This initiative is designed to support farmers with The Business of Farming. Differing from typical field days, this event will provide farmers with an action-packed day full of workshops, stalls, and networking to enhance their capacity to run a profitable business.
Farmer’s Day Out is here to unpack The Business of Farming
WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH
9.30AM - 4.30PM
Ballarat Showgrounds
$58pp*
*Tickets have been heavily discounted thanks to the support of this initiative by Community Bank Creswick & District, Community Bank Buninyong and Community Bank Ballan & District.
+ Arrival & Networking
+ Keynote Session
+ Morning Tea Break
+ Workshop Session 1
+ Lunch Break
+ Keynote Session
+ Workshop Session 2
+ Keynote Session
Explore more about our presenters and the stall holders present on the day below…
Food featuring will be available to purchase throughout the day.
MC
Kirsten Diprose
Kirsten Diprose is a communications and podcast business specialist who lives on a sheep and cropping property near Caramut, in south-west Victoria.
Kirsten founded the Rural Podcasting Co, a podcast coaching and agency service, specifically for people in rural areas. She has experience in media and marketing, previously working for Deakin University and agrifood venture capital firm, Tenacious Ventures. Kirsten also founded and co-hosts a podcast specifically for rural women, called ‘Ducks on the Pond.’ And her new podcast is Town Criers, to tell the big stories of the small towns of Australia.
Prior to this, Kirsten worked as a TV and radio journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in both regional and metropolitan newsrooms. You can still hear her as a fill-in radio presenter on ABC Radio Melbourne’s The Conversation Hour and as a regular guest on ABC TV’s News Breakfast.
Kirsten is also the Deputy Chair of South West TAFE, and a PhD candidate at Deakin University, studying podcasting and local news sustainability.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Barry Clark
Barry Clark has spent most of his life around sheep, shearing sheds and farms all around Australia. With a long career in the shearing industry, he’s seen just about every side of it - from working the stand to running his own farming operations in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Along the way, Barry and his wife Jodie started Statewide Shearing Services (now operating as South East Shearing), building it into a trusted shearing contracting business that supports farmers across Australia. Practical, down-to-earth and full of real industry experience, Barry brings a lifetime of knowledge from the shed and the paddock.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Simon Quilty
Simon Quilty is an Agricultural Science graduate from Melbourne University with over 35 years’ experience in the global meat and livestock industry.
Founder of Global Agritrends Downunder, Simon delivers in-depth analysis on global beef, pork and poultry markets, providing insights into how world events impact the industry.
An independent analyst and consultant, Simon brokers meat swaps and physical product worldwide and works closely with producers, exporters and major international companies across Australia, Asia and the US.
Simon is a sought-after speaker at international conferences, sharing expert insights on global meat trends, risk management and market opportunities.
KEYNOTE PANEL
Farmers Doing It Differently: Innovation In AG
Phil McFarlane
CEO, Australian Plant Proteins
Raised in the Victorian Wimmera-Mallee wheat belt region, where his family’s third generation grain farm stilloperates today, Phil has an unwavering passion to make a significant contribution to the future of Australia’s agriculture and food manufacturing industries. After having an extensive experience in the financial
services industry as a strategy and business transformation delivery specialist, Phil has a deep understanding of designing, building, managing, and expanding new businessenterprises.
Phil is a founder and the CEO of Australian Plant Proteins (APP), the only protein isolate powder manufacturing facility in Australia based in Horsham, Victoria. APP produces high quality protein ingredients extracted from Australian grown pulses (faba beans, peas, lentils, mung beans) which are used in more than twenty (20) food categories, and is distributed both here in Australia and overseas.
He has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree and is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA).
PANEL FACILITATOR - Lachlan McKenzie, McKenzie Ag
Lachlan has vast experience in all aspects of Beef and Lamb Feedlot operations and livestock trading. With Beef and Lamb properties near Ballarat and Hamilton in western Victoria, Lachlan has an innate understanding of what it takes to run a sustainable and profitable intensive feeding system enterprise.
Lachlan has coupled this knowledge with a career in the stockfeed industry and fodder trading to offer livestock producers a broad range of stockfeed options as well as advice regarding animal nutrition, ration formulation, livestock trading and intensive feeding systems.
With a reliable supply of competitively priced customised grain mixes, a range of pellets, cereal grains, protein meals, legumes, hay (vetch, lucerne and cereal) and cereal straw, McKenzie Ag Services supplies livestock producers throughout Australia.
The supply of a broad range of stockfeed options is complemented by services including ration formulation and advice regarding feedlot design and infrastructure requirements, feedlot health, and livestock trading.
Brooke Dawson
CEO, Oakdale Meat Co.
As a visionary leader, Brooke’s longstanding passion for agriculture, racing, and community impact has transformed Australian industry landscapes. As Executive Chair of Oakdale Meat Co., her legacy builds on three generations of agricultural leadership. She bridges rural and urban enterprise with grace and innovation. Recognised across the sector, Brooke has represented the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) on State Government advisory groups and serves as an advisor for the AMIC National Processor Council.
Brooke’s remarkable journey began as a Jillaroo in the Northern Territory, working alongside industry legend Kerry Packer. Today, she stands in the top 2% of Australia’s female CEOs and Executive Chairs. Under her direction, Oakdale Meat Co. has flourished, pioneering world-class standards and partnering with iconic Australian brands (including Coles Group, PFD Food Service, and Grill’d). She also made history as the nation’s first female cattle buyer for slaughter cattle.
Dwain Duxton
Founder, Farm Tender, DelayPay & The Farmers Club
Dwain Duxson is a self described Agricultural enthusiast.
He grew up on a 7000 acre Farm; post-school, helping manage and working on the family farm for 15 years.
After that, he and his wife Paula left the Farm and started Farm Tender, an online marketplace for Farmers, which they have built to over 84,000 members in twelve years; a journey he has loved.
He then cofounded DelayPay, which is a buy-now-pay-later platform for Ag.
And last but not least, he started his passion project aged 54. The Farmers Club is a 6-day-a-week newsletter for Farmers and those in the Ag space. It's a subscrition based sytems that keeps Farmers up to date with the latest news, info, stories, podcasts and ideas. It's something new for the Ag space and has been extremely well received.
Alistair Ham
Windemere Oil Seeds
Established in 2007, Windermere Oilseeds Pty Ltd is a family operated agricultural based business which sources and processes regionally grown NGM Canola seed.
Finished products include filtered, degummed canola oil and expeller extracted meal.
Our oil is used typically in the Australian food industry but also for industrial and stockfeed purposes.
The residual meal is utilised as a protein and energy source in the stockfeed industry.
Workshops
Attendees have the opportunity to attend up to two workshops of their choosing throughout the day.
Agribusiness Tourism
Presented by Marcus Warner, Pepo Farms
This presentation shares a first-hand view of agritourism through the experience of Pepo Farms. This will unpack why agritourism works, where it hurts, & what operators rarely talk about. The session covers location, design, access, regulation, marketing, & mindset, with clear learnings on storytelling, collaboration, adaptability, & the daily reality of welcoming the public onto a working farm.
The Business of Farming – Knowing Your Figures
Presented by Ewen Fletcher, Progress Accounting
A practical seminar designed for farmers who excel in production but want greater confidence in managing the business side of their operation. The presenter specialises in rural accounting and advice, the session focuses on understanding financial reports, improving cash flow, setting clear goals and planning for the future. Attendees will gain practical insights to support better decisions, long-term profitability & successful succession planning.
Dodging Potholes & Building Silos: Securing the Future of Your Farm
Presented by Luke Dunne, Heinz Law
An interactive seminar focusing on how farming businesses can navigate succession successfully, to give effect to an orderly transition of management, leadership and ultimately ownership of the family farm between generations. Based on decades of coalface experience with farming families, this session explores the current context of intergenerational transfers, the risks, opportunities and strategies for families walking the succession road.
CALM THE FARM: Creating Happy Farm Workplaces
Presented by National Centre for Farmers Health
A short introduction to some of the key work-related risks to mental health that are common in agricultural businesses. Explore how they may be impacting you and your farm business. Discuss case studies that focus on practical solutions. Start setting goals for how to address risks to mental health in your business.
Gen AI In Agriculture: Practical Solutions For Every Day Tasks
Presented by Ben Finkel, Australian Regional AI Network (ARAIN)
Curious about AI but not sure where to start? This hands-on workshop cuts through the hype and shows you how generative AI tools can save time on everyday farm business tasks - from drafting emails and summarising reports to analysing market data and planning ahead. No tech experience needed. Come with your questions and leave with practical skills you can use straight away.
Small Steps to Big Business Benefit: How to Get Started in Safety
Presented by WorkSafe Victoria in conversation with cropping farmer Scott Arnold
Farmers who invest in safety often report benefits far beyond what they first expected. In this session, we’ll share tangible ways to improve safety on the farm without breaking the bank.
Hear first-hand how farmers have improved safety and discover the flow on benefits for their business. Come with questions and walk away with practical solutions.
In Depth Discussion with Simon Quilty
Following on from Simon’s Keynote Session you have the chance to dive deeper.
Quilty is an Agricultural Science graduate from Melbourne University with over 35 years’ experience in the global meat and livestock industry.
Founder of Global Agritrends Downunder, Simon delivers in-depth analysis on global beef, pork and poultry markets, providing insights into how world events impact the industry.
Site Holders
Connect with services, organisations and business that support and supply the agricultural industry.
Community Banks- Ballan, Buninyong and Creswick
Agriculture Victoria
National Centre for Farmers Health
RSM Australia
RLX / CVLX
Rural Financial Counselling Services
Federation University
Brendan Grimes Ergonomics & Safety
Butler
Ballarat Mens Mental Health
Driver Reviver Van
Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society
nbn co
Victorian Farmers Federation
BGT Jobs and Training Ballarat
Ballarat Group Practice- free health checks
Chris Packer and Associates
City of Ballarat
Achema Farm Insurance
The Pyrenees Grape Growers & Winemakers (PGW)
