Show Notes
What if agriculture’s biggest opportunity isn’t on farm, but in the classroom?
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Scott Graham, Head of Agriculture at Barker College in Sydney. From a a student base that’s almost entirely from the city, Scott has built the largest Year 12 agriculture cohort in Australia, completely reshaping how young people see the industry.
Scott isn't focused on just one school, he is also completing a PhD focused on engaging metropolitan students in agriculture, and what he’s learned challenges how the entire industry thinks about talent, careers and perception.
This conversation dives into what’s holding agriculture back from attracting the next generation and what needs to change if we’re serious about building the workforce of the future.
Key insights from the conversation Why agriculture needs to move beyond farming stereotypes to attract urban talent How Barker turned agriculture into one of the most in-demand courses in the school The missed opportunity: 70% of ag careers exist off-farm, yet most students never see them Why “plate to paddock” is a more powerful way to teach agriculture than traditional approaches What Scott’s PhD through Charles Sturt Uni reveals about the biggest barrier to students choosing ag How parent perceptions can make or break subject selection The rise of agribusiness, agtech and city-based careers among students Why even small increases in student numbers can have a huge impact on the future workforce
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and why this conversation matters 02:17 Scott’s journey and influence as an educator 04:15 Reimagining agriculture for urban students 08:39 Purpose, passion and careers in agriculture 10:54 Transforming Barker’s agriculture program 13:54 Changing perceptions and building credibility 17:56 The role of industry in showcasing careers 21:28 Off-farm opportunities and the future workforce 24:44 What today’s students are interested in 27:44 The rise of agribusiness and agtech pathways 32:29 Scott’s PhD and understanding student engagement 36:31 Barriers to scaling agriculture in urban schools 39:30 Rethinking how agriculture is introduced to students 42:17 “Plate to paddock” and making ag relatable 46:55 Key findings from Scott’s research 50:29 Why narrative matters for the future of ag 52:34 What keeps Scott motivated
More from Humans of Agriculture
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Elle Moyle, a Zanda McDonald Award finalist, veterinarian and farmer with Pathfinder Angus in Western Victoria. Elle reflects on her path from working as a district vet, including international biosecurity work, to returning to the family farming business and building her own agricultural interests. A big part of the conversation is Elle’s experience with the Zanda McDonald Award. While she made the final three but didn’t win, the experience helped build her confidence, expand her network and create relationships that continue to shape her career. Elle also shares what she has learnt about building genuine professional relationships, the value of putting yourself forward for opportunities, and what is happening at Pathfinder Angus as the family business continues to grow.
Welcome to the Tom & Mick Show! This week, Tom & Mick sit down with Anna Speer, whose career has taken her from teaching and AgTech to leadership roles with AuctionsPlus, Australian Agricultural Company, Woolworths and now Stone Axe. Anna shares what she’s learnt about building strong teams, making commercial decisions and creating long-term value, while unpacking how Stone Axe is building a vertically integrated Wagyu business from conception through to consumption. In this episode: Anna’s unconventional career through agriculture and AgTech What private equity brings to an agricultural business How vertical integration can reduce exposure to market volatility Using 10-year herd modelling to make better decisions today Managing rising feed, fuel and labour costs Why building your own brand isn’t always the best strategy Wagyu genetics, premium markets and future growth Building teams and adapting your leadership to different people Chapters 00:00 Introduction and catching up with Anna Speer 03:01 Anna’s career through agriculture and AgTech 07:49 From Woolworths to Stone Axe 12:39 Private equity and commercial decision-making 19:29 Wagyu genetics and growing Stone Axe 26:14 Managing market cycles and supply chains 31:20 Herd modelling and planning 10 years ahead 36:00 Consumer trends and Wagyu’s premium market 40:04 Managing rising input costs 44:40 Branding, Angus and supply chain partnerships 50:17 Leadership and building better teams
What happens when you step outside your own patch and spend time learning from some of the best operators in agriculture?
Fourth-generation beef producer Stafford Ives-Heres is building Shanford Park on Tasmania's north-west coast with one eye firmly on the generations still to come. From starting with 10 cattle and working cray boats to fund his growth, to succession, leasing land and questioning whether owning more country always makes commercial sense, Stafford shares how he's thinking about building a family business that's valuable enough to be taken on, not simply sold.
Jack and Lisa Beattie didn’t set out to build a strawberry propagation business. After leaving Jack’s family dairy operation and trying several different ventures, an unexpected opportunity at Ouse in Tasmania changed their direction.