Queensland’s top 15 farming social media stars
Social media has helped some Queensland farmers reach millions of people. We reveal the top agricultural internet sensations catching the country’s attention.
Social media has given farmers a platform to reach millions of people around the world as they chronicle their life on farm.
We have trawled the internet and social media platforms to find the farming stars making waves online in our state.
Here’s our list of Queensland’s top 15 farming social media stars, ranked by follower count:
1. Winnie and April Butler - @winniethecattledog
TikTok reach: 2.1M followers, 61.1M likes combined
Winnie’s Instagram reach: 345K
YouTube reach: 255K subscribers
April Butler and her Red Australian cattle dog Winnie achieved viral success with videos of the pup’s silly antics.
Clips of the hound include him running around their farm, catching food with his mouth and April referring to the videos as “wholesome doggo content”.
2. Yasmin Brisbane – @yasminbrisbane
TikTok reach: 502.7K followers, 9.3M likes combined
Instagram reach: 4,930 followers
Farmer Yasmin Brisbane rose to internet stardom after rescuing a young camel that strayed from its farm and posted it on TikTok, attracting over 8 million views.
Since starting a TikTok account late January 2022, Yasmin has gained over 500,000 followers.
Yasmin often posts videos of life on her family’s camel dairy which has had a 20-30 per cent increase in business since the launch of her TikTok account.
“Having spoken to a few farming content creators, social media has given everyone different opportunities,” she said.
“Whether it be educating people, connecting with others, having a creative outlet or generating an extra income.
“Farming is an incredibly isolating, physically taxing and an emotionally exhausting lifestyle.
“Social media has become a new life force for some farmers and given them a connection to the world outside.”
3. Big Farmer Andy – @big_farmer_andy
TikTok reach: 405.3K followers, 11.4M likes combined
Instagram reach: 12.2K followers
Since joining TikTok in November 2020, Big Farmer Andy has become an internet sensation.
Big Farmer Andy shares his experience working as a dairy farmer with fun and informative content about his cute farm animals including his three-year-old cow Pringle, his puppy Border Collie Indi and his Kelpie named Ben.
He also uses social media to support mental health, often posting about his personal struggles or advice on how to check on the people around him.
Andy said his inspiration to document his farm life was a genuine curiosity and a desire to bridge that divide between rural and suburban life.
While his content has entertained some users, Andy has attracted some haters.
“Although it has allowed me to educate people about dairy farming, entertain with my antics, and advocate/fundraise for multiple charities and issues, it is unfortunately a space inhabited by bullies, pretenders and sycophants,” he said.
“I love that it has brought farming to the forefront of people’s minds. I don’t love what is sometimes promoted.”
4. Nicole Louis - @nicolelouuise
TikTok reach: 305.2K followers, 11.1M likes combined
Instagram reach: 122K followers
Based on the Sunshine Coast, Nicole Louise vlogs everyday on TikTok about her family and life on a farm.
The mother-of-four attracts thousands of followers with her content.
5. Travis Parry –@travisparry8
TikTok reach: 129.9K followers, 3.1M likes combined
Instagram reach: 7,259 followers
Travis Parry is entertaining thousands of people on social media with his humour and farm life insights.
Travis, a third generation grazier, started posting TikTok videos almost two years ago before the Covid pandemic.
“It kinda [sic] just grew from there because a lot of people were stuck at home and worried about the state of the world and were turning to social media to get a break from the worrying and ever changing realities of the world,” he said.
“I just started sharing more videos and was so delighted people got a laugh and could learn a little bit from them.
“It was very nice knowing that for maybe just one minute I’ve made someone I didn’t know exist have a laugh and feel a little better about themselves.
“I like sharing what I’m up to on the farm and why I’m doing it and the theatrics in between it all!”
6. David Graham - @farmerdavek9m8
Facebook reach: 134K followers
Instagram reach: 55K followers
YouTube reach: 13.4K subscribers
David Graham, or “Farmer Dave”, as many may remember him when he appeared on the reality show Big Brother in 2006, has a huge following on social media.
The Sheep Farmer from Southwest Queensland is also a dog trainer, keynote speaker and youth worker.
7. Paige Marsh - @paigeamarsh
Instagram reach: 14.1K followers
Originally from Brisbane, Paige Marsh has a big presence on Instagram with thousands of followers.
The Farmer Wants A Wife 2022 contestant is an advocate for young people’s agricultural career pathways.
8. Susan Koop - @outbacktough
TikTok reach: 12.8K followers, 93.6K likes combined
Instagram reach: 2606 followers
Susan Koop joined TikTok in 2021 to showcase her farming life to people as well as her who live in the city.
“I guess a lot of people don’t really understand how we live the way our life is,” she said.
“I just thought I may as well show some people, I have some city friends and they’re like ‘you really do that?’
“I thought I get on TikTok and show people what we actually do.”
Susan also uses the platform to promote her country clothing brand Outback Tough.
Since using social media, Susan’s business has increased.
“I would post a video on TikTok on my clothing brand page and I could get like two or three sales out of it,” she said.
“If I didn’t have social media, there’s no way that I could make a living, that’s for sure.”
9. Amber Enright - @amberenright93
TikTok reach: 10.7K followers, 84.9K likes combined
Instagram reach: 5941
Farmer and Entrepreneur Amber Enright often posts about her life on the farm.
In addition to farming, Amber showcases her dance moves on TikTok. She also teaches High Profit Sales & Marketing.
10. Sam Heagney - @samheagney
Twitter reach: 8695 followers
A farm manager from Mungindi, Sam Heagney is a passionate agricultural advocate.
He works to educate consumers about where their food comes using his Twitter account.
11. Renee Anderson - @IamFarmerRenee
Twitter reach: 7200 followers
Based in Central Queensland, nuffield scholar and farmer Renee Anderson uses her Twitter account to build up the online community #AgChat to discuss topics including beneficial insects, soil and plant health.
She has used her platform to tackle misinformation of genetically modified crops and support research trials into reducing water and insecticide use.
12. Clint Kenny - @clintkenny
Instagram reach: 3887
Real estate agent and Percheron horse breeder Clint Kenny shares about his work as well as vibrant landscape images captured across the region.
Based at the Rivoli Farm homestead in Deuchar, Clint also posts snaps of his dogs named Pearl and Frank.
13. Anita Gillespie - @hillofheavenhomestead
TikTok reach: 2757 followers, 609.1K likes combined
Queensland farmer Anita Gillespie attracted over four millions views when she posted a hilarious video of her chickens’ response to her “hawk warning”.
In the clip, Anita can be heard screaming “Run! Quick! Hawk!” to the hens, who suddenly start fleeing the scene at speed.
“Of course, this isn’t serious training,” Anita told Storyful. “It’s a video made in fun.”
In addition to her viral “hawk warning”, Anita posts about her homestead in Ravenshoe.
14. Em Kuppers - @em_kuppers
TikTok reach: 1566 followers, 10.8K likes combined
Instagram reach: 1828
Em documents her rural life and promotes outback clothing brand Outback Cobber.
15. Sukhwinder Singh Maan
While he may not have a social media account, banana farmer Sukhwinder Singh Maan became an internet sensation after a TikTok video showed off his two-swing harvesting technique.
Since its upload in 2020, the impressive clip has attracted over 35 million views.
Sukhwinder’s videos are under his friend’s account @grewal5911g.
More Coverage
