You have to go back a long way to find the beginnings of this family farm. The year 1880 to be exact when a Mr Charles Coddington dreamt of creating the finest sheep stud in Australia, travelling down-under from England. Now the 5th generation is running with his vision and winning awards along the way. The current custodians are Mathew Coddington and his wife Cherie. Together they are still breeding top Merino sheep throughout NSW, south of Dubbo. Matthew joins me now.

• Roseville Park has a long history of breeding sheep across multiple properties, with Cherie loving time with the goats and Matthew enjoying the outdoors and family time.
• The Coddington family legacy began in 1880 when Matthew's ancestor moved to Australia to establish a Merino sheep stud.
• As fifth-generation producers, Matthew and Cherie are passionate about integrating modern technology, genomics and science into the business.
• Their award-winning success, including major industry accolades, is driven by a strong sense of open-mindedness.
• They take a strategic approach to farming by thinking outside the box, utilising creek flats and grazing land alongside a planned feedlot and even shearing twice a year.
• Matthew shares how succession planning is an ongoing and important conversation within the family business.
• What they love most about life on the land is being part of a multigenerational farming legacy.
• A common misconception they see is the growing disconnection between people and agriculture.
• One of the unexpected aspects of their journey highlights how the industry continues to evolve in ways they hadn't anticipated.
• Their vision for the future of Roseville Park Merinos is to continue building on their legacy while adapting to modern advancements in agriculture.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Roseville Park Merinos

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They're the quirky creatures with super soft fleece, members of the camel family and often unfairly criticised for spitting. Alpacas occupy a unique corner of the agriculture industry and, one central west New South Wales farm boasts the state's largest herd. These animals have won the heart of the next generation, with young farmer Rubey Williams working on the family property and she is already turning heads as an industry leader. To learn more, Rubey Williams of Storybook Alpacas joins me now.

• Rubey's favourite place is the old shearing shed on their Mittagong property, which holds both personal memories and historical significance as one of the first alpaca sites in Australia.
• She also values a specialised area on their newer Central West property designed for reproductive technologies, representing future opportunities for the business.
• As a second-generation alpaca farmer, Rubey has grown up in the industry and purchased her first show-quality alpaca at just 13 years old.
• Although she initially began studying pre-med, COVID led her back to the farm where she rediscovered her passion for agriculture.
• Rubey made the decision to leave university and instead invest in the family alpaca business, while continuing her studies in agribusiness.
• Alpacas are part of the camelid family and are primarily bred for their fleece, which is soft, fine and suitable for those who are sensitive to wool.
• Rubey's main interest lies in the fibre market, working with other growers to market and sell alpaca fleece both domestically and internationally.
• Rubey's involvement with the Royal Agricultural Society has broadened her perspective and allowed her to connect with other sectors across agriculture globally. She is the youngest qualified alpaca judge in Australia.
• What Rubey loves most about life on the land is the resilience it builds and the strength of rural communities.
• A common misconception is that alpacas spit all the time, when in reality it is simply a defence mechanism used when they feel threatened or annoyed.
• One of the most unexpected outcomes in her journey was how COVID changed her career path and led her back to agriculture.
• Rubey's ultimate dream is to continue growing the family business, expand into new agricultural areas and build on the opportunities in the Central West.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.


Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Storybook Alpacas


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Full cream, light, skim, homogenised, unhomogenised – milk takes many forms. But right now, a moment for the lactose free variety. Riverina Fresh's Lactose Free Milk has been crowned the best dairy product at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards. It is the dairy industry's highest honour. To learn more about what it takes to be the grand champion and some interesting observations about the impact of weight loss drugs on the future of the dairy industry, Executive Chairman of Riverina Fresh Craig Shapiro joins me now.

• Craig celebrates Riverina Fresh winning Grand Champion Dairy Product for its lactose-free milk, explaining that adding lactase is a simple and natural process that makes it easier to digest.
• Despite being lactose-free, the milk retains exceptional aroma, texture and body, and Craig notes it is one of the best milks for coffee.
• Riverina Fresh is proudly based in Wagga Wagga with deep country roots, and its farmer-supplied, domestically focused model allows for strong quality control.
• With over 100 years in business, Craig shares that lactose-free milk became important as part of bridging the gap between city consumers and understanding where their food comes from.
• The award highlights a true Australian success story, with the product being 100% Australian to qualify.
• Beyond taste, Craig emphasises that strong values like sustainability, ethics and animal welfare are central, with care extending from the farmers through to the final product.
• He also discusses the emerging impact of weight loss drugs on food systems and the interesting flow-on effects within the dairy industry.
• What Craig loves most about contributing to agriculture is that the more he learns, the more invested he becomes in sustainability and agrifood technology.
• One of the most unexpected experiences has been travelling to America and seeing how deeply social media connects to the sale of produce.
• Craig believes a common misconception isn't misunderstanding his role specifically, but rather a broader lack of awareness about where food comes from across agriculture.
• His ultimate dream for the future is a sustainable dairy industry where farmers are paid fairly and appropriately.
  

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.


Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Riverina Fresh


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Food Glorious Food is a song made famous the first time in Oliver Twist. Now, not a boy called Oliver, but girl called Olivia has created her own version of the classic, Food Fabulous Food. The young farmer behind the music is Olivia Akers, who produced that song from her family's dairy farm in Northern Victoria. And she joins me now.

• Olivia's favourite place on her family farm is spending time with her pony.
• Olivia shares the inspiration behind her song Food Fabulous Food, which celebrates agriculture and life on the land.
• At just 12 years old, Olivia's creativity and initiative make her achievements even more impressive.
• She entered the song and video into several competitions, where it placed in the top four in the state for the Ag Day competition and was also included in a school film festival.
• The video was very well received, with teachers and peers eager to watch and share it.
• Olivia explains that many of the ideas for the song and video were inspired by the roles and experiences she has on the farm.
• Her passion for acting and music ultimately inspired her to create the video project.
• Many people who have watched the video say they learned a lot about life on the land through her project.
• What Olivia loves most about growing up on the land is being outdoors, being as loud as she likes and spending time with all the animals on the farm.
• Olivia shares a story about a spider that highlights the disconnect that can sometimes exist between city and country living.
• She also explains how she used AI tools to help produce the video and create the music, including backing tracks and beats.
• Olivia describes her experience working in a recording studio and how much she enjoyed the process.
• She is currently auditioning remotely and actively pursuing her dream of becoming a singer and actor.
• Olivia shares her bright hopes and ambitions for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.


Links:

Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram


See the full Learning Arts Festival Clip Here:
Student Film Festival 2025: Junior Years (3–6) winners and finalists | Arts Learning Festival

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Big things happen with a commitment to a series of small changes. That philosophy is working wonders on a Northern Territory farm in Katherine. From half a dozen cattle to more than 350. Throw in vegetables, fresh cut flowers and eggs – it's easy to see why. The property is managed from a holistic, entire landscape perspective. It's work that has caught the eye of industry leaders with Jeremy Trembath of Lonesome Duck Estate being named among the finalists for Young Grower of the Year. To learn more, Jeremy joins me to discuss;

• Jeremy's favourite place on the farm is always shifting, depending on where the cattle are at any given time.
• While the property has multiple facets, cattle are currently the primary focus, alongside significant recent expansion.
• Having stepped into the property over a decade ago, Jeremy reflects on how he truly made it his own from around 2019 onward.
• Jeremy takes a holistic, whole-landscape approach, and although regenerative farming is often discussed, he has achieved meaningful change in a relatively short time.
• The changes include no tillage, minimal chemicals and no kill systems, guided by the belief that overgrazing is not a symptom of stock numbers but of time.
• Jeremy explains that reaching this outcome came through trial and error, noting that "for me, the fun is in that."
• Soil underpins everything, with Jeremy stating that "soil is crucial to the human race's success," and that caring for land has far-reaching effects on the planet.
• Opening local markets for selling produce matters to Jeremy because food security is often overlooked, and he believes food should never be something we worry about.
• Health is deeply important to Jeremy, driven by observation, research and an appreciation for diversity.
• Jeremy describes how vegetables, chickens and cattle function together as an interconnected and balanced system.
• What Jeremy loves most about working on the land is the depth of connection it brings.
• He also shares unexpected ways his perspective has shifted over time.
• A common misconception about his work is summed up in his view that "when we're more afraid of a green growing plant than the chemical we use to remove it, we've lost the plot."
• Jeremy's ultimate dream is to continue building a resilient and regenerative future for Lonesome Duck Estate.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.


Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram



Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Being the support manager of a million-hectare cattle station in the Northern Territory keeps her busy enough but my guest today has been handpicked for the Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program run by the National Farmer's Federation. The program helps support female leaders who are driven to create a more inclusive and sustainable future for the industry. To learn more, Anna Cochrane of Consolidated Pastoral Company joins me now.

• Anna's favourite place on the station is less about a specific location and more about the feeling of privilege that comes with living there and appreciating the environment around her.
• She manages Newcastle Waters Station, working in station support alongside the team and being someone people feel comfortable coming to talk to.
• Before moving to the Northern Territory, she began studying law but quickly felt drawn to agriculture and was fortunate to build a working partnership with her husband.
• While the roles were daunting at times, she learned the importance of being adaptable and kind to herself and others.
• Anna is passionate about regional and rural development and is motivated by continuous improvement, loving the challenge and the opportunities this lifestyle has provided.
• Being selected for the Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program allows her to learn, add value, network, and advocate for herself and others.
• She is already working to create positive change by encouraging women to put their hands up for leadership roles and addressing the factors that inhibit them from doing so.
• Championing diversity matters to her because placing yourself in new situations with new people leads to growth and deeper understanding.
• What she loves most about working on the land is that despite being 400 kilometres from the nearest store, she has never felt isolated.
• A common misconception about what she does is that distance equates to isolation.
• Her dream for the future is to continue along a path of continuous improvement.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.


Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram


Produced by Pretty Podcasts

The power of pictures is profound – they tell stories, celebrate moments that would otherwise be lost in time, and connect people. The thirst for authentic outback stories is undeniable, but it's not often we have the chance to meet the person behind the camera. Photographer and founder of AgriShots Alice Mabin joins me now.

• Her favourite place to have done a shoot isn't about the location but the people, although the Kimberley is incredible.
• Alice originally planned a career in animal health but bought a camera after seeing that the stories of people in the industry weren't being told well and wanted to share them from a positive place.
• She felt there was a more authentic story to be told about agriculture and regional business, wanting to bridge the gap between the city and the true stories of humble farmers.
• While documenting tough topics like drought in South Australia, she found beauty in difficult moments by being a listening ear and helping create meaningful memories that boosted morale.
• Alice shares that she left a secure job to join cattle drive and finally took the leap into working on her business sharing stories.
• She turned her images into bestselling coffee table books, with their success coming from sharing true stories that live on.
• Alice founded AgriShots in 2013 as a photo-sharing platform that reflects the bigger picture and genuine stories of agriculture.
• Her achievements are even more remarkable as a traumatic brain injury survivor, an experience that led her into motivational speaking.
• What she loves most about working on the land is the realness of the people.
• The most unexpected thing to happen was the success of the book, and seeing the impact on others.
• A common misconception about her work is that it's simple or only shows the glossy side, when it's really about documenting truth and preserving life.
• Her ultimate dream for the future is producing a television series, which is in the early stages but very much one to watch.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.


Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

AgriShots


Produced by Pretty Podcasts