Sammie Smith has a passion for getting people in a room and helping to make dairy the best it possibly can be. Coming from the Bega Valley, she is currently sharing her time between one of the smallest farms and one of the largest in the region, working both on her family farm milking 150 and working at Kimba’s down the road milking 1200. And whilst there isn’t enough room to return to the home farm right now, she’s using this time to build her skills and knowledge and get ready so when the time comes to return home she can grab it with both hands! She is also the YDN leader for the bega region, where she is super passionate about making sure dairy is thriving for many years to come - and as you may have seen if you’re following along on my socials, I attended the inaugural YDN conference which Sammie and the other YDN leaders across NSW held, which was a brilliant event.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. This year we are in Echuca Moama in Northern Victoria on the 30-31st of July.

The prorgam has been released and tickets are NOW ON SALE.

To stay up to date with all of the details keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or if you would like to purchase tickets get these at early bird pricing HERE via Eventbrite

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

Jimmy Eggert runs a micro dairy where he is currently milking 30 cows and producing Hastings riverlands, an organic milk and yoghurt, and whilst he might be laid back in nature and very young, he certainly has a work ethic and mindset that is all about making the most of the opportunity he has.

In today’s chat he shares how he started the business, what goes into pasteurizing and bottling milk, and whilst he doesn’t like making too many long term plans there was certainly plenty of optimism about the future.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Save the Date for the 30-31st of July. More details are coming soon, so keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or check it out on the Website

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

Erica Dibden and husband Nic farm on the South Coast of NSW where they have created Tilba Dairy, producing milk, yoghurt, cream and a mix of soft and hard cheeses to add value and help create a profitable farming business. Although the ultimate goal would be to have a factory on farm, they’ve built a brand, processing factory and retail shop that continues to go from strength to strength. In today’s chat Erica shares how she became involved in dairy, her passion for connection to the food system, how the business has evolved and what it looks like as well as the layers of complexity around starting and the testing and regulations required to produce a product and her hopes for the future.

Giving some great advice to do your research, know your market, know your budget and start learning your products and i’m more than happy to offer my services as a product tester.

Want more info about Tilba Dairy or where to puruchase their products visit their website here https://tilbadairy.com.au

CREAM OF THE CROP 2024

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Save the Date for the 30-31st of July.

With a carefully considered program, attendees will have the opportunity to be challenged and inspired by speakers, panels, workshops, and farm and factory tours; as well as having the opportunity to network with like-minded people in the industry. The conference is open to farmers and service providers of all ages and stages, and the organisers encourage both group and individual registrations.

More information can be found on their Website or via Instagram or Facebook

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

Mia Ryan struggled to find love as a farmer, and although trying via the normal visits to the pub and other dating apps, she found the apps weren't working especially given her rural location... so she asked the question where is the dating app for farmers??

Her answer, there wasn't one - anywhere in the world! So she created it.

Launching on March 1st, Howdy Global is the dating app for farmers or anyone wanting to find love in the country. With a new approach, the app is designed with real intention and desire to help people in the country meet the love of their life.

Although it's not specifically for dairy farmers, if you are looking for love, maybe you need to give Howdy a try. Our chat also includes what is involved in creating an app, getting it developed and all of the hurdles that she experienced.

Mia has generously given listeners a 30% discount code - DAIRYAUS so if you are on the search for the love of your life, why not give it a try.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Save the Date for the 30-31st of July. More details are coming soon, so keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or check it out on the Website

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

Liza Fahey farms in South West Victoria and works at Dairy Australia with a real passion for people, and to see them develop and grow, not only in dairy but also across all of her many interest areas, of which there are many. In this chat she shares her experience completing her apprenticeship and leasing her family farm, the transition to her husband’s family farm and what it was like to be a female in multiple male dominated industries. You’ll also notice Liza loves taking every opportunity as it presents itself, using each opportunity to gain skills and knowledge for next.

Cream of the Crop, the dairy conference for women across our wonderful industry is back for 2024 and this year we are headed to Echuca Moama in Northern Victoria. We have 2 jam packed days of education, inspiration and connection with an incredible lineup of speakers which will all be announced in the coming weeks! Liza has been invaluable in her support and experience within the events space for not only us at Cream of the Crop, but so many other local and major events which she also shares.

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Save the Date for the 30-31st of July. More details are coming soon, so keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or check it out on the Website

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Max Bond has recently returned home to his family farm in Cooriemungle and to say he is passionate and energetic about farming and the wider industry would be an understatement.

In this chat he shares about his school based apprenticeship and studies at Longerenong College, why he made the call to come home and how that fits within the family business as well as his involvement within the community and Young Dairy Network.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community.

Join us in Echuca Moama on July 30 & 31st

Full program and tickets will be LIVE in the coming weeks, keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or check it out on the Website

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

This is the second part of my incredible chat with Aaron Thomas, so if you haven't listened to part 1 yet, head there first and then come back here because you won’t want to miss this chat.

In this week's epsidoe Aaron shares his involvement within industry and the newly formed Dairy Farmers Victoria, how he has taken on part of the farming business and we delve in the 3 pillars of the business and chat about all things farming.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Save the Date for the 30-31st of July. More details are coming soon, so keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or check it out on the Website

Aaron Thomas farms with Paul & Lisa Mumford in South East Gippsland, starting in a farm hand role and slowly progressing, taking on more responsibility and every opportunity to gain experience and knowledge as a self proclaimed sponge. He believed he was ready to take the next step and when Lisa & Paul purchased a second farm, Aaron was given the full reins to manage the operation. But it was here that his relationship with alcohol became increasingly damaging to his mental and physical health and detrimental to the farming business.

I had goosebumps for the entire chat, so for part 1 this week he shares incredibly openly and honestly about his mental health and relationship with alcohol, his 2 failed suicide attempts, how it was Paul and Lisa who saved his life and how completing the Australian Rural Leaders Course changed it. And just a heads up we do discuss mental illness, alcohol dependency and suicide, and how Aaron is working to normalise the conversation around mental health, with one conversation at at time, but if you are struggling with your mental health or dependency on drugs or alcohol I do urge you to chat with someone you trust and seek help from a GP or healthcare professional.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowlegde the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY CREAM OF THE CROP

Cream of the Crop is a two day conference, providing an opportunity for women in the dairy industry to come together to learn, connect and grow. Recognising the contribution, regardless of their role, they make to the industry and their wider community. Save the Date for the 30-31st of July in Echuca Moama. Tickets and the full program will be released soon, so keep an eye on Instagram or Facebook or check it out on the Website

If you know someone who you think would be great on the podcast, or you would like to share your story, please get in touch by sending an email to podcast.morethanmilk@gmail.com or stay connected by following us on Instagram or Facebook and send us a message - I'd love to hear from you.