29 Qld farming families from North, South, East, West and Central districts leading the way in agriculture
Farmers are the backbone of Australian culture and the economy. Meet the next crop of innovative and hard-working farming families across Queensland.
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Farmers are the backbones of Australian culture and economy, with every person relying on their resilience, passion, determination and product.
Through raging bushfires, flooding rains and scorching droughts, Australia’s farmers keep the country moving forward with the livestock and produce.
Each year, hardworking and older farmers step down to pass the torch on to the next generation of hard working people on the land.
Here is Queensland’s next generation of farmers ready to carry the torch:
Craig and Alicia Vohland
A young Darling Downs family with dreams of promoting agritourism and creating discussions around the ecosystem is already paving the way for future generations after a mammoth two years.
Craig and Alicia Vohland started their Westbrook Windy Acres Farm in 2019, and while getting their two children involved, have created a name for themselves. In 2022, the farm was recognised as a finalist in two categories for the 2022 Australian Rural Business Awards.
“From planting lavender, right through to helping out at events, our entire family have been so involved, so this is a real celebration of our family,” Mrs Vohland said.
The lavender and bee farm serves as a scenic backdrop for photographers, events and picnics and has become popular for its raw honey and stunning handmade products.
“We didn’t think we had the capital or knowledge to run a small business and farm, but sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith,” Mrs Vohland said.
Sally Ziesemer
Darling Downs entrepreneur Sally Ziesemer has used her own backyard as inspiration for a business dedicated to bringing a piece of her home into yours.
Ms Ziesemer launched Home Soil, a business that sells bunches of wheat from the two farms she calls home, in 2022 after filling a Woolworths bag and offering it to the public.
The business has gained wide popularity, and Ms Ziesemer has said she was keen to sell additional homegrown goods into the future, such as cotton and sorghum bunches.
The Chinchilla farmer has opened her store for the season, with bunches ranging from 12 to 50 stems. Bookings can be made at the Home Soil Facebook page.
Andrew and Raneece Lerch
Married couple and now business owners, Andrew and Raneece Lerch recently took over the management of Andrew’s family’s farm in the Lockyer Valley.
Lerch Farms at Forest Hill has run for four generations and specialises in a variety of vegetables, including broccoli, carrots, beetroots, cauliflower and more.
Raneece grew up on a vegetable farm in the Lockyer Valley and Andrew was trained as a diesel mechanic, before meeting and making the move back to the family’s 430 acres farm.
Late last year the couple welcomed their first child, Lainey Eliza, who is already being trained to work on the farm and is sure to be hands-on as she grows.
Kieran Bourke
After a video showing the day in the life of a dairy farmer went viral, Kieran Bourke realised the true power of social media and how hungry audiences were to see the action.
A proud fifth generation farmer, Mr Bourke lives and breathes everything dairy, and after several years interstate learning as much as he could on the industry, returned to help on the family farm near Warwick.
After graduating from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Agribusiness, Mr Bourke travelled across the United States of America and Canada, where he toured 46 dairy farms, 16 feedlots, 9 heifer yards and 7 calf ranches, as well as working on a 550 cow operation in Canada.
Now back on his Southern Downs property, Mr Bourke and his family are proud producers of Dairy Farmers Australia, and manage a 1800 acre property with about 600 heads of cattle.
“My passions include improving the genetics of our Illawarra cow herd (and) growing quality forage crops while looking after the land and environment we farm,” he said in a @OurDailyDairy Instagram post.
“Most importantly, trying to continually improve the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of our dairy business.”
Mitch Brimblecombe
Taking over the management of his family’s farm at Forest Hill at just 20 years old, Mitch Brimblecombe has continued to lead by example for younger farmers and growers across the South East Queensland district.
The family farm grows vegetables, cotton and grains on its Lockyer Valley property, with Mr Brimblecombe assisting other growers through the Lockyer Valley Growers organisation.
Manager of Moira Farming, Mr Brimblecombe and his family also took over the family’s Kalbar dairy farm several years ago.
Andrew Mildren
Vegetable grower on the Lockyer Valley, Andrew Mildren, has grown up working on the land.
Part of a six-generational farming family, Mr Mildren leads the way in the planting, fertilising application and harvesting schedule of potatoes on his family’s Reck Farms near Gatton.
While the farm also grows a variety of other crops such as broccoli and beetroot, Mr Mildren is inspiring younger generations to get onto the land, with his own children already showing a keen interest in the family tradition.
Throughout the years the farm has been a sustainable and viable operation, and continues to adopt various innovative technologies.
Max Reilly
At just 21, Max Reilly always knew he would end up in agriculture, working on the multiple family-run farms across the Darling Downs.
Specialising as pig farmers, Mr Reilly said everyone gets in and gets the job done, and it’s something he loves doing and sees himself continuing into the future.
The multiple farms are run under Reilly Pastoral Co, spearheaded by Max’s dad, Andrew.
Pieter van Jaarsveld
Working closely with the AgForce Young Producers council, various governing bodies, and his family’s farm, Pieter van Jaarsveld has already created a strong name for himself.
Managing the family property, Delamira, at Gore, Mr van Jaarsveld said he also manages a full commercial breeding program, selling meat to the domestic market, and developing breeding stock for commercial producers. The family farm consists of sheep and goat, with the drought limiting their cattle numbers.
In 2021, Mr van Jaarsveld was also the recipient of Nuffield Farming Scholar.
His project aims to crossbreed rangeland and Boer goats in the Australian goat industry, but also look further into value add aspects for the entire carcass and value chain.
Tom Coggan
As a fifth-generation farmer, Tom Coggan, 22, is currently completing a masters degree with UQ while working closely on family farm, Coggan Farms.
Mr Coggan said his passion lies in agriculture, and has focused his thesis on lamb castration and performance on feedlot environment.
With a sample size of more than 400 sheep on the family property, Mr Coggan said his piece will be scientifically strong and have a commercial purpose in the industry.
The Acton Family
One of the leading beef producers across the state, the Acton Family has been in the farming industry since the early 1860s.
Descendants of Irish immigrants William and Eliza Jane Acton, the Acton Super Beef company has more than 3.87 million acres allocated for the business.
The Acton family have about 180,000 head of Santa Gertrudis, Brahman, Charolais and Angus cattle, lacrosse Millungera Station in the Queensland Gulf and Barkly Downs station near Mt Isa.
Following the shocking passing of industry icon Graeme Acton in 2014, his son Tom Acton had stepped into the director role, and he hopes that his children may one day follow into the family business if it was something they were passionate about.
The Kent Family
A passion spanning decades has seen a family forever banded together.
Darren and Sue Kent purchased ‘Wilden’ at Goovigen more than two decades ago, and now run a 1618ha property and business, Ooline Brahmans.
Their children James, Isaac and Megan have grown up on the property and fallen in love with the cattle industry, each following it in their own ways.
Both James and Isaac are involved with the family business, and are also well known in the cattle industry around Rockhampton, with James the recently announced chair of Beef Australia’s Stud Cattle Championship Committee.
When Megan was a teenager, she started her own brand, Ooline M, and is now a well known face at sales.
Ryan Olive
A third-generation Brahman breeder, Ryan Olive is leading his family’s extensive business operation into the future as one of the beef producers at the forefront of the industry throughout Central Queensland.
Situated between Rockhampton and Gladstone, Mr Olive, now in his mid 30s, works at Raglan station with his parents Andrew and Roxanne, and other family members.
In 2021, Ryan Olive was awarded the Rabobank Young Beef Ambassador at Beef Australia, for his leadership and vision with not only his family’s Raglan Brahman business, but the development of a feedlot and live-export facility on his property.
As a result of the new depot, beef producers were given additional market opportunities.
Through Mr Olive’s passion and drive, his family’s business is leading the way in live exports throughout Queensland.
The Muller Family
Scott Muller, with his wife Krystal, his parents Gordon and Jenny, and his three children operate a 1600ha property in Biloela.
A fourth-generation grain and cattle farmer, Mr Muller is on the AgForce Young Producers Council and said he is always looking for ways to improve techniques on the farm, Karinga.
“We continue to expand our land area and embrace the latest tools to better our operation – doing what we can with best-management practices to ensure it will be there for the generations to come,” he said.
Besides cattle, during the winter months the family grows wheat and chickpeas, and in the summer, focuses on mung beans and sorghum.
The Pickersgill Family
A multi-generational farming family, the Pickersgill family operate Bunderra Cattle Co that spans across two states and multiple prime property locations.
From the Central Queensland spots near Rolleston, Bauhinia Downs, Alpha and the foothills of the Carnarvon Ranges to stations in the Northern Territory, the Pickersgill’s business led by Kevin and Dianne is continuously growing.
The family recently purchased the 460,900ha neutral Junction Station at Barrow Creek and in 2020, the 447,500ha Murranji Station near Daly Waters to act as a calf factory.
Mr Pickersgill said his sons Duane, Ashley and Liam, and their respective families, were the reason the business continues to expand.
“When your kids leave school, you don’t know what they want to do or where they want to go. They are a great asset to the family business and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Mr Pickersgill told Beef Central.
“My sons have invested in the family business and like me, have plenty of confidence in the beef industry.”
The Bidgood Family
A young family with a dream, the Bidgoods from Central Queensland have grown their cattle company and developed a regenerative grazing system that has now pushed their land 10 years into the future.
Working off-farm as a diesel mechanic and a teacher, John and Jess Bidgood took over the 630ha Tingle Farm from John’s family in 2011 with the goal of having three properties become a primary source of income.
In 2016, Mr and Mrs Bidgood implemented time-controlled grazing and regenerative land management to nurture soil health and create a more diverse ecosystem. Now, the farm is organic certified and the property is 10 years ahead of its time.
With help from their three children Lylia, Zander and Cormac, Mr Bidgood said he was determined to leave the land in a better state for future generations by improving the biodiversity and the soil health.
Four Daughters
A fairly new business launched in 2019, Western Downs beef producers Karen and Dan Penfolds, with their children, run a widely successful brand that exports directly to China and Hong Kong.
Inspired by their daughters Bonnie, Molly, Jemima and Matilda, the family owned and operated business, Four Daughters, supplies Premium black angus domestically across Queensland and also exports premium 150-day grain fed black angus beef overseas.
The four sisters manage the day-to-day operations of the business, while the family also has several additional properties across Western Queensland.
“Our four daughters are the reason we must manage our beef production sustainably so that we can ensure succession for the future of family farms in Australia and food security across the world,” Mr and Mr Penfolds said on their website.
Alexandra (Tess) Camm
A fifth-generation grazier and beef producer, Alexandra ‘Tess’ Camm has worked hard to make a name for herself.
Growing up on a breeding and backgrounding property at St Lawrence, Ms Camm said the lessons learnt during her childhood on Mystery Park ultimately set her up for the rest of her life.
“As a child, like most bush families, we grew up riding horses, learning to work with cattle, and how to care for our land. This background has given me a unique perspective to working in the processing sector,” she said in a 2019 interview
Now in her 30s, Ms Camm was a 2020 recipient of the Nuffield Scholarship and was committed to investigating ways to increase the value of beef products.
Now, she manages one of Australia’s most trusted breeders of quality beef, Signature Beef, at a station in Clermont.
Raymond Courtice
A second-generation mango and citrus grower in the state’s north, Raymond Courtice runs his family’s business Ontario Group with his dad David.
Focusing on Calypso mangoes in Dumbulah, Raymond’s dad was the first commercial grower of the fruit, and Raymond was the first Queensland grower to send fruit to Western Australia for the development of protocol for whole-of-industry purposes.
In 2021, Mr Courtice was named the 2021 Charlie Nastasi Horticultural Farmer of the Year, particular for the establishment of a state-of-the-art pack house, and a quarantine facility to assist with providing seasonal labour to the Dumbulah region.
The Taylor Family
Jess and Mark Taylor are fourth and fifth generation farmers who took over the family’s Mareeba property in 2016.
The farm, now known as Irresistible Orchards, was originally a tobacco farm and had been operated since the 1950s.
Mr Taylor said since taking on management of the farm, the couple have diversified the range of fruit, originally growing mangoes, avocados and lychees, to feature limes, pomegranates and continuing with lychee crops.
Mr Taylor was a Charlie Nastasi Farmer of the Year nominee in 2021, and was celebrated for expanding his property to secure long-term viability and modernising farming skills and technologies to reach significant cost savings, like electricity and water.
Mr and Mrs Taylor’s children are also involved with the farm, and will hopefully continue to be a part of the family business as they grow older.
Candy McLaughlin
Born in Zimbabwe, Candy McLaughlin and her family bought a coffee plantation in the Mareeba district, North Queensland when she was 10 years old.
After completing a degree in design and communication and having a family of her own, Mrs McLaughlin returned to the family business, Skybury, where she is now the General Manager.
In 2019, she was a finalist for Charlie Nastasi Farmer of the Year award, and today manages the day-to-day operation of the family business, including the papaya production and quality, and the roast coffee sales and operations at the Skybury Cafe and Roastery.
Helen Woodland
In its third year of helping the next generation of agribusiness operators reach their potential, Ag Force Young Producers’ Council Chair Helen Woodland said the organisation’s determination and enthusiasm is no less poignant in 2023.
Working to forge new connections between people working the land to agribusiness professionals, Ms Woodland has previous experience as export project officer at Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, working with agriculture and supply chain industries across Southern Queensland and on the world stage.
Ms Woodland is also the Regional Coordinator for the Partner Up Queensland Regional Science and Innovation Network, where she fosters collaboration and leverage to promote greater adoption of science and innovation to enhance quality of life.
Chelsea Hartwig
Employed as the AgForce Queensland School to Industry Partnership Program (SIPP) Project Support Officer, Ms Hartwig, 21, said she found her passion for agriculture through school programs and working on her family’s cattle farm.
Now, she hopes to give it back to the region and inspire today’s youth to step into a career in agriculture.
“I believe I have the best and one of the most important jobs in the world. Educating the next generation about where their food and fibre comes from is vital and identifying clear career pathways into the sector will hopefully increase employment within agriculture,” she said.
“You only know what you know and our future lies in the next generation so why not educate them.”
While working with AgForce, Ms Hartwig also manages the family farm Hartwig Pastoral Co north of Toowoomba and shows their Charolais Stud Cattle at the local shows most weekends.
Tamara Finger
Growing up on her family’s properties across Central Queensland, Tamara Finger knew she was destined for a life in agriculture, and in particular, the beef industry.
A fifth-generation grazier, Ms Finger branched out on her own as a young adult and started her own commercial beef enterprise, TF2 Grazing Co near Middlemount.
Throughout the years, Ms Finger has been a passionate advocate for road infrastructure, vegetation management and agricultural education.
“I want to encourage more people to embark on a career in agriculture and increase the overall professional development within the industry,” she said.
She is a passionate member of the AgForce Young Producers' Council and is working hard to represent young industry workers across the state.
Heather Cameron
Growing up on a family farm, Heather Cameron knew she wanted to work in the agricultural industry, and jumped at the chance once graduating from school.
Working between stations in the state’s north, to live exports and completing a university degree, Mrs Cameron made the decision with her husband, Hugh, to establish their own cattle trading company on the Western Downs a few years ago. With their base near Jimbour, they lease property at Chinchilla and work across the state to wherever they are needed.
With a bit more time on her hands and years of experience behind her, Mrs Cameron made the decision to help out and join the AgForce Young Producers' Council.
“I had more time to do so, and I wanted to help out wherever I could, particularly becoming involved in the advocacy side of the industry,” she said.
James Henderson
Former Ag Force’s Young Producers Council chair and regenerative farmer James Henderson has shifted his practices to manage and survive during harsh Australian climates.
Alongside his wife Kylie and their three children Douglas, Thomas and Emily, Mr Henderson manages a cattle breeding and backgrounding operation, ‘Colodan’ across three properties in the North Burnett, totalling about 5400ha of land.
A fourth generation farmer, Mr Henderson joined the family business in 2009 and took over ownership in 2017. While beef is the major focus of the business, Mr Henderson has undertaken two carbon farming projects on his breeding property and welled a small amount of irrigation and dry farming on his backgrounding and finishing properties.
Emma Knight
Running a cattle property near Julia Creek has cemented a love of agriculture for Emma Knight, who represents the state’s young producers within the AgForce council.
Working separately for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries as an Industry Recovery Officer, Ms Knight said she was incredibly proud to be a part of the beef industry.
“(It’s) a devoted sector that is passionate and dedicated to the health and wellbeing of our animals, along with our industry’s current and future productivity, prosperity and viability,” she said.
Sam Fryer
A father-of-three with a keen passion for the agricultural industry, Sam Fryer has grown up on his family’s cattle property near Hughenden in the state’s north.
Now, he is part of the Ag Force Young Producers' Council.
Aimed at raising awareness within AgForce to what matters with young producers across Queensland and the challenges they face, Mr Fryer has worked hard throughout several years to create supported pathways into the field for young people.
“I’m passionate about the beef industry, passionate about rural communities and I’m also a big advocate for rural mental health,” he said for the 2021 CCA NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion Initiative, which he was recognised as one of the national winners.
“For things to happen, you need to put your hand up and be involved.”
Mr Fryer also works for beef data analysis business, Black Box Co, where he uses data collected to develop insights into beef herds and businesses.
Jake Hamilton
With the support of his wife and father, Jake Hamilton has worked hard on the family’s Condamine property to grow grain crops.
Originally a cattle property, the 5600ha of Krui Pastoral Co now grows wheat, barley, chickpeas, faba beans, sorghum and mung beans.
Mr Hamilton’s family has been involved in the agricultural industry since the 1840s, and over the years, Mr Hamilton has worked hard to implement various ways to maintain his property and business against changing climates.
“The biggest threats to our operation in a changing climate is the varying ability and intensity of rainfall, severe storms and sustained dry spells,” he said in a 2021 Twitter video.
In an effort to combat these challenges, Mr Hamilton and his family began a program of landscape rehabilitation and top soil stabilisation.
They have worked hard to level melon holes and repair old erosion damages.
“Our top soil is precious. We don’t want it to wash away when its wet, or blowing away when it’s dry,” he said.
Finding a way to combat climate change and ensure the progression of Australian farming without doing more harm to the environment is crucial to Mr Hamilton.
Bryce Camm
Originally from Dalby, Beef Australia chair Bryce Camm oversees his family’s business Camm Agricultural Group which was established in 1994.
Mr Camm’s parents David and Judith developed the group outside of their extended family operations, and would operate across the beef supply chain production steps of breeding, backgrounding and finishing.
The Camm Agricultural Group has land across the state, from Clermont, St George, Kingaroy, Charters Towers and more.
As well as being involved with his family’s business and Beef Australia, Mr Camm has also been involved in the Australian Lot Feeders Council, Australian Lot Feeders Association, and the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework.
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