In this episode of the Hay Matters Podcast, we head on the road with the Griffin Lanyon Legacy Tour, a unique opportunity bringing together young farmers from across Australia to explore the future of agriculture.
Hosted by Hugh Ford, this episode features conversations with the next generation working across hay, grain, livestock and contracting. From paddock operations to large-scale processing facilities, the group travelled through Victoria and South Australia, gaining first-hand insight into how the industry operates beyond the farm gate.
In this episode:
- Why the Griffin Lanyon Legacy Tour was created and what it represents
- What young farmers are seeing across different regions and systems
- The importance of networking in a connected but spread-out industry
- Insights from visits to operations like John Deere and Midfield Meats
- How different businesses approach hay, grain, livestock and contracting
- What exposure to large-scale operations changes in your thinking
- Where young producers see opportunity in agriculture
- The role of innovation, technology and adaptability moving forward
Key takeaway:
The future of agriculture isn’t coming, it’s already here. Young farmers are building networks, embracing innovation and thinking beyond their own farm gate to shape what comes next.
Listen to the episode now!
Read Transcript
Tim
Hi, I’m Tim Ford, and welcome to the Hay Matters Podcast. With four children of my own, I’m deeply passionate about the future of our industry. So welcome to our Next Generation Series on Hay Matters, where we meet the young people driving Australia’s fodder industry forward from the paddock to the bale. These are the fresh faces bringing energy, skill and big ambitions to hay. This is the future of fodder, and it’s already in motion.
Hugh
G’day, my name is Hugh Ford from Feed Central’s LocalAg. I’ll be filling in on the podcast this week, as at the end of February, I got to go away for a week with a group of young farmers on the Griffin Lanyon Legacy Tour. We travelled around Victoria and South Australia having a look at different places like the John Deere factory, feedlots, abattoirs and different farms. I got given the mic for the trip, and here are some interviews from the young people that joined me.
Hugh
Right, I’m here with Ella. Ella’s actually been the boss of this trip. She’s organised everything. So Ella, could you explain to everyone what this trip’s about and what we’re doing down here?
Ella
Yeah, so we’re on the Griffin Lanyon Legacy Tour. Griff was my younger brother, and he passed away in 2024. So the idea of this trip is to inspire the next generation while we honour his legacy, I guess.
Hugh
And how many people have you got on the trip?
Ella
Yeah, so there’s 15 young people, and then we have a few supporters. We’ve got Colin and Josh along for the ride, and we did have Tim earlier on as well.
Hugh
Did you have any problems getting the spots filled or all went well?
Ella
We had a few difficulties. It took a little while for someone to put an application in, but once we got them organised, we were okay. And we did have to fill one spot on the Sunday morning before we left, but everyone was here, so all’s well.
Hugh
And whereabouts are you from? And what do you do?
Ella
So I’m from a farm about 20 kilometres north of Barraport, and we are dryland broadacre cropping – hay and grain.
Hugh
What’s the favourite – hay or grain, and what commodities?
Ella
I don’t have too many favourites. I like them all equally. But we grow lentils and barley for grain, and then oats and vetch for hay. Sometimes, if the seasons turn out in certain ways, we will end up cutting our barley for hay as well.
Hugh
Is that export or domestic?
Ella
A bit of both. It’s seasonally dependent, but we’re definitely targeting an export market. With most of our hay, we’ll leave a little bit for domestic production, but inevitably some of it will end up on the domestic market.
Hugh
What’s your favourite job around home?
Ella
I quite like driving the baler.
Hugh
And what do you see yourself doing in the future in ag?
Ella
I think my future in ag is really just continuing to manage our farm. I like to be as innovative as we possibly can be. We’re always keeping up with research, whether that’s implementing new varieties. We use a lot of new technology. I think it’s a bit of everything really. Typically, you’ll find me in the office most of the week, and then in our busy periods, I’m out in the paddock a fair bit more.
Hugh
Right, I am here with Caden. Righto, Caden, whereabouts are you from?
Caden
I’m from Hopetoun, Victoria. I’m a second-generation farmer with my father, and we do grain and hay, and we also do hay contracting. I’ve started my own harvest contracting business.
Hugh
Do you do most of your own contracting or with your dad?
Caden
Still mostly with Dad. There’s plenty of that with the hay.
Hugh
What’s been your favourite thing about this trip?
Caden
Getting to see everywhere, like all young farmers my age, and the different types of hay that we’re doing, and where hay goes to feed. Just all new things.
Hugh
Nice. Meeting the boys, seeing all the boys and girls in the same business as you.
Caden
Yep, yep.
Hugh
I’m here with Airlie. Airlie, whereabouts are you from?
Airlie
I’m from Peronne, Victoria.
Hugh
And what do you guys do there?
Airlie
Broadacre dryland cropping, and we’ve also got an animal husbandry contracting team and a hay contracting team as well.
Hugh
And what’s the biggest part of your business?
Airlie
Probably the cropping, and then the hay contracting.
Hugh
What’s your favourite part about it?
Airlie
I enjoy meeting with clients and having that face-to-face interaction. I really appreciate the feedback when they’re happy with the quality of the bale that you produce as a contractor.
Hugh
Are those clients domestic or overseas?
Airlie
It’s all domestic.
Hugh
And what have you done for the past year? I know you’ve been overseas.
Airlie
I recently did a grain harvest in Saskatchewan, Canada, and just got back from there.
Hugh
What were they harvesting over there?
Airlie
Wheat, lentils and canola.
Hugh
What was the scale like?
Airlie
About 30,000 hectares. A huge family farm.
Hugh
Would you go back?
Airlie
I’ve actually emailed my boss over there and said I won’t be coming back for another season. But I absolutely loved the opportunity. I’d recommend anyone to go over there and give it a crack. It really gives you a perspective of how big the world is, and how small it is in terms of networking. It also gives you a sense of responsibility and teamwork in a big operation like that.
Hugh
Glad to be back?
Airlie
Yeah, I love Australian culture, Australian people and Australian agriculture. So yeah, glad to be back.
Hugh
I’m here with Daniel. Daniel, whereabouts are you from?
Daniel
I’m from Gatton, Queensland.
Hugh
And what do you do there?
Daniel
We grow lucerne and barley for hay.
Hugh
What’s your biggest market?
Daniel
Mostly the horse industry into Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
Hugh
How long have you been there?
Daniel
About 130 years. I’m fifth generation.
Hugh
What’s been your favourite part of the trip?
Daniel
Seeing all the different kinds of farming. It’s very different to where we’re from. I think even seeing Midfield Meats was quite interesting. I’ve never been to an abattoir before, so to see how it runs was really interesting.
Hugh
What impressed you the most?
Daniel
Just their business structure and how everything integrates. They have no waste and use every part of the animal in some way.
Hugh
You reckon you’ve learned a bit?
Daniel
Yeah, definitely. It’s been a really good trip so far and I’ve learned plenty.
Hugh
This time, I’m here with Thomas. Thomas, whereabouts are you from?
Thomas
I’m from Echuca, Victoria.
Hugh
And have your family been there long?
Thomas
Yeah, I’m a third generation on the family farm.
Hugh
What do you mainly produce?
Thomas
We grow crops as well as hay and silage.
Hugh
What’s your main hay?
Thomas
It varies, but oats and wheaten hay, some clover and ryegrass, and some lucerne as well.
Hugh
What about grain?
Thomas
Mainly canola, wheat and barley.
Hugh
Domestic or export?
Thomas
Mostly domestic at the moment, but we have done export in the past.
Hugh
How did you find out about this trip?
Thomas
I saw it on Facebook and just applied. Thought, why not.
Hugh
What’s been your favourite part so far?
Thomas
I think the networking, meeting different people from all over Australia. It’s been really good.
Hugh
Did you know many people before coming?
Thomas
I knew a few people through Longerenong Ag College, but not everybody.
Hugh
What did you study there?
Thomas
The Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management.
Hugh
How long was that?
Thomas
Two years. It was a good course.
Hugh
Right, I’m back here with Thomas. Can you walk us through what we did on day one of the Griffin Lanyon Legacy Tour?
Thomas
On day one we were in Melbourne, so we went to the John Deere distribution centre.
Hugh
What was your favourite part about that?
Thomas
Just walking through the sheds. They were pretty big. Really well organised.
Hugh
What else did we get up to?
Thomas
Then we went to Krone Australia and had a look through their distribution centre, and Kubota as well.
Hugh
And after that?
Thomas
We drove along the Great Ocean Road and stopped at the Twelve Apostles.
Hugh
Had you done that before?
Thomas
Yeah, a few times, but it was still good to see again.
Hugh
And then?
Thomas
We continued on and ended up catching up with Haygards.
Hugh
Right, I’m here with Ari. Ari, whereabouts are you from?
Ari
Near Birchip, Victoria.
Hugh
What do you guys do there?
Ari
Broadacre cropping and some hay, working with my brother and Dad.
Hugh
What sort of hay?
Ari
Vetch and oats, just domestic.
Hugh
Do you handle your own hay?
Ari
Yeah, we do everything ourselves.
Hugh
What’s your favourite job?
Ari
Probably harvest. It’s the busiest time of the year.
Hugh
What’s been your favourite part of the trip?
Ari
Probably Midfield Meats. Big operation.
Hugh
How did you find out about the trip?
Ari
Facebook.
Hugh
Would you come back if you could?
Ari
Yeah, definitely.
Hugh
Where do you see yourself in the future in ag?
Ari
Just keep farming. Stay with the family farm.
Hugh
Hope your brother sticks around?
Ari
Yeah, he will.
Hugh
Right, thanks Ari.
Ella
Who have we got here? Hugh, tell us about yourself.
Hugh
I’m from Toowoomba. I work on a hay farm and also with Feed Central and LocalAg.
Ella
Still studying?
Hugh
Yeah, one more year at uni.
Ella
What are you hoping to do?
Hugh
Hopefully finish my degree this year and then head off travelling for a year.
Ella
Good luck with that.
Hugh
I’m here with Ivan. Ivan, whereabouts are you from?
Ivan
Roma, Queensland.
Hugh
What do you guys do there?
Ivan
Hay and cattle.
Hugh
What sort of cattle?
Ivan
Crossbred cattle in a trading situation.
Hugh
What’s the biggest part of your business?
Ivan
Cattle. Probably about 60% cattle, 30% hay.
Hugh
What sort of hay?
Ivan
Cereal and sorghum hay.
Hugh
What’s been your favourite part of the trip?
Ivan
Eckert’s farm. The sheds and setup were unreal.
Hugh
How did you find out about the trip?
Ivan
At the APIA conference on the Gold Coast.
Hugh
Would you go again?
Ivan
Yeah, definitely.
Hugh
Right, I’m back here with Daniel. Daniel, can you walk us through what we did on day two of this tour?
Daniel
So day two, we went to Midfield Meats.
We had a bit of a session there with Dean, the owner, and he told us all about their operation, which was really insightful and really interesting. Pretty impressive. It’s been a bit of a fan favourite.
Hugh
Yeah, Midfield Meats has been a favourite. What stood out?
Daniel
Probably my favourite so far this trip. A lot of information, and really good to look at how they run their operations in depth.
Hugh
Have you been through an abattoir before?
Daniel
No, never been through one. So it was really interesting to see how things work, especially one of that size.
Hugh
What impressed you?
Daniel
The scale and how much they automate, and how they use the whole animal from start to finish. There’s barely any waste.
They’re sending scraps into animal feed, I think dog food, and using waste for compost to grow crops. It was really interesting.
Hugh
And after that?
Daniel
We went to an abalone farm and saw how they grow them. That was something different. I’d never seen that before.
Hugh
And the taste test?
Daniel
Yeah, they were actually pretty good. Something different, but I don’t think I’d pay the price for them.
Hugh
Fair enough. And the night?
Daniel
Back to the motel, then down to the local pub. Had pizzas on the beach in Robe. It was a good night.
Hugh
Right, I’m here with Andrew. Andrew, whereabouts are you from?
Andrew
Lismore, New South Wales.
Hugh
What do you do?
Andrew
We do a bit of hay contracting. I’m a second-generation farmer.
Hugh
What’s your main hay?
Andrew
Depends on the season. Summer grasses, millet, oats. We do a lot of contracting.
Hugh
How long has your family been there?
Andrew
About 30 years. Dad started with some share farming. Before that he was a butcher.
Hugh
And you’re a butcher too?
Andrew
Yeah… don’t tell anyone. No one really goes back to it once they leave.
Hugh
What’s been your favourite part of the trip?
Andrew
Just getting out and seeing different farming systems. It’s very different to home. Bigger machinery, flatter country.
Hugh
How did you find out about the tour?
Andrew
Dad mentioned it and we just made it happen.
Hugh
Righto, I’m here with Cody. Cody, whereabouts are you from?
Cody
Lismore, Northern New South Wales.
Hugh
What do you do?
Cody
Dairy farming and hay contracting.
Hugh
How long have you been in dairy?
Cody
About four years, and just started hay contracting this year.
Hugh
What sort of hay do you do?
Cody
Mostly silage because of the climate. We’re hoping to get some oats off in winter.
Hugh
Favourite part of the trip?
Cody
The farms we visited. Seeing setups like Scott Campbell’s lucerne farm. We can’t grow lucerne where we are, so it was a great opportunity.
Hugh
How did you find out about the trip?
Cody
My boss rang me Thursday and said I was flying Sunday. I said, alright, see you at the airport.
Hugh
Any complaints?
Cody
None at all.
Hugh
We’re here at the Horsham Golf Club. I’m with Georgia. Georgia, whereabouts are you from?
Georgia
Originally Narracoorte, but I live in Swan Hill now.
Hugh
What do you do?
Georgia
I’m a graduate agronomist.
Hugh
And you’re also a Feed Central rover?
Georgia
Yeah, I do hay inspections. I got into it last year and thought I’d give it a go.
Hugh
What does that involve?
Georgia
Moisture testing, core sampling and visual assessments. I usually line up a few jobs in one area and try to get through as many as I can.
Hugh
Do you travel far?
Georgia
As long as there’s enough work to make it worthwhile. I’ve covered quite a few regions already.
Hugh
Favourite part of the trip?
Georgia
Meeting everyone and seeing places you wouldn’t normally get to visit.
Hugh
Right, I’m here with Ollie. Ollie, what do you do?
Ollie
Family farmer. Grain, hay and sheep.
Hugh
How long has your family been there?
Ollie
About 150 years. Sixth generation.
Hugh
Favourite hay?
Ollie
Vetch. Good for the soil.
Hugh
Favourite crop?
Ollie
Probably barley. Least favourite is canola.
Hugh
Favourite part of the trip?
Ollie
Meeting new people and seeing different parts of Australia.
Hugh
I’m here with Hudson. Hudson, whereabouts are you from?
Hudson
Near Echuca.
Hugh
What do you do?
Hudson
We run a lamb feedlot, about 8,000 lambs.
Hugh
Busy?
Hudson
Yeah, especially in winter.
Hugh
Favourite part of the trip?
Hudson
Midfield Meats. Seeing where everything ends up.
Hugh
How did you find out about it?
Hudson
Through the grapevine and Facebook.
Hugh
Right, I’m back here with Ollie. Ollie, can you walk us through what we did on day three?
Ollie
Day three we went to a lucerne farm. That was pretty interesting to see how they run everything.
Then we went to Eckert’s, which was a pretty impressive setup.
Hugh
What stood out there?
Ollie
Just the scale of it. The sheds, the machinery, everything was set up really well.
Hugh
And after that?
Ollie
We moved through to Naracoorte and caught up with a few more operations.
Hugh
Good day?
Ollie
Yeah, really good.
Hugh
Right, I’m here with Louisa. Louisa, what do you do?
Louisa
We run a mixed farming operation. Cropping, sheep and cattle.
Hugh
And you’re studying as well?
Louisa
Yeah, studying vet science at the moment.
Hugh
How do you see that fitting in?
Louisa
Hopefully combining both. Working in ag but also using the vet side of things.
Hugh
Favourite part of the trip?
Louisa
Definitely the people. Meeting everyone and hearing their stories.
Hugh
Right, I’m here with Jack. Jack, what’s been your biggest takeaway from this trip?
Jack
I think the biggest thing is networking. Agriculture is such a big industry, but it’s also very small.
Knowing people across different regions is really important. It helps you understand what’s happening in other areas, whether that’s markets or seasons.
Hugh
And going forward?
Jack
Those connections will be really important. Whether it’s marketing hay or just understanding where things are at, it all comes back to people.
Hugh
And the future of agriculture?
Jack
I think it’s strong. There’s a lot of opportunity, especially with technology coming through.
Our generation is pretty keen to adopt it and keep pushing things forward.
Hugh
And bringing older generations along?
Jack
Yeah, that’s important too. It’s about combining experience with new ideas, not replacing it.
Hugh
Right, I’m back here with Ella. Ella, final thoughts on the tour?
Ella
It’s been a huge success. Just seeing everyone connect, the conversations we’ve had, it’s been really rewarding.
Hugh
Do you think it’ll run again?
Ella
I really hope so. There’s definitely demand for it.
Hugh
Anyone you want to thank?
Ella
Yeah, a big thank you to:
Feed Central, Balco, Hay Australia, Shingle Hay Rakes, Naracoorte Seeds, North West Ag, and Haygards.
And all the farms and businesses that hosted us along the way.
Hugh
Favourite part personally?
Ella
Midfield Meats. It was a bit outside the box for some people, but really relevant in terms of understanding the bigger picture.
Hugh
Righto, that wraps up the interviews from the Griffin Lanyon Legacy Tour.
It’s been an absolute blast. Massive thanks to Ella for organising everything, and to Cole and Josh for looking after us.
Also a big thanks to all the sponsors and the businesses that had us along the way.
It’s been a great opportunity to see what’s out there in agriculture and to connect with like-minded people.
I feel very lucky to have been part of it, and I hope it continues for years to come.
Thanks for listening to another episode of the Hay Matters Podcast.
Tim
It’s Tim back here again, and that wraps up this episode of our Next Generation Series on Hay Matters.
What a pleasure it’s been listening to these stories.
If you’re enjoying these conversations, make sure you follow the podcast and stay connected with Feed Central for more stories from across Australia’s fodder industry.
The future of hay is in great hands.
