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

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

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


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

Riverina Fresh


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

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

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


Links:

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


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

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

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

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


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



Produced by Pretty Podcasts

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

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

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


Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram


Produced by Pretty Podcasts

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

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

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


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

AgriShots


Produced by Pretty Podcasts

All farmers wear many hats, but others wear more than they need to. From farming, to podcasting, being a mum and heralding rural women through a groundbreaking conference, my guest today is spreading an important message with her own unique story. Founder of Harvest Her Power, Katja Williams joins me now.

• Katja's favourite place on her farm is when the family enjoys picnics on the hill where you can see almost the whole of Orange.
• She became an ag-influencer by finding her own space and, starting her Instagram page over five years ago.
• Empowering rural women is important to Katja, which is why she launched the inaugural "Harvest Her Power" conference and what's in store for next year's event.
• The main audience for the conference is rural wives, and Katja shares some of the speakers who will be presenting.
• She is also a podcaster with The Ultimate Farm Wife, having spoken with countless women across the country and gathered many valuable insights.
• Katja has completed over 90 episodes of her podcast and shares tips and wisdom for women in rural communities.
• She helps families navigate the challenges of running a business together and shares advice based on her own experiences.
• The hardest part of navigating family relationships for Katja is balancing business and personal dynamics.
• She studied criminology and later decided to return to the country to work in agriculture and rural advocacy.
• What Katja loves most about life on the land is being together with family and creating core memories.
• The most unexpected thing to happen throughout the years.
• A common misconception about her work and rural life is that she is a "lady of leisure."
• Katja's ultimate dream for the future.

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

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Harvest Her Power on Instagram

Harvest Her Power on Facebook


Produced by Pretty Podcasts