A world where structure and accountability were non-negotiable. Choosing to come home to the family farm wasn’t about escaping work. It was about building something of their own. What they returned to was a third-generation Darling Downs farm growing irrigated silage for Wagyu feedlots. A good business, but one run largely from people’s heads, with no clear leadership role and a heavy reliance on who was on the ground each day. Here’s what we explore: What it really took to come home and spend years earning influence before having authority Why their succession took close to two years, and why slowing it down led to better decisions and stronger relationships The point where expanding pivots and working harder stopped delivering growth What changed once Ben stepped out of daily operations and into a full-time CEO role How simple rhythms now hold the business together, including weekly meetings, clear roles, and a 90-day operational focus If you know your business could handle more, but not the way it’s currently being run, this conversation will give you a clearer reference point for the next shift. Ben and Kate, thank you for sharing what leadership looks like when it’s intentional, well-timed, and anchored in long-term thinking. The clarity you’ve built into your roles, your team, and your systems is a benchmark for what’s possible when committed leaders give good decisions the space to compound. Cass, thank you for walking alongside Ben and Kate as their coach. The decisions, structure, and confidence reflected here show what’s possible when farm businesses are supported, not left to figure it out alone. Sincerely,  Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team 
#184
January 30 · 44 min
# 184 - Out of the Shadows of Succession: Taking the Lead as a Family, with Simon and Naomi Goode
There comes a moment in every farm business where the question isn’t how much more can we do, it’s what do we actually want to build? For Simon and Naomi Goode, that moment came after years of doing everything: cropping, hay, livestock, all while raising four kids and managing 3,200 hectares in Victoria’s eastern Wimmera. They weren’t in crisis. In fact, from the outside, they were flying. But inside, they were carrying too much. Too many moving parts. Too many long days. Not enough space to step back, lead strategically, or live the life they were working so hard to create. In this episode, their FOA Accountability Coach, Rick Morris sits down with Simon and Naomi to explore what it really looks like to evolve a fifth-generation family farm into a professionally run business without losing the heart of it. From completing full succession to stepping into defined leadership roles, they share what it took to: exit a legacy enterprise that no longer served them; restructure the business and move Naomi into the CEO seat; create a trusted “Core Four” advisory team to guide decisions; redefine success around clarity, family time, and aligned growth. You’ll hear Simon speak candidly about letting go of old work patterns, building a team he can trust, and learning to prioritise leadership over busyness. And Naomi with her background in public health and local government unpacks how she’s brought structure, financial discipline, and long-term planning into the heart of the business. If you’re running a solid farm but craving more alignment… if you’re stuck in the weeds but ready to step up and lead… or if you simply want to see what’s possible when a couple gets clear, strategic, and intentional, this episode is for you. Thank you Simon and Naomi for your candour, courage, and willingness to share the journey so generously. You are a brilliant example of what’s possible when structure meets heart, and business meets life. And Rick, thank you for being a steady guide and coach on their journey, and for holding this conversation with such care. Here’s to more farmers leading like this. Keep winning, Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team
#183
January 15 · 1 hr 4 min
# 183 - Scaling from Scratch: The Rise Behind Nala Agribusiness and Red Dirt Lamb with Lachlan & Anna Sutton
There comes a point when the late nights, the mental load, and the constant pressure make you wonder... how much longer can we keep doing this? Lachlan and Anna Sutton hit that point. Burnt out. Leasing land. Bucketing grain by hand while raising three young kids. Then something shifted. In this episode, their FOA Accountability Coach, Hayley Grosser speaks with Lachie and Anna, a couple who, in just 18 months, scaled from those long, heavy days to owning their first property, finishing over 20,000 lambs a year, launching a vertically integrated meat brand, Red Dirt Lamb, and holding a bold vision to build a $100M agribusiness that revitalises rural communities. But this story isn’t just about scale. It’s about identity, grit, and the price of transformation. We dive into: how they scaled from $200K turnover to multi-million dollar growth in less than two years; Anna’s leap from night shifts and nappies to launching a thriving farm-to-fork brand; the cashflow squeezes, mental burnout, and mindset shifts they had to overcome with the FOA community in their corner; and why their next chapter is about more than lambs on grain - it’s about building a team, backing people, and reigniting regional towns. This is for anyone who’s been told it’s too hard to start from scratch. For the couple feeling the strain of burning both ends. For the farmer who lies awake wondering, “Is this all there is?”. Lachie and Anna show us that it’s not just about working harder. It’s about changing the game, letting go of the rules, and building a farm that works for your life, not against it. To learn more about their story or to order their pasture-raised lamb direct from the farm, head to reddirtlamb.com.au. Thank you Lachie and Anna for reminding us that the strongest farms aren’t built on perfect conditions, but on heart, hard conversations, and a refusal to give up. And to Hayley, for not just guiding the story, but offering the right challenge and believing in them before the results were visible. Until next time, all the very best! Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team 
#182
Dec 18, 2025 · 44 min
# 182 - Out Of Survival Mode Burnout, Balance, and Breakthroughs with Andrew Graham
What if the hardest seasons in your business turned out to be the ones that set you free? In this deeply honest episode, Marina Gregor, one of our senior business coaches sits down with Andrew Graham, a cattle producer from southwest Victoria, to explore a powerful story of resilience, family, and business transformation. Andrew was previously burnt out, juggling operations management for a large-scale dairy business while navigating succession plans for his own family farm. Fast forward to today, and his world looks remarkably different, with a thriving cattle operation with 2,500 head, family back on the land, systems in place, and a sense of balance he never thought possible. This episode is a conversation about what happens when you step out of survival mode and into leadership with clarity and intention. It’s about letting go, backing yourself, and creating a business that truly works for you. Together, they explore: The messy reality of succession and how Andrew found clarity through it How burnout showed up, and what it took to finally slow down Why mindset, not just management, was the missing piece What changed when Andrew started building the business around his life The power of building a team and trusting them to lead These small shifts might not look like much at first, but they’re where real change starts. On the farm, it’s the everyday choices including how you plan, how you work with others and how you set priorities that determine the outcome of the season. The same applies in leadership. Creating space to step back, adding structure to the work, trusting others to lead, and getting clear on roles and direction helped Andrew move from burnout to focus and confidence. If you’re looking to do the same, now is the time to take stock. Block time early in the new year to step off-farm and get clear on your 12-month priorities, because without space, clarity rarely comes. Need help resetting your goals for the new year ahead? Our Ultimate 2026 Planning Guide can help. It’s a practical resource designed to support reflection, bring focus, and give you a framework to set clear, purposeful goals for the year ahead. Download the guide here. Thank you Andrew for your openness, your wisdom, and your leadership. You’ve not only changed your business, you’re lighting the way for others too. And to Marina, thank you for stepping in to lead this conversation with insight and care. Your ability to support others to reflect, share honestly, and draw out lessons that others can learn from is what makes conversations like this truly valuable. Sincerely,  Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team

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