What's Your Beef: Recent Episodes
Beef Australia
“What’s Your Beef” is a weekly Podcast produced by Beef Australia. We look forward to taking you behind the scenes of this iconic Australian event in the lead up to Beef 2021. Listeners will be introduced to an impressive variety of experts from all areas of the supply chain who work to support Australia’s largest agricultural commodity export. You will also meet some of the many characters of who have played a role in bringing Beef Australia to life since 1988.
For many cattle exhibitors, Beef Australia is hallowed ground. Whether it’s the commercial competitions, the carcase, the young judges or of course the stud cattle competition, it’s high quality competition on a national stage. In this episode we’re following a family from northern New South Wales, who despite spending a lifetime in the cattle industry, haven’t exhibited cattle at the Beef expo before. It’s a daunting commitment- the cost of preparing and transporting cattle, time spent training them and of course nearly two weeks away from home, camping with the kids. This is a behind the scenes look at what’s involved and the benefits and challenges of that incredible experience with the Fahey family.
The Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program has been a centrepiece of the Beef Australia program since it's inception. Offering the opportunity for the beef industry's young leaders to undergo a twelve mentorship with some of Australia's most impressive leaders. At Beef2024 10 people graduated, showcasing the impressive projects they've been working on during the program. Jayne Cuddihy caught up with the program co-ordinator Jo Eady and graduates Pheobe Eckermann and Lachlan Smith with their mentors Sam Noon and Aaron Kiely.
The Ken Coombe Tech Yards at Beef24 was a hive of activity, cementing itself as one of the centrepieces of the Beef Australia experience. Carbon was a hot topic with many providers, experts, entrepreneurs and educators on hand to debunk myths and help producers understand what’s happening in the industry. Jayne Cuddihy presented a What’s Your Beef podcast conversation live on the Meat Street stage to summarise some of the issues with Shane Charles, Chief Executive Officer, Upscale Carbon, Georgie Whalley, solicitor, Moin Morris and Schaeffer and Eric Barker, a journalist with Beef Central.
What’s Your Beef host Jayne Cuddihy caught up with Salvo Vitelli (Manager at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Queensland), Associate Professor Amy Cosby (Senior Research Fellow in Agri-tech Education and Extension at CQUniversity), and Kylie Hopkins (Beef Research and Extension at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland) at Beef2024 in a live interview. Together, they explore how government and educational institutions are prioritising the promotion of agricultural careers for the future and share their personal journeys and interests in the agriculture industry. Tune into the latest episode now to find out more!
Imagine being able to know exactly how long a particular paddock will carry a particular number of cattle for a given amount of time? It’s one of the projects by the Queensland Government dealing with climate resilience.
In this episode we’ll hear from some of the scientists involved in the groundbreaking, collaborative study including Giselle Whish, Chris Holloway, Jason Bartnetson and Raj Hemant Pandeya.
You’ll also meet Geoff Bahnisch the head of the farm business resilience program working right across ag sector to ensure producers are sustainable no matter what the weather. As part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to the State’s beef industry, chief lender for the Queensland Rural Industry and Development Authority or QRIDA, Brooke Irwin will talk about the $750 million approved in First Start and Sustainability Loans to help aspiring producers enter the beef industry and for existing producers to invest in sustainable and profitable production practices.
For more information on any of the projects, research or programs they mentioned- visit the Queensland Gov website.
If there’s one thing for certain, the consumption of beef worldwide is on the rise, and we’re only going to need more of it. So with droughts plaguing the United States and Australians stretched across a number of markets- where is it going to come from? In this episode we’re hearing from Olivia Agar who is Nutrien Ag’s market insights lead and she says there’s some big opportunities for Australia’s export markets.
For three generations, the Teys family have been cornerstones of the Australian beef industry. Starting with a single butcher shop in 1946, the four Teys brothers steadily made their mark on the broader industry by first establishing more shops, then a processing plant and now being supplied by 7000 producers and exporting to 60 countries. At the heart of their operation is a commitment to their customers demonstrated by one of their flagship programs, Grasslands. The Grasslands product was established for customers who preferred a 100% grass fed beef product. In this episode of What’s Your Beef we will hear from Hannah Brodie in Teys’ livestock strategic operations and Ethan Mooney group livestock support.
Andrew Coppin is hardly a stranger to the Australian entrepreneurial sector; his name is synonymous with agri-tech for years. Farmbot, a business he co-founded with Craig Hendricks, is now expanding into the American market. With it comes an exciting new era and plenty of challenges. In this episode of What's Your Beef, Andrew opens up about what drives him, why Sunday nights are no longer sacred, how he's had a baptism of fire into the American cowboy culture, and what to expect from the team when they hit Rockhampton as part of Beef2024.
One of the greatest aspects of the Beef Australia event is tradition. Since 1988 it's been the flagship event of Australia's beef industry, bringing together people from across the globe to celebrate achievements, learn about cutting edge technologies and developments, socialise and of course, check out some bovines. While Lisa Hewitt has a long family industry int he Queensland cattle industry, her new role as the State General Manager for Queensland and the Northern Territory for Elders is also an institiution steeped in tradition.For 185 years, Elders has been doing buisness in rural Australia, and while their attitude and dedication to communication and people has remained a steadfast, there's a lot of other aspects that have gone through dramatic revolutions. In this episode of What's Your Beef, host Jayne Cuddihy catches up with Lisa Hewitt as she reflects on the beef industry from her childhood years and how the industry has evolved since.
The evokeAG Pitch In The Paddock competition is one of the most coveted events in the Beef Australia program. This year 8 startups will be vying not just for the judges attention but the $10,000 prize on offer. But if past competitions are anything to go by, it’s the networking in the room with both customers and investors that is the most valuable of the experience. This is a preview of what's to come at the 2024 event. Each of our finalists have been asked to not just introduce themselves and their product, but have a taste of the experience with a 3 minute pitch.
Carbon and deforestation are two of the more confusing and polarising discussions to be had in the modern beef industry. But no matter how sticky the conversation can become- it’s important to have it. Highly credentialled independent scientist Steve Wiedemann from Integrity Ag and Environment is not afraid to debate and inform and is bringing his expertise to Beef Australia in the form of two highly anticipated forums. As he tells our host Jayne Cuddihy, he’ll take participants through what you need to know and do about farming in a world where the focus is increasingly on carbon and the second is on the science around deforestation, including the consideration that policy must respect the science and protect agriculture.
While financial scams aren’t limited to the past- the more obvious tactics are. Agri scams have become far more sophisticated and undetectable over time. Paul Gardner- the Executive Manager of Financial Crime Strategy and Operations at the Suncorp Bank has seen it all.
As a seasoned expert in financial crimes he’s passionate about protecting customers from any unwarranted activity.
In this episode he talks to our host Jayne Cuddihy about some of the more recent scams and how to avoid them.
For over 50 years, the Isolated Children’s Parents Association or ICPA has been advocating to ensure all children in non-urbanised Australia have access to education. Whether they be living away from home in tertiary education or boarding school, or starting kindy at the back of Bourke- ICPA covers all issues involving allowances, communication systems and curriculum, among other things!
In this episode, we’ll debunk a couple of myths, hear some of the recent triumphs, but most importantly preview a stellar forum organised for Beef24.
Louise Martin, the ICPA’s national president and Wendy Henning, the Queensland president have not only had a long personal history with the association, but have advocated tirelessly to ensure our regional communities remain viable through access to education.
We hear a lot about communication. It's key to many of our businesses, our relationships with our family and friends and how we engage with the world around us. Lyn Sykes a seasoned communicator from Dubbo. She's also enjoyed a long career in succession planning and working with families to better their businesses and their personal relationships. But she's found, as she's gotten older, the way people communicate with her is very different. Lyn is presenting a seminar at Beef2024, The forgotten elder: A different take on succession planning, and in this episode of What's Your Beef, Lyn gives us a sneak peak into what you can expect at that seminar and some of her thoughts in reflection of her career.
The Cattle Australia Breakfast Symposium is on Monday 6th May and in this episode of What's Your Beef we’re bringing you conversations with some of the extraordinary talent gathered to present their thoughts on influence.
In this episode, podcast host Jayne Cuddihy spoke to Symposium Host Trent Thorne, Beef Australia Board Director, Partner at Hamilton Locke and the co-leader of its Food and Agribusiness group, and speakers including Ralph Schoellhammer, an economist and political theorist, Alison Van Eenennaam, animal geneticist and Professor of Cooperative Extension at the University of California, Davis and Rowan McMonnies, Managing Director of Australian Eggs.
Some of their ideas are completely left field, but they are all super engaging and will have you on the edge of your seat. Tune in to find out what they have to say about influence.
Experiencing trauma tests the human spirit in ways that are very hard to put into words. But Melbourne based duo Legless and Blind AKA Ben Pettingill and Mike Rolls do.
Renowned for their Tough Talk, these two men have faced dramatic health diagnoses that completely altered their life trajectory, but ultimately they made the same choice- to pick themselves up as best they could and try and help other people do the same.
The dynamic duo is coming to Beef2024 to host two seminars as part of the Beef Australia Seminar Program that are not only heart wrenching, tough talking, insightful, and vulnerable but absolutely hilarious.
In this episode of What's Your Beef we have a sneak peek at what you can expect from these two and be warned, while the name Legless and Blind may seem like a flippant remark, they are anything but!
One of the greatest benefits to come from the Beef Australia event is the focus on the Queensland town of Rockhampton. Well known as the Beef Capital of Australia, the community has risen to the occasion for decades to share their city with thousands of visitors and showcase all the region has to offer. 2024 is no exception and coming off the back of Beef21- the greatest event of its history, there’s a multitude of events, exhibitions and experiences to feast your senses.In this episode of What's Your Beef we hear from Zac Garven, the Tourism and Events Manager for Advance Rockhampton and how he and his team have curated four City Tours to complement the events at Beef2024.
Beef Australia’s Celebrity Chef program is a draw card unto itself, tantalising even those with a reluctant palate to experience beef like they never have before. 2024’s event will be no exception, with another stellar lineup including Iron Chef Sakai, John Torode MBE, Justine Schofield, Jess Pryles, Miguel Maestre, Mark Olive, Hayden Quinn & Andy Hearnden. But in this episode of What's Your Beef we’re hearing from two southern Queensland icons in Matt Golinski and Australia’s chef of the year Tom Hitchcock. Just in time for Christmas the pair have some hot tips on how to get more beef on the celebratory table as well as what you can expect from them at Beef2024. But be warned…. you’ll be salivating before you know it.
When Michael Patching was mulling over his career choices as a teenager, morality and a passion around animal production were at the centre of his decisions. Initially settling on a veterinarian degree, Michael has spent the years since travelling the world with various roles in the beef industry. He's a fierce advocate for helping farmers and abattoirs to improve animal welfare outcomes, whether that be through investment in training, technology or innovation. More recently he's taken up a stakeholder engagement and ambassador role with Better Choices, a self certified community of livestock farmers, industry individuals and organisations who are committed to improving welfare outcomes through pain mitigation.
They call it the Olympics of meats and you're invited to a friendly showdown at Beef2024! Every two years, over a hundred of the World’s best butchers converge on a host country to battle it out in interesting cuts and innovative ways to present meat in the most tantalising way at the World Butcher’s Challenge. The captain of the 2024 Australian team is Adelaide’s Luke Leyson and what better way to warm the team up for the 2024 World Butcher's Challenge in France than a friendly appearance at Beef2024? In this episode we hear from Luke - what made him pick up a butcher’s knife to start with (not his Mum’s cooking) and how he is preparing his team to bring home the beef at Beef2024.
Carbon is no longer a buzz word in modern beef businesses- it’s here to stay. But many producers and land owners are still in murky territory around their understanding of the applications to our businesses. Luckily we have enough early adopters that have led the charge and can explain the situation. Hamish Webb is the CEO of Precision Pastures and a beef producer in New South Wales’ Northern Tablelands. In the latest episode of 'What's Your Beef', Hamish talks about grappling with difficult truth around the health of the soil on their property and how he and his wife Jess have asked the tough questions around what role the carbon industry has and how to apply it to their place.
One of the jewels in the Beef Australia crown is the Westpac Property Tours. There’s another stellar lineup of properties for the 2024 event and in this episode we’ll meet two of the owners opening their front gates for visitors; Justine and Matt McLeod at Lake Pleasant, Goovigen and Ainsley and Rob McArthur at Mystery Park, St Lawrence. As a property tour guest, you will experience firsthand some of Northern Australia’s premier properties, and why the Rockhampton region is acknowledged as the true Beef Capital of Australia.Tune in to the latest episode of What's Your Beef, supported by Better Choices as we explore some of Central Queensland's premier cattle properties.
Beef Australia's Pitch In The Paddock Competition is one of the most hotly contested competitions in the industry.Finalists have precious minutes to captivate the hearts, minds and hip pockets of judges with slick pitches and innovative ideas. With applications for the 2024 Competition opening on the 16th November, we took the opportunity to catch up with some of the winners and finalists from Beef2018 and Beef2021 to learn more about what the competition is all about and what some of the success stories have been since, many citing the mentorships, collaborations, networks and experience gained through Pitch In The Paddock vital for getting their product or innovation off the ground. Tune in as we chat to Beef Australia Board Director and Communications Specialist, Jess Webb who was instrumental in the development of the Pitch In The Paddock Program, Co-Founder of ProAgni and Beef2018 Pitch In The Paddock winner Fiona Soulsby and Queensland Grazier and Beef2021 Pitch In The Paddock finalist Rob Stewart.
It’s not often you can find animal scientists performing award winning musical paraody videos on YouTube, but in the modern world- mythbusting is every bit in the job description of science extension. It takes a special combination of humour and intelligence to get the combination right.Alison Van Eeneennaam is a cooperative extension specialist in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis and runs the animal Genomics and Biotechnology Laboratory, but is currently completing a secondment with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation or QAAFI, looking into genome editing. Tune in to the latest episode of What's Your Beef as we explore how Alison is exploring some of the cutting edge research going into advancing the beef breed in genomics, with a very refreshing take on communicating complex science information.
There is something about Chloe Gould's commitment to bettering the beef industry for everyone from paddock to plate that is infectious. As the chair of Beef Australia's 2024 Next Gen Committee, Chloe and her team are steaming ahead with a program that will entertain, engage, inform and delight, including some new and exciting online events being rolled out in the lead up to Beef2024.
Chloe is currently the Strategic Initiatives Manager for Greenham, after a number of other roles with Meat and Livestock Australia and Teys Australia. Chloe is also a past Beef Australia Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program mentee, an experience she sights as being pivotal to her career successes.
Tune into the latest episode of What's Your Beef as we chat to Chloe about where her passion for the red meat industry was sparked, the importance she places on listening to consumers in order for the beef industry to survive, why mentoring is key and sneak peak into what's in store for the 2024 Beef Australia Next Gen Program at Beef2024.
20 years ago, Nhaya Nicky Hatfield, a proud Darumbul woman from Central Queensland and her husband Trevor took a vow they were no longer going to speak their language in secret. They wanted to use it not only to preserve their culture within their family, but bring the wider community of Australia together. It’s their ethos of inclusiveness and sharing of ideas across cultures that has made Nhaya, or Aunty Nicky an icon in Rockhampton.
In this episode Aunty Nikki talks about what reconciliation means to her- and how language is central to how it will work. It’s also her story… of growing up on country, and the passion she has for teaching as well as her community and the lands in which she lives. We also talk about how she’s turned her experiences of racism on their head and the fact that despite eating it for most of her life, she still finds cooking with beef mince irresistible.
The Beef Australia event has long been hailed as the epicenter of innovation and business for the global beef industry. Nathan McPhee attended Beef21 with a seed of an idea for a beef business, but after a chance encounter with some industry leaders, the idea blossomed into what’s now a world first in farming investment through his app Invest Inya Farmer. Attending Beef Australia’s study tour to the USA, he says the experience not only opened doors for his business, but he learnt more in the few weeks travelling with industry peers, than he would in a couple of years researching from the comfort of his desk.
In this episode of What’s Your Beef, Nathan outlines his passion for connecting farmers with consumers and how his experience with the Tech and Innovation Hub at Beef21 opened doors for his current business Invest Inya Farmer.
When Adam Coffey finished school, he seriously toyed with the idea of becoming a chef but skip forward a couple of decades and he and his wife Jacynta are instead more interested in producing what goes onto your plate at a grassroots level. Having done a ringer’s apprenticeship across various parts of Australia, the high school sweethearts from Tasmania eventually settled in Central Queensland, rejuvenating an old forestry block into a stellar example of regenerative farming practices.
In this episode of What’s your Beef, Adam outlines what he thinks are the greatest challenges for our beef industry around engagement and education. He also talks about the evolving use of social media to reach outside agricultural echo chambers.
Luke Chaplain is a fourth-generation grazier from Cloncurry in Northwest Queensland with a big passion for developing UAV’s. After purchasing a drone on a study trip in Hong Kong in 2017, he began investigating its functions and capabilities which soon led to a solid business idea. He was later awarded a Nuffield Scholarship which led to funding for trails from MLA and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Fast forward a few years and that business idea has evolved into a successful business now known as @SkyKelpie, providing innovative musting and farming solutions, particularly to those struggling with labour shortages.
Luke shares his passion for his creation, his journey as a start-up in the Ag Tech and Innovation space and how Sky Kelpie is providing the industry with cost saving benefits, higher productivity, and increased safety for livestock producers in the latest episode of What’s Your Beef.
The Beef Australia Commercial Cattle Championship is a hotly contested highlight on the event’s calendar, with record entries expected across all categories. For next year’s event, there’s a new chair Angus Creedon, who is StockCo’s Business Development manager, based in Rockhampton. A Central Queensland boy at heart, Angus has spent time all over the State in a variety of roles, eventually returning to the Beef Capital to raise his young family. In the latest episode of What's Your Beef, Angus goes through some of the exciting new additions to the competition as well as some of his own personal motivations to be involved in the Australian beef industry, including an adoration of the Brahman breed.
With the return of international visitors to the 2024 event, the Beef Australia International Program and Handshakes Program will once again be taking center stage, connecting the global beef industry in Rockhampton. In the latest episode of What's Your Beef, we catch up with Peter Milne who was the driving force behind the inclusion of an international program in the Beef events. While being in the industry for decades, it was previous roles in industry bodies including the President of Cattle Council of Australia that gave Peter the idea and network to bring people from across the world to do business in person at the events.Tune in as we head back to our roots with Peter and Beef Australia's International Coordinator Jackie Kyte, and chat about how the International Program and Handshakes Program came about and how you can best get involved in 2024.
“It’s a movement that the whole nation will again turn the spotlight on to Rockhampton and the beef community. It’s a story of good people, coming together in the pursuit of something that they love. From all walks of life right here in the heart of cattle country, right here in Regional Queensland, we will again deliver one of the greatest events the globe has ever seen...”.Those are the words of Beef Australia Chair Bryce Camm officially launching the 2024 event. Which can only mean one thing, we’re officially less than 12-months away before the gates are thrown open again to bring together the beef community from across the world. Almost 200 people gathered in Rockhampton to officially mark one year to go, celebrating the coming together of plans and ideas and to get a taste of the big changes coming. Join us in the latest What’s Your Beef episode as we chat to some of the voices who joined us at the event and are involved in the planning of Beef2024.
There wouldn't be many people in Australia who haven't been impacted directly or indirectly by mental health, and the rural community is certainly no exception. For many people who do struggle, the hardest thing in the world is to talk about it, but fortunately our amazing service providers are arming the community at large with ways that we can help. In the latest episode of What's Your Beef, we have an all important and very real conversation with Jason Banks, the Head of Partnerships at This is A Conversation Starter to do just that, to start the conversation and help break the stigma around talking about mental health.*Disclaimer: This episode talks about mental health issues with mentions of suicide.
The Gyranda Santa Gertrudis stud in Queensland’s Arcadia Valley has long been synonymous with the cutting edge of Australian beef innovation, under the stewardship of Burnett and Louise Joyce, and more recently with their daughter Nikki and her husband Pete Mahony. Not only do the family and the business prioritise innovation and the constant improvement of genetics, landscape and their people, but for generations they’ve committed to giving back to the broader industry and community through various roles. In this episode, Louise, Nikki and Peter talk about transitioning the business, Burnett's legacy and the challenges facing the broader industry and how to turn them into genuine opportunities.
Prue Bonfield is no stranger to the Australian beef industry, having built Palgrove into one of the most successful seedstock businesses in the country, together with her husband David. The pair have spent their careers doggedly pursuing genetic supremacy in their animals suited to a variety of clients. In the last few years, they’ve taken a step back from the business after it was sold to the New Zealand Superannuation fund - instead concentrating on other industry roles, family and spending more time in their home at Dalveen in Southern Queensland. In this episode, Prue speaks candidly about how she made a role for herself in the business and how building a successful beef business isn’t always done from the paddock.
From designing high end T-shirts to growing high end seaweed… Sam Elsom has had a career change that’s been every bit dramatic as it’s been rewarding. As an environmentalist, Sam and his business partner Stephen Turner are determined to combat climate change in meaningful and scalable ways. So, they’ve created @SeaForest, the first company in the world to cultivate asparagopsis at a commercial scale, supplementing cattle and sheep to cut methane emissions by over 90% in some cases. But how has the industry reacted? And what has the take up by producers been like?
From sharing a childhood to cramped living quarters, then to a business, sisters Casey Bowie and Sara Anning are the gold star example of making family businesses work. The dynamic duo grew up around Western Queensland’s Hughenden district and have built a paddock to plate frozen food business called Black Rock Beef Co.
In this episode we delve into how they built their business and what is slowing up their distribution- the reason will surprise you! They also give a very candid reason why the storytelling aspect of the beef supply chain is an elephant in the room for the industry.
Beef Australia’s National Beef Carcase Competition is one of the most anticipated competitions within the industry. With fierce competitors from around the country, Committee Chair David Hill says there’s an unprecedented number of processing plants involved with the competition for Beef24, as well as some new categories involved in the competition.
In this episode hear from David, whose industry experience and family’s commitment to breeding high quality beef has seen him at the forefront of some of Australia’s most innovative approaches to meat grading.
Preparations for Beef 2024’s stud cattle program are in full swing, with the new committee having met for the first time. James Kent is a beef producer from Queensland’s Callide Valley and has taken on the role of Chairperson. He’s delighted with the team tasked to bring the centre ring alive, with the best of what the Australian stud stock industry has to offer. In this episode listen to a little about James and what has motivated him to join the Beef 2024 committee, including some of the challenges and excitement ahead for the committee.
David Foote has spent an inordinate amount of time in the Australian beef industry, with at least 20 years at the helm of Australian Country Choice. He’s forged relationships, ideas, and directed many a difficult conversation to the betterment of his business and the industry. He’s also the inaugural chair of the newly formed Cattle Australia. He’s taken on the role fully aware of the challenges ahead, but with the upmost respect for the industry and its sustainable and successful future. He sees his role as a new opportunity to help represent the beef industry’s 40,000 cattle producers, managing 28 million cattle across 300 million hectares, and generating $7 billion for the Australian economy. This episode covers David’s strategies for taking the industry forward and how the new board intend to deal with the controversies surrounding its formation.
It’s been a couple of decades since Brigid Price appeared on the first episode of Farmer Wants a Wife, and not only did she snag a country boy (not while on the show), but is now a vital part of a successful family beef business.
Brigid, her husband Owen and three children manage an organic beef business in Central Queensland. In this episode we discover Brigid’s hilarious introduction to bush ‘lingo’, how she moulded their business to include her impressive commerce and HR skills, and how she is determined to build and nurture meaningful relationships in the bush through her website www.ruralresources.com.au. Besides playing an active role in the beef business, Brigid is also committed to her local and extended community, reflected by her various awards such as 2019 Citizen of the Year, Maranoa Regional Council, the 2018 Australia Day Award – Member Contribution, Maranoa Regional Council and 2017 QRRRWN Strong Women Leadership Award, Volunteer of the Year. She’s also just completed the Australian Rural Leadership Program, and the National Farmer’s Federation Diversity in Agricultural Leaders Program.
Moira Lanzarin is a fourth-generation grazier from the Northern Territory. Moira’s story starts in the basalt country of North Queensland where her deep love and understanding of country and cattle was ignited. A move to the Territory in the early 90s with her parents Mike and Clair O’Brien and her three siblings meant building a stud business together in a completely different landscape, but with modern ideas to land management.
Moira manages the family company’s stud and beef operations in the Northern Territory and has been instrumental in introducing Holistic Management to the NT. Her contributions to Regional Australia have been recognized by receiving the Centenary Medal for Services to Regional Australia (2003); NT Young Cattleman (2011); being named NT Rural Woman of the Year (Runner up 2009); and NT Young Australian of the Year (1998).
The loyalty and comadre of producers and patrons to the Beef Australia event is well recognised, but what about the volunteers? There’s about 150 people that give up their time to assist attendees to find their forums, get on their tour bus or find the perfect place to get a bite to eat and they adore the event just as much as the ticketholders.
Alice Kelly and Don Bellert have volunteered since the first Beef in 1988 mainly to keep in touch with old bush friends and over 30 years later they are just as excited about the event and are counting down until Beef24.
The Jefferis family are synonymous with the Brahman breed. Having notched up a multitude of trophies over their long association with the Beef Australia event, they have a deep affection for not only the event, but the kinship it represents. Rodger and his late wife Lorena built the Elrose Stud into one of the most recognisable names in Brahman cattle. It is the biggest Brahman stud in Australia, having been built up from their Cloncurry base and more recently Central Queensland.
In the latest episode of What’s Your Beef, we catch up with Rodger over a coffee and talk all things from what growing up in Cloncurry was like, to the experience and importance of building up a purebred Brahman herd and his concentration and focus on data and genetics.
Vicki Revett can’t remember a time in her childhood when any of the adults attended a first aid course, despite them all working in the cattle industry- rife with potential accidents. Skip forward a couple of decades and the emergency nurse has taken the situation into her own hands, writing Australia’s first rurally specific first aid course and delivering it across the country. Having returned to her home turf of Alpha in Central Queensland, Vicki shares how she was lured back by love, but has forged her own destiny by preparing hundreds of Australians to save the lives of those closest to them.
In this week’s episode of What’s Your Beef, beef industry stalwart Don Heatley reflects on family, industry representation, the power of networks and dealing with absolute devastation. Don Heatley has spent decades advocating for the beef industry and representing beef producers across the world.
His passion for the beef industry stems from a childhood spent in the paddocks of his family’s North Queensland beef operation. The drive to venture into the world of agripolitics was ignited by a talkback radio session on live export- a topic that didn’t relate to his business, but certainly did to his industry. Not all his interactions have been positive - nothing could have prepared him for the extremely personal interactions with growers, politicians and industry he faced following the Australian Government’s decision to halt live export trading in 2011 when he was serving as chair of MLA.
The Beef Australia Next Gen committee is one of the cornerstones of the Beef event and while the committee itself is in the very early stages of formation, it’s already attracted an exciting cohort. Callan Daley is one of them. With a real passion for the beef industry formed during a childhood on a western Queensland cattle property, Callan has gone on to represent the industry in a range of roles, including his most recent- as the Field and Operations Lead for MEQ Probe, a start-up aimed at building consistency in meat eating quality.
A lot has to be said for curiosity. It drives change and innovation, and as for Lisa Sharp- her whole career. Lisa is the CEO of the Hereford Society and comes from a fascinating marketing background that’s seen her digging around cereal crop fields for Uncle Toby’s and pondering the way we think about red meat marketing for Meat and Livestock Australia. She’s an energetic force to be reckoned with and as we find out in this episode, a career in food industries was the furthest thing from her mind.
Dr Beth Woods has had one of those extraordinary careers that not only has crossed industries and international borders, but social conventions. Not only was she the first female extension officer in Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, she was the first female Rhode scholar to be announced, Queensland’s first female Director General of the Department of Agriculture and the first female Professor at University of Queensland’s Gatton campus. Now, Dr Woods is a self- employed agricultural consultant, working on everything from foreign food security to chairing the policy council for the Cattle Council of Australia and mentoring a number of up and coming producers in the Australian cattle industry.
To kick off Season 2 of ‘What’s Your Beef’, we chat to none other than Beef Australia’s CEO, Simon Irwin.
Born and raised in Warwick, Simon started his working life as a stock and station agent before moving into the media sector where he had a 30-odd year career. He’s always maintained an interest in, and connections to, the rural community and now proudly wearing his Beef Australia hat, chats to us about how the iconic event is shaping up for 2024 and gives us a little insight into some new and exciting plans.
The stud cattle are a major drawcard to Beef Australia. Dominating the centre ring for much of the week, attendees are treated to a smorgasbord of breeds, colours, and sizes.But for a lot of stud breeders, Beef Australia is more than a marketing strategy, it’s a social event. The exhibitors start bumping in well before the gates officially open and their campsite is abuzz with laughter, gossip and good old fashioned breed competitiveness, kicking off with an interbreed tug of war. Listen here to hear what breed caught the attention of those outside of the Centre Ring and why. Podcast host Jayne Cuddihy also caught up with some of the seasoned Beef exhibitors and learned what goes into the preparation of their prize specimens.
One of the most exciting aspects of being in the beef industry is how diverse the range of vocations are.It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what background you’ve had, what you studied after school, there’s something for everyone.Jack Travers was one of the finalists in the Pitch in the Paddock event at Beef21 with his TruckTracker app. Solving supply chain issues in the beef industry was absolutely not what Jack thought he would be spending his time on, but here’s his story.
Almost 4000 school students participated in the Beef21 Schools Program and were inundated with opportunities to learn where their food and fibre comes from. Generously supported by Suncorp Bank, students were captivated by the program which included everything from participating in a live cattle auction, an interactive introduction to agricultural supply system and raising the profile of the broad range of agricultural careers, and of course, icecream!
Dr Geoffry Fordyce is one of Australia’s leading authorities on genetics and fertility, following a long career first as a vet and then with Queensland’s Agriculture Department and most recently as a senior research fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation and an Adjunct Associate professor at James Cook University.He was at Beef21 principally to talk about his latest paper; a deep dive into the Australian cattle herd: a new perspective on structure, performance and production. He and his team had realised there was a great discrepancy in what the reported size of the northern beef herd was and what is actually on the ground. What followed is ground-breaking research into the number of calf mortalities in our beef systems and how businesses can take back lost revenue by improving their genetics.
Peta Ward is Westpac’s Queensland Regional General Manager or Agribusiness for Westpac and says that building maintaining relationships is a major part of their success with long term clients. Be it constructive meetings- a day in the paddock helping with a muster or even fishing.Peta’s spent a lifetime in rural Queensland and has bought a wealth of knowledge and understanding to the table. Listen here as she tells Jayne Cuddihy what she sees as the major issues for modern regional banking and what this golden era of interest rates means for property purchases.
Russell Lethbridge and his family own and manage a number of North and Central Queensland properties, including Werrington Station near Einasleigh. He's been a driving force behind better management of northern breeding herds and is one of the producer representatives of MLA.Russell and his family have also taken an empowering approach to succession planning, which has seen their business not only expand, but prosper. Listen here as he tells his story to Jayne Cuddihy, including some suprising confessions about what he likes to create in the kitchen!
Can you imagine being the person responsible for first selling Australian meat to Korea? Or having the brainwave that Americans should have Australian meat in their hamburgers?Richard Rains can.He’s been a champion of the Australian red meat industry for his entire career with boundless energy and enviable lightbulb moments. After a cadetship with Dalgety Australia he then joined meat exporting company Sanger Australia in 1976 and by 2000 he owned a majority stake in the business.He is also keen to see more young people stand up for leadership roles in the beef industry to drive change in the way the industry communicates outside their peer groups. As he tells What’s Your Beef? host Jayne Cuddihy, he believes there are some amazing emerging leaders.
One of the featured events of the Beef Australia expos is the Nose to Tail dinner- where a carcase is cut down on stage to reveal some of the complexities of meat preparation, all the while guests are treated to the delicious results on their plates. At Beef21, the spotlight was on butcher Alison Meagher, or Butcher Girl as she is known.The beef industry has a wonderful relationship with Alison. Not only has she found a career in meat, but it’s taken her around the World, showcasing Australian product to some of the planet’s highest rollers in the most spectacular places. It also meant finding the love of her life, as they both wielded butcher’s knives on opposite sides of the cutting bench.What’s Your Beef? host Jayne Cuddihy was lucky enough to speak to her between events at Beef21.
Melinee Leather is an organic cattle producer from Barfield Station in Queensland’s Banana region. With her husband Rob, the pair have built a thriving cattle business and hold true to their values of sustainable agriculture with strict biosecurity and animal welfare measures. It’s through her work with the broader industry that Melinee has gained a strong understanding of what consumers are expecting from their food producers and has been awarded several times for her tireless efforts to improve understanding within her peers.
Pitch in the Paddock is one of Beef Australia’s showcase events. It’s where innovators and entrepreneurs in the Ag Tech space spend a few gruelling months preparing a three minute pitch to some of the most well connected funders in the country. Not only do they have a $10 thousand prize up for grabs, but access to influential networks and decision makers. Listen here as What’s Your Beef podcast host Jayne Cuddihy takes you behind the scenes to meet the finalists and the judges.
Where are the beef cheeks? That’s the number one demand coming from consumers according to one of Australia’s biggest supermarkets.Steven Rennie is the national livestock manager for Coles Beef. The retail giant says they prefer to work with family farms and businesses citing the ability to build meaningful relationships with their suppliers and a commitment to quality and consistency. Coles processes over half a million head of Australian cattle annually and as he told podcast host Jayne Cuddihy, it’s important to him that his buyers are in the drafting yard when they are selected.
What do 115 thousand people, 5000 cubic metres of sawdust, $23million worth of cattle, 50 politicians and 78 ticketed events have in common? You guessed it- Beef 21.After such a tumultuous leadup it’s hard to believe it’s over, but wheels are already in motion for Beef24.Ian Mill is Beef Australia’s CEO. This was his first time in the driving seat and while he’s been a long- term Rockhampton resident, he says the inner sanctum gave him a refreshed appreciation for Australia’s incredible beef industry.
April Cavanagh is an impressive character in Australia's banking and agricultural sectors. As Suncorp's head of Agribusiness she knows all too well the challenges and triumphs of the beef industry. Listen here as Jayne Cuddihy discovers where her passion stems from and why her staff and peers rate her as one of the most influential leaders of her time. She also has bit of fashion advice for those wanting to make a difference!
You’d be hard pressed to find someone more passionate about rural health services that Professor Sabina Knight. After a lifetime living and working in remote areas of Australia, she has developed an intimate knowledge of the best way to service some of our most problematic areas. Currently working as part of James Cook University’s Department of Rural Health, Sabina’s dedicated to growing a rural health network from her base in Mount Isa, Western Queensland.
For many young Australians, owning your own cattle property has become almost an impossible dream. Cameron MacMillan is the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority or QRIDA who are increasingly gaining a reputation for being the saving grace to making dreams reality. They also play a pivotal role in getting communities back on their feet following disaster. Join Cameron as he takes a look at his fascinating career- from starting as a stock and station agent in Western Queensland to setting up export markets in South Korea before they were a major trading partner, to his role at QRIDA and everything in between!
Remote sensors on livestock is one of those things that in 1984 you would have thought impossible- and today- we’re almost spoilt for choice. But, like any technology, how much further can we take it and what is it’s potential? Mark Trotter is a researcher leading Central Queensland University's Precision Livestock Management team. His specialist area is the development and evaluation of on-animal sensors, such as smart tags, to improve monitoring and management of individual animals for production, health and welfare issues. In this episode he talks about the benefits and the challenges of remote sensors and how CQU is leading the charge in research for grassroots applications.
We hear a lot about human gut health- but what about cattle? With four stomachs to keep in optimal condition it stands to reason we should be talking about it more. There’s some fascinating work being done here in Australia with microbial fermentation and its relationship with animal nutrition by global company Lallemand Animal Nutrition. If you’ve ever wondered about silage and the benefits to both animal health and food safety, then this is the episode for you. Managing Director Alex Turney leaves no stone unturned in what’s involved in the production process and the benefits to cattle production. He also gives a sneak preview of their huge plans for their Beef21 site, including a fresh silage pit to touch, smell and taste!
As one of our nation’s most capped rugby union players, Stephen Moore has graced football fields across the World, representing Australia 129 times, including 24 tests as captain.After hanging up his boots, Stephen entered the corporate arena, spending three and a half years in senior positions with the North Australia Pastoral Company- or NAPCO and played a big role in putting together the Australian Beef Sustainability framework. He’s currently a Principal in the client division of the Queensland Treasury Corporation. In this episode Stephen talks about everything from his proud family heritage, to his passion for the Australian beef industry and the importance of grass roots, country rugby.
Brian Sanders is the film maker behind the feature-length documentary Food Lies and host of the Peak Human podcast. He’s also a health coach and co-founded the health education company SAPIEN. Brian is passionate about regenerative agriculture and increased access to well-raised animal products through his company Nose to Tail. He’s heading to Australia to be speaker at Beef21 on the issue of Mythbusting in the agricultural arena. Listen here as he explains why he switched careers from mechanical engineering to telling the truth behind the amazing contribution red meat and its production systems make to the planet.
‘Fast Ed’ Halmagyi is one of Australia’s best-loved TV chefs and food authors. He’s also the newest member of the team for Beef Australia’s Celebrity Chef program! His reputation for transforming elegant restaurant cuisine into recipes anyone can prepare at home means, he’s able to showcase beef at every opportunity. In this episode he explains why he’s so passionate about Australia’s hospitality industry and the excellence of beef product coming from producers.
If you know nothing about genomics, or if you know everything, then this interview is for you! Marina Fortes is a researcher with the Livestock Genomics Group at the University of Queensland. She has a degree in Veterinary Medicine and a master of science in animal reproduction from the University of Soa Paulo, Brazil. She then completed her PhD in genetics at the University of Queensland and has held prestigious scholarships from UQ and the Beef CRC. In this interview she takes host Jayne Cuddihy through the fascinating work being done in paddocks across Australia and the repercussions for a stronger, more sustainable industry into the future. She also has an amazing story of her own- from growing up in the overcrowded cities of Brazil, to her move to Australia for love and the sacrifices she made to follow her dream. In this case, it included counting fleas!
Owen Gwilliam is a self-confessed beef enthusiast and modern pioneer of the Australian organic industry. He’s been working in the certified organic industry for 20 years, having provided auditing, training and consulting services to farmers in 15 countries, putting him in the perfect position to be the ‘technical guy’ at the peak body for organic farmers and handlers- Australian Organic Limited. On a personal level- he’s also eats a carnivore diet for health reasons and is a passionate advocate for the Australian beef industry.
The Mackenzie grazing history started in 1884, when Robert’s grandfather and aunties started raising cattle in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Robert, a fourth generation grazier is carrying on the legacy with his father Bruce and two sons James and Jack. They sell a premium branded beef product- Macka's- born because of the family’s dedication to quality from paddock to plate! In this episode Robert takes host Jayne Cuddihy through the incredible journey of setting up his beef brand, their commitment to supporting their local community and what's on the menu when international guests pop in for dinner at their Hunter Valley property.
The Sinnamon family have been stalwarts of the Queensland beef industry for generations; a love of the Santa Gertrudis breed running strong. Rob Sinnamon hasn’t missed a Beef Australia event since it’s inception and could possibly win the prize for being one of the event’s most passionate fans. Now as the General Manager Yugilbar Pastoral Company, he is lucky enough to not only breed cattle as his day job, but as a hobby too, as his wife Lorraine and son Andrew run Robbenlea Santa Gertrudis.
Angus Street is the CEO of AuctionsPlus- Australia’s most trusted online auction platform for agricultural and livestock sales. Angus is also a journalist, a marketing and communications professional, has worked for various industry body groups in a plethora of positions, including policy and finance, and started his own businesses. He’s also thrown his hat in the ring for a number of roles with Beef Australia including sitting on the Next Gen committee, Beef Promotion Committee and this year he’s a mentor in the Graeme Acton Beef Connections program. In this episode he tells Jayne Cuddihy about how hitting a low point in his life, drastically changed his direction for good and how country music is the key to business success!
Mark Harvey-Sutton is CEO of the Australian Livestock Exporters Council. His career has been varied in that he’s worked for the Sheep Meat Council of Australia (now Sheep Producers Australia) and the Cattle Council of Australia as a policy director, as well as the Agriculture Department and other policy roles. There’s not a lot about the fine print he doesn’t know. In this episode he takes a candid approach to what the industry learned following the shock of the 2011 live export ban. He showcases the benefit of the production system to many international communities and how Australia can claim to be World leaders in animal welfare practises.
Trent Thorne is one of those characters of the Australian beef industry that is hidden in plain sight! With a terrific sense of humour and quick wit, it seemed a shame to limit his stories to the length of a podcast episode! By his own admission, his introduction to university involved too much of ‘the good life’. Jackarooing in the Top End bought him back to reality and Trent went on to a tremendous career as special council for McCullough Robertson lawyers in Brisbane, specialising in agriculture. In this episode he talks about his foray into the Twitter sphere- namely off the back of the 2011 live export ban and some insights into some of the big issues in the Australian beef industry in 2021. And perhaps most importantly he gives a sneak preview into what we can expect from the Symposium at Beef21!
Dominique Rizzo is one of Queensland’s culinary gems. She’s owned restaurants around the Brisbane area, but more importantly is passionate about showcasing Australian beef on an international stage through innovative menus and various experiences. She is also one of Beef Australia's Celebrity Chefs and as host Jayne Cuddihy discovers, is creating quite a mouth-watering repertoire for the Beef21 event!
Greg Pankhurst is the chair of the Queensland Live Exports Association, following a 35 year career in the feedlotting and live export industry- most of it in Indonesia. In this episode he tells host Jayne Cuddihy how the Australian live export industry can better communicate their amazing achievements and the rigour behind the World’s best animal welfare standards. He also details his incredible collection of Indonesian wedding and celebration attire and gives a sneak peak into what we can expect from his mentee in the Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program at Beef21.
Central Queensland's Becker family made a splash at Beef18 with their bright red shirts and virtual reality property tours. Their Jarrah Cattle Company brand has only further developed their seed stock and other vertically integrated pursuits. Beef21 will be no different- listen here as host Jayne Cuddihy chats to Sam Becker about how they are opening their property gates for tours during the 2021 event and what we can expect for smoko! (Also what's in the paddock of course!)
Dale and Alicia Retschlag are a dynamic partnership from Goovigen in Central Queensland, passionate about biodiversity, tasty beef and soil health. While they have been advocating for improvements in soil heath for 20 years, they’ve upped the anti in the last three - putting their stock through a high intensity grazing system under irrigation which has reaped some incredible results. In this episode Dale takes host Jayne Cuddihy through the changes they've made in their operation to maximise nutrients for the soil and the cattle and highlighting the dramatic benefits of good stock handling.
Garlone Moulin and Jamie Gordon own and operate Mt Pleasant Station between Bowen and Collinsville in North Queensland. They have been active members of the Queensland Government initiative – Landholders Driving Change project. Their willingness to trial different approaches to managing their property and then share it with their extended community has proved incredibly valuable in the Bowen, Broken and Bogie catchments of the Burdekin region. In this episode Garlone takes Jayne Cuddihy on a tour of the smorgasbord of biodiversity they’ve bought back to their pastures and ecosystem to the benefit of their grazing business.
Bernie English and Joe Rolfe are two old beefos- or beef extension officers with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries- albeit these days they hold well deserved senior positions in Mareeba in Far North Queensland. In this episode they reflect on their careers with host Jayne Cuddihy and talk about some of the greatest achievements and ongoing challenges for the Northern beef industry. They also discuss the merits of delicious Aussie steak, but lament the way it’s sometimes presented by those who should know better!
Mark Scholes is an account manager with Nutrien Ag Solutions' Stud Stock department. For 26 years he's trapsed the catwalks of Queensland's selling arenas, gaining a terrific insight into market trends, but also an idea of some of breed developments we can expect over coming years. He also told host Jayne Cuddihy some of his trade cooking secrets!
Alison Larard is one of those unique individuals that’s everywhere at the same time. While her desk job is a beef extension officer with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries in Mareeba, you rarely find her in the office! She’s had a career as a financial councillor and beef economist, completed a Nuffield Scholarship and dabbles with her own herd of cattle whenever she gets a chance. As Jayne Cuddihy found out, Alison is deeply passionate about empowering people in the beef industry to think outside the box, get educated and be involved- cumulating in a new industry specific leadership course offered in 2020.
Michael Wilkes is the head of the Thomas Elder Institute - the research and development arm of Elders. He works alongside Meat and Livestock Australia for the MLA and Elders co- innovation project and is an expert in carbon farming! In this episode he talks Jayne Cuddihy through some of the cutting edge innovations and technology they’re working on to refine the science behind carbon farming and why he considers it a key sustainability initiative that many beef producers are considering as part of their agribusiness.
If you ever get invited to Sam Burke's house for a Sunday barbie, don't be surprised if there's at least five BBQ's at work for the meal. It's only a quarter of his collection after all! MLA's executive chef is as passionate about beef as the producers that put it at his disposal. Listen to this episode as he takes Jayne Cuddihy on a candid trip through memory lane- starting with his Central Queensland cattle country heritage, to cooking for thousands at a Rugby World Cup, to ensuring beef is on the menu as best as it can be in international food service. He's got 25 years experience of working with premium beef and a life time of passion for the product.
Shannon Speight and Emma Black are quintessential modern women. Young professionals, willing and able to make meaningful change, young children running around their feet as they launch a new business and plenty of volunteer hours on the industry they are most passionate about- beef. Emma and Shannon come from vastly different backgrounds but have both landed in Far North Queensland to work in the beef industry. They’ve identified the challenges around producers’ larger bugbears- the concept of ‘data’ and what to do with it, or how to manage it and have come up with an incredible business idea aimed at getting the most of out of the D word. They are also both on Beef Australia’s Next Gen committee and have a sneak peek at what’s in store for next year’s event.
Mark Harris is the Global Animal Management Marketing manager for Gallagher- one of Australia’s favourite brands for fencing and animal management products. In this episode, he tells Jayne Cuddihy how a humble family business became a global company based on innovation, technology and knowing what cattle producers want in their management systems. As an engineer and a beef and dairy farmer, Mark has the best of both worlds and has a fantastic insight into the best way to help cattle producers get the results they desire. Despite the chilly weather on his New Zealand farm, Mark's favourite way to cook a steak is outside!
Emily Pullen is beefing up the snacking game. As the CEO of Toowoomba based Jim's Jerky, Emily aims to have nutritious beef snacks in the glove box of every beef-loving Australian. In this episode of 'What's Your Beef', Emily describes her interesting career path back to the family business after her father's seemingly random purchase of a butcher shop. Emily also has a terrific relationship with Beef Australia, having been a Young Ambassador and as a result spending six years in Europe. She also credits Beef Australia as playing match maker with her now husband! She is also passionate about more industry players becoming involved in industry groups and bettering understanding policy issues.
In the lead up to Beef 21, a good tantalising of taste buds was definitely in order as Beef Australia's Executive Chef Shane Bailey took our host Jayne Cuddihy on a culinary journey to explore all things that are glorious about Aussie beef. They discussed why those tasty/secondary cuts have become such a sensation on dinner plates across the world, and the fool proof 'magic number' to ensure your next beef creation is cooked to perfection. Jayne also delved into Shane's chef journey from the Noosa Boathouse, to cooking for 40,000 guests at Noosa Food and Wine, to co-ordinating the exciting Beef Australia's Celebrity Chef program at the iconic triennial event.
There's no doubt about it- Leon Giglia loves his beef! Whether it's in the paddock, on the plate, or in utero, Leon has an unbridled passion for the livestock industry. As Nutrien Ag Solutions' Western Livestock manager, Leon has the pleasure of overseeing a dynamic and diverse part of Australia's cattle industry. From the Pilbara to Bunbury his detailed knowledge of markets, trends and genetics has been built up over a lifetime. Join What's Your Beef host Jayne Cuddihy as she discovers what sparked his career and why he insists on dragging huge amounts of Western Australian cattle producers across the Nullabor to Beef Australia events.
Pitch in the Paddock was one of the highlights on the Beef18 program and its popularity looks set to continue. Robert Bell and his team from ProAgni took out top honours at the 2018 event and have reaped the rewards from the spotlight as their business continues to grow and develop. In this episode Robert tells host Jayne Cuddihy that the 5 minute pitch is worth the effort and gives some fabulous tips on how to prepare. He also explains how ProAgni has revolutionised bovine health by producing patent-pending antibiotic free feed supplements for cattle and sheep that significantly improve productivity. If you are interested in throwing your hat into the ring for Pitch in the Paddock at Beef 2021, visit https://beefaustralia.com.au/pitchinthepaddock/
Best recognised for mixing it with some of the toughest front row forwards rugby league has ever produced, Shane Webcke recently caught up with Russell Hughes in a Toowoomba bar for a couple of beers, a steak, and a chat. They discussed footy, Shane’s love of agriculture, and how he manages to jam 25 hours into each day. He also opens up about the devastating loss of his dad when his rugby league career was just taking off, and the person that provided a shoulder to lean on when he really needed it. Make sure you say g’day to Shane when you spot him at Beef 2021 ... just don’t get caught behind him at the buffet table!
Cherie Gooding has been a keen advocate for Beef Australia's expo for decades. Moving through the ranks as a junior cattle judge, she now leads the charge with Beef's junior judging and announcing- mentoring dozens of hopeful competitors each event. As a stud breeder and bovine vet based at Biloela, Cherie brings a terrific knowledge and sense of humour to everything she does. Listen as host Jayne Cuddihy learns about her beef adventures in Africa and her return to the family property as well as a candid account of her battles with Rheumatoid arthritis and how breeding better beef through better soil saved her life.
Doing Business at Beef- whether it's networking, selling, buying or showcasing, Beef21 has it covered with industry partners such as Elders. Paul Holm is the Livestock Manager for Queensland and the Northern Territory for Australia's biggest publicly listed agribusiness agency. He gives us a sneak peek at what innovations they have in store for the 2021 expo as well as some pointers as to how to do business in the bush!
If you want to talk Ag Tech, then Mark Peart is your man! He's the CEO of DIT Technologies, one of Australia’s experts in livestock water supplementation and agricultural technology. But, by his own admission he's a serial entrepreneur and his passion for making life easier for people living and working on the land is incredible. Listen as he takes host Jayne Cuddihy through some of the recent breakthroughs in Ag Tech in Australia and the enormous potential for a more dynamic beef industry.
Innovator Don Menzies has observed the beef industry go from bronco rails to biometric tags over the last 30 years. Beginning his career in the Rockhampton CSIRO offices, Don has been part of tremendous change in the use of technology to aide management practices and marketing. Join Jayne Cuddihy as Don reminisces about his various industry roles, challenges and triumphs, including the mandatory uptake of NLIS tags and electronic identification- which wasn't everyone's cup of tea.
It’s every industry’s dream to have young and passionate people coming up through the ranks, the beef industry being no exception. Charlie Perry is one of those gems the cattle industry is lucky to have. Charlie left a corporate career in Sydney to manage the family's Wagyu Stud at Aberfoyle in New South Wales. In the last five years he's ridden the highs and lows of farming to cement their business in the global marketplace for genetics and seedstock.
The future of the beef industry is in good hands with the youth, passion and professionalism of people like Allana Ross. Recruited by Brisbane based company OBE Organic, Allana spends her time spruiking the company's brand across the globe and helping to oversee quality control in the processing plants. Join Jayne Cuddihy as she discovers why Allana abandoned a career in journalism to follow her heart into beef.
If there was an Olympic event for multi-tasking, Julie McDonald would be in the running. As Chief Financial Officer for McDonald Holdings- one of Australia’s largest integrated family owned and operated beef cattle enterprises, Julie is also a director of several of her own businesses. In this episode, Julie gives host Jayne Cuddihy an incredibly candid insight into how she took up the reins after the tragic loss of her husband Zanda in 2013 and flourished in her own right- both in the boardroom and parenting their four daughters.
Lorraine Gordon is a carbon farmer and holistic beef cattle trader at Ebor in the New England Tablelands of New South Wales. She’s also Southern Cross University’s director of Strategic Projects and Associate Director for Organics research. She lets host Jayne Cuddihy in on some secrets to time-controlled management plans, holistic grazing and the perfect way to finish steers. Also- her favourite cut of beef will have your mouth watering in seconds!
Elisha Parker's association with Beef Australia is long and colourful. As Beef's Young Ambassador in 2009, she's worked on and led a number of Next Gen committees and is now recruiting high calibre speakers for the 2021 symposium. But it's her incredible contribution to the Australian beef industry through her online beef marketing platform, several industry group representations, and advocacy that is worth talking about. Join Jayne Cuddihy as she asks Elisha how the Australian beef industry needs to hone their message, running an online business from a telecommunications black spot and what's her 'silver bullet' solution to recruiting and maintaining youth in rural industries.
For over 30 years Angus Lane has been the voice of Queensland's agricultural shows, the Ekka and of course Beef Australia. His voice is as synonymous with the Interbreed grand parade as that of the drama of the show jumping and the mouth-watering delights in the CWA tent. Join host Jayne Cuddihy as she explores Angus' passion for rural Australia, the exciting contributions of future generations and the secret to his success behind the microphone (spoiler alert- it's his wife Vicki!). He also reminisces about his favourite and hilarious highlights of Beef events, including the time he unexpectedly starred in the Grand Parade.
Peter Chiesa bought his first cow at age 14. From a long family lineage of butchers, Peter saw the opportunity to be an important part of the production chain and started his own Brahman stud in the lush, green paddocks of Ingham in North Queensland. Join Jayne Cuddihy as she asks his tips on breaking into the seedstock industry and the opportunities of technology. And, do you know what a $45,000 cow looks like? Peter talks us through what that means on the inside and out!
Charlie Arnott is an eighth generation beef producer, educator, podcaster and regenerative agriculture specialist! Charlie has transformed the pasture of his property near Boorwara in the south-east slopes of New South Wales, delighting his herd of Shorthorn cattle and revolutionising the marketing opportunities of his beef, cropping and sheep enterprises. Join host Jayne Cuddihy as they talk through Charlie's transformation of not just 'the paddock between his ears', but his beef, pasture and business. Fun fact: Charlie is one of the few family members who haven't graced the floors of the family's famous biscuit factory- but admits it's hard to go past an orange cream!
Central Queensland Seedstock producer, Jason Childs - a member of the Beef Australia stud cattle committee is widely recognised for his family’s ongoing advancement of the Droughtmaster breed, and their success in the show and sales rings. Beef Australia Vice chair Russell Hughes sat down with Jason at the family’s Glenlands Stud just outside of Rockhampton, to uncover some of the history of his family’s 120 years of custodianship of the property, and to learn who was ... the Prince that became a King!
Coming to us from ‘Yarrie Station’ in Western Australia, leading hand Lydia Inglis is also a Beef 21 Next Generation Committee Member. Lydia spoke of her role at ‘Yarrie Station’, and the property’s ongoing commitment to producing sustainable beef whilst looking after the country; and more recently, the launch of ‘Outback Beef’ online. She also gives us a candid insight into dealing with anxiety in isolation and the crippling effect drought can play on one's mind.
As the name of this episode suggests, bovine veterinarian Ced Wise has made a name for himself specialising in the back end of cattle! He talks about his lifetime involvement in bovine reproduction, embryo transfer and bull fertility. Ced explains how he became involved in the beef industry and takes us right back to where his interest in reproduction began and why he won't be settling down any time soon!
As a sought after educator, consultant, facilitator and public speaker across Australia, Chair of RCS Australia David McLean explains the balance required in the beef industry to deliver regenerative beef. David speaks of the importance of loving our landscape as much as our livestock and the vital role of story telling to the beef industry.
As a 5th Generation Cattle Grazier from Central Queensland, Tom knows his fair share about the Beef Industry. When we sat down and spoke to Tom, we delved deeper into his family’s association with the Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program, named in honour of his late father, and the key role it plays in Beef Australia as well as in the Beef Industry for the next generation coming through.
Following a long career in the beef industry, Amanda was fortunate enough to be involved in the inaugural Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program after working along side our Chairman Bryce at Wonga Plains. We sat down with Amanda as she spoke highly of her time during the "life-changing" program and the foundation it laid for the progression in her career and on her road to Beef Australia 2021. The program gave her the opportunity to meet likeminded people who are passionate about the beef industry, which provided her with both a personal and professional network she continues to rely on.
Although she wears the job title of 'Seed Stock and Genetics Producer', Lucinda is really a well experienced Jack-of-all-trades, long term member of the agricultural community, with varied roles and responsibilities from Southern New South Wales. We talked about her passion for producing, for being in the bush and how here diverse career and innovative approach lead her working with Angus Beef as a highly respected and admired member of the community.
Located in Gympie, Nolan Meats is a family owned 100% Australian company who has a reputation for its innovation and quality. Founded as a small retail butchery business in Gympie in 1958, today it is a modern, well equipped, integrated export meat processing company who is constantly moving with the times. We sat down to talk with Terry Nolan, who's father created the great Nolan empire after starting his apprenticeship in local Gympie as the town's best 'counter' butcher. We also discussed the Nolan's road ahead to Beef 2021 and their great involvement in the Beef Industry.
As the Livestock Strategic Operations Manager at Teys Australia in Naracoorte in South Australia, Kitty is very familiar with the Australian Beef Industry. We talked to her about her role as a Livestock Strategic Operations Manager, and her greater involvement in the Australian Beef Industry. We discuss the fallout we witnessed due to the COVID-19 panic and it's effects on the industry and the consumers trust in with the industry.
To kick start "What's your Beef", who else is better to start with than our very own Chairman, Bryce Camm? Growing up in North Queensland on "Natal Downs", Bryce's road to Beef Australia 2021 was an adventurous yet natural one. We talked through Bryce's journey to becoming Chairman, his engagement with the Australian Beef Industry and his involvement in developing the Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program as well as the upcoming, adaptable and innovative tech spaces, all pivotal events at Beef Australia 2021.
“What’s Your Beef” is a weekly Podcast produced by Beef Australia. We look forward to taking you behind the scenes of this iconic Australian event in the lead up to Beef 2021. Listeners will be introduced to an impressive variety of experts from all areas of the supply chain who work to support Australia’s largest agricultural commodity export. You will also meet some of the many characters of who have played a role in bringing Beef Australia to life since 1988.