Profitable Farmer

• # 170 - How Demographics Can Shape Smarter Farm Decisions with Simon Kuestenmacher

  What if the future isn’t something to fear but something we can prepare for, shape, and lead into with confidence?  For Simon Kuestenmacher, understanding what’s ahead isn’t guesswork. It’s grounded in data, demography and deep thinking. As co-founder of The Demographics Group, Simon helps leaders across the country make sense of the big forces shaping our communities, our economies and our businesses. In this conversation, he brings that lens directly to farming.  This is a full and generous exchange with someone who not only understands the numbers but deeply respects the people behind them. Simon doesn’t just talk about trends, he speaks to what they mean for farm owners, for regional Australia and for the next generation of workers we are all learning to lead.  And his message is simple. The world is changing fast, but if you are in farming, you are in the right place. The question is - are you setting your business and your people up to thrive in what comes next?  Specifically during this episode we explore:  What happens when the “tyranny of distance” becomes a strategic advantage  Why community and sport remain the glue in regional Australia  The real story behind generational shifts and what each cohort needs from its leaders  Why farmers are some of the most skilled professionals in the country   Whether it is about creating better housing options, sharing your values with new staff, or just understanding the long arc of change, this episode will help you see the road ahead with a little more certainty.  Simon, thank you for grounding the data in real meaning. And for reminding us that leading well today is still our best investment in tomorrow.  To every farm owner listening - stay curious. Build systems. Invest in people. Keep asking the questions that matter.  You are farming in the right country, in the right industry. And there is real opportunity ahead for those willing to prepare for it.  Sincerely,    Jeremy Hutchings and the Farm Owners Academy Team 

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• # 169 - Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Care — A Real Talk on Farm Safety with Rebecca Fing

  What if we treated safety not as a box to tick, but as a culture to lead?    For Rebecca Fing, this isn’t a theoretical question — it’s the heart of her life’s work. From her base in Goondiwindi, Rebecca and her team at House Paddock Training & Consulting have spent two decades helping farm families lift their game in HR, business strategy, and importantly — work health and safety.    This episode is a full-bodied conversation with someone who’s been on over 600 farms and seen it all. Rebecca doesn’t just talk compliance — she talks culture. She doesn’t just talk paperwork — she talks people.    And the urgency is real. Agriculture employs just 3% of Australia’s workforce, yet accounts for 30% of all workplace fatalities. Even more sobering — 75% of those deaths involve machinery. These aren’t just numbers. They’re reminders that safety isn’t something we can afford to “get to later.” Because what’s at stake is far too important.    In a world where the urgent often crowds out the important, she makes a powerful case for choosing safety not someday, but today.    We cover:  How to make safety part of your everyday rhythm — not a once-a-year task  Why consistent follow-through matters more than a polished folder on a shelf  How a culture of confidence (not just compliance) can actually save lives  And practical tips on how to make a start today: Google free audits, borrow best practices from other industries, and stop trying to reinvent the wheel.    Rebecca speaks with the kind of clarity and conviction that only comes from lived experience. Her honesty is refreshing, her passion is contagious, and her message is simple: don’t wait for a crisis to care.    Whether you're leading a large team or running a family farm, this one will hit home. Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about rules — it’s about responsibility. And creating a farm culture where everyone gets to go home safe.    Rebecca, thank you for showing us the heart behind the how-to. For reminding us that leading with care is the most powerful form of leadership there is.    To every farm owner listening: make a start. Sloppy success, as Rebecca says, is far better than perfect procrastination.    Keep caring. Keep leading. And keep making farms safer.    Sincerely,    Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team 

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• # 168 - A Shout-Out to the Great Work of Agri-Entrepreneurs - The Wayne Perkinz Story

    Every great innovation starts with a question — Could this be done better?    For Wayne Perkins, that question came in a wool shed, with a busted back, and a view of shearing that hadn’t changed in a century. He wasn’t looking to build a business. He was looking to fix a problem.    And in true agri-entrepreneur fashion, what followed was part invention, part persistence — and one heck of a story.    In this episode, we shine a light on the doers. The tinkerers. The farm-based problem-solvers who aren’t waiting for permission — they’re out there building something better.    Wayne Perkins is the founder of Perkinz, and the creator of the CrutchMaster and ShearMaster — two breakthrough systems in sheep handling that have become a lifeline for farmers and shearers across Australia and New Zealand. Backed by a background in shearing and solid grounding in farming, Wayne's story is a raw and real account of what it takes to create, adapt, and endure.    We explore:  Why practical farmer feedback — not engineering perfection — led to breakthroughs  What it’s like to lead a growing business when the industry you serve is under pressure  And why innovation sometimes starts with a hunk of steel and the belief that things can be better  Wayne has been through the wringer — financially, physically, emotionally. And yet, through all of it, he’s held onto a simple, powerful vision: make shearing better. He is one of the most determined, self-made thinkers in our space — and someone who reminds us all that real progress often starts with having a go.  If you’re an agri-entrepreneur forging your own path, this episode is for you. And if you're looking to reduce the strain and sharpen the system on your own farm, check out the Perkinz CrutchMaster and ShearMaster at perkinz.com.au.  Wayne — thank you for showing us what it means to stay the course, solve the real problems, and lead with vision (and a bit of good Kiwi cheek).  Here’s to every farmer and agri-entrepreneur asking that same question: Could this be done better?    Keep building. Keep asking. And keep believing in better.    Sincerely,  Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team    P.S. If you’ve got a spark of something — an idea, a side project, a better way — the challenge is keeping it alive while everything else demands your time. That’s where our planner comes in. In just 10 minutes, it will help farm owners like you, get back in control and keep your good ideas moving forward. 👉 Click here to download your free planner  

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• # 167 - Enrolling the next generation - the MacArthur Family Story

  Succession isn’t just a plan on paper — it’s a living, breathing conversation about legacy, leadership, and what we’re really passing on. And when it’s done well, it can strengthen not just the business, but the family behind it.  This episode is a testament to that. Rob and Ainsley McArthur aren’t just managing a successful beef operation in central Queensland — they’re guiding a generational transition with intention, structure, and a whole lot of heart. Alongside their six children, they’ve created a culture of contribution, where ownership and responsibility are shared from the ground up. In this conversation, I am joined by the McArthur’s and their Platinum Mastermind coach Sam Pincott. Together we dive into the nuts and bolts of a family business that’s thriving because it’s been built on purpose and participation. Here’s what we explore:  How Rob and Ainsley stepped into leadership early and chose to rewrite the script on what succession could look like  Why they treat their kids as stakeholders — inviting them into planning, strategy, and even financial oversight from a young age  The real impact of strategic rhythm — from quarterly meetings to goal-setting retreats — in building trust and vision across generations  What it means to balance the “family business” with the “business of family” — and why both need attention  How FOA frameworks and lifelong learning have helped them shape a business that’s bigger than any one person  You’ll hear how their children have stepped up to run operations and organise camp drafts, and how strategic grazing lifted their carrying capacity from 1,500 to over 5,000 — all while staying true to their family-first values.  But more than anything, you’ll feel the deep pride and strength that comes from leading a family, not just a farm. To any family listening — whether you’re navigating succession, shaping strategy, or simply wondering how to get your kids more involved — this episode is full of gentle guidance, real-world tools, and hope. Rob, Ainsley — thank you for showing us what’s possible when you lead with vision and raise the next generation to do the same. Sincerely,  Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team    P.S. If this episode got you thinking about legacy, family alignment, or setting the next generation up well — and you know your finances could be more structured — the Cash Flow Optimiser course is a great first step. Designed for farming families, it offers practical tools to reduce stress, improve decision-making, and help you build a business that supports the future you’re all working toward. Take the step as a family — because the best legacies are built together.  Right now, it’s on sale for just $9 (save $188) — and you’ll get the exact forecasting tools, templates, and budgeting systems used by top-performing farm businesses. You can apply them in just a few hours and start taking control of your numbers — fast.  👉Click here to learn more about the short course   P.P.S. This is your FINAL chance to secure discounted tickets to our last TOP Producers 2-Day Workshop for the year!! Early bird tickets special closes TODAY at 7pm AEST – save a whopping $1,195 on tickets. Join us in person in June in Melbourne or online. If you have ever considered attending an event, don’t wait any longer. This is the exact event that has already changed the lives of hundreds of farming families across Australia and New Zealand Click here to secure your spot

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• # 166 - The TOP Producers Workshop: 10 Years In The Making

  Now and then, you get the chance to pause, look back, and really take stock. And when that moment rolls around, it can be quietly powerful.    That’s exactly what this episode is. A milestone. A moment. A celebration.    This year marks 10 years of Farm Owners Academy, and I wanted to sit down with two people who’ve been there from the start — FOA founder Greg Johnson and our CEO Sam Johnson — and reflect not just on where we’ve come from, but where we’re going.    In this one, we unpack the heart behind FOA, the thinking that shaped the Top Producers Program, and the impact it’s had on farming families across Australia and New Zealand.    But more than that, we talk about what truly sets top producers apart — and why, now more than ever, mindset, business acumen, and strategic focus are the critical tools for leading through uncertainty.    Because right now, volatility is the new normal.    Climate, markets, costs — they’re all shifting. And that means farming families need a stronger compass and clearer tools than ever before.    In this episode, we explore:  How FOA began, the purpose behind its creation, and the real-world gaps it was built to fill  The 9-step Top Producers Model — and how it’s helped thousands build more robust, profitable, and scalable farm businesses  How top producers use entrepreneurial thinking to stay ahead in uncertain times  The power of mindset — and how inner growth creates lasting, external transformation  Real-life examples of families who’ve doubled their scale, renegotiated better finance, and gained strategic clarity — all within months    So wherever you’re at — whether you’re in growth, in a rut, or somewhere in between — this episode is an invitation to step up, get clear, and take charge.    Our last Top Producers 2-Day Workshop for the year is happening June 23rd and 24th in Melbourne (or online if you can’t be there in person). And I can tell you, it’s two days that could completely change the trajectory of your business.    This is your chance to step out of the day-to-day and rebuild from the top down—with the same framework the top 20% of farmers are using to outperform, year after year.    We’ll walk you through how to transform your thinking, optimise your business model, and propel your farm forward—with clarity, purpose, and a clear plan in hand.    But here’s the truth: you’ve got to choose it.    Because the best businesses don’t happen by chance—they’re built by people who make time to grow, who lean in when it’s hard, and who say yes when most would sit back.    Get off the tools. Step out of the chaos. And create space to lead with purpose.  👉 Early bird tickets are available now — reserve your seat here!  Greg, Sam — thank you for the wisdom, leadership, and heart you’ve poured into this community.    And to every FOA member and listener — thank you for backing yourselves and walking this road with us.    Here’s to the next 10.    Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team 

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