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Boyd Webb and his family operate “Weewondilla” North of Longreach where they embrace a wide range of innovations - from exclusion fencing to feedlotting, goats to dorpers, and now cropping. In this discussion he shares the wins, the lessons, and the realities of trialling new ideas in Western Queensland.

Clint and Shelly’s story is one of determination, working with family, innovation, and building for the future. The Hawkins family made the move from Central Queensland to North West Queensland in 1999, with the purchase and development of Herbertvale before purchasing a second property south of Hughenden to run in conjunction. 

Since then, the Hawkins Family have continued to grow and diversify, building additional businesses in helicopter services, earthmoving, and hiking, as well as establishing partnerships that have helped strengthen and expand their operations.  

At the Future Grass Growers Forum, Clint and Shelly shared their insights into business growth, family partnerships, and creating opportunities in agriculture.

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Hosted by Sam Fryer from A Place to Call Home, the "Finance Without the Fluff" panel featured:

• Tom McLeish – A producer and business owner who, with his wife Belinda, has built successful ag businesses and now operates properties in Queensland. Tom knows first-hand the strategies it takes to make opportunities in ag a reality.  

• Clint & Shelly Hawkins – Western Queensland producers who’ve combined family, business, and resilience to create a strong future in the beef industry. 

• Dan Korff (Rabobank) – Manager at Longreach Rabobank. He is an agribusiness banker with local knowledge and a passion for rural communities. 

• Prue Button – With over 20 years’ experience supporting producers and small businesses through business and financial advice.

There’s no single path into agriculture and this panel proves it!  Hosted by Tom Boyle, the session brought together three incredible voices who’ve each taken different journeys into ag:  

• Sarah Hain, who has worked across Australia and internationally before returning to her family’s Merino, cattle, and goat operation near Longreach.  

• Tom Copley, a seedstock producer and lawyer balancing careers in ag and law, with a passion for the beef industry’s future.  

• Winnie Batt, who alongside her husband Ian, run a contract fencing business and their cattle property near Muttaburra.  

Together, they share the lessons they’ve learned, the challenges they’ve faced, and the opportunities that come from choosing a life in agriculture, no matter the road that leads you there.

Brad Whittington from the Queensland Rural Investment and Development Authority (QRIDA) presented in the 'Dollars & Decisions' session at the Future Grass Growers Forum.   

Brad’s session gave practical and inspiring advice to those looking to take their first steps or next steps in the ag industry. 

His practical shared insights into how QRIDA supports young producers, from accessing loans that help get a start in agriculture, to strengthening applications so they have the best chance of success. He also explored how finance can be used strategically and shared real examples of how young producers have successfully used QRIDA to grow their businesses.

Désirée Jackson is a well-known livestock management consultant with more than 20 years’ experience working across Queensland, the NT, and northern WA. After starting her career with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, she went on to run her own consultancy business and was a cattle producer in western Queensland for over two decades.  

Désirée is passionate about nutrition, pasture quality, and breeder herd management, delivering the highly regarded Nutrition EDGE and Breeding EDGE workshops across northern Australia. Her focus is on turning research into practical, actionable solutions that lift herd productivity on the ground.  

She is especially passionate about working with young people in ag, helping them understand the key role they play in improving productivity and shaping the industry’s future.  

At the Future Grass Growers Forum, Désirée shared her insights into how pastures, diet, and nutrition impact animal performance, and why this knowledge is critical for the next generation of producers.

Will Creek is the General Manager at Lillyvale Feedlot and with years of experience across both Australian and international beef supply chains, he has a wealth of knowledge about genetics and livestock production.  

At the Forum, Will shared practical insights into reading and interpreting EBVs, starting your genetics journey, and cost-effective ways for new producers to improve herd genetics.   

His session gave young producers the confidence and tools to make better breeding decisions and set their herds up for long-term success. 

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There is more than one way into agriculture, and Mia Amos-Rush is proof of that.   

Starting off studying criminal law and now with AAM Investment Group, Mia shared her journey into the industry and how the AAM Investment Program is opening doors for the next generation of ag leaders.  

Her session explored how corporate ag experience can set you up with the knowledge and confidence, the importance of networking and making the most of placements and internships, and how programs like AAM’s can provide a strong stepping stone into the industry.  

Mia’s story shows that building a career in ag doesn’t have to follow a traditional path, and that there are exciting opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and create their own future in the industry.

Tom McLeish arrived in Longreach in 2004 with a mobile phone and a goal. Through sheer hard work, determination and a lot of strategy, Tom has a story to share!  

Together with his wife Belinda, they’ve grown two successful businesses – TopX and Western Livestock Nutrition, while chasing their dream of owning some dirt. Today, they own and operate properties north of Winton and near Moonie.  

At the Future Grass Growers Forum, Tom shared his journey, the lessons he’s learned, and what it really takes to turn vision into reality in the ag industry.

When it comes to making smart financial decisions in agriculture, knowledge is power. Brecken shared practical insights on some of the biggest financial questions facing young and early-career producers, including: 

• Fundamentals of borrowing 

• Alternative financing options 

• Using equity 

• Working with advisors 

• A practical checklist before applying for finance  

Brecken has over 20 years of rural banking experience, and broke down the complexities of finance into clear, actionable steps that every producer can understand and apply.

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Enable Ag helps time-poor farmers build farm systems that work without them — so they can finally take a break without things falling apart. With 99.61% client satisfaction and award-winning tools, we turn farm chaos into calm with coaching that sticks and systems that run themselves.

TA Field Estates is over 100 years old and is a fourth-generation, family-ownedagricultural enterprise based in NSW. It is a family run business with longstanding family values. Managing roughly 75,000 ha of grazing, cropping and prime‑lamb properties, it produces Merino wool, beef cattle, lambs and grain.

The group prioritises sustainability, water-trading, education initiatives, and advocates for agricultural youth via scholarships and training.

UTAGS delivers smart livestock identification solutions designed to evolve beyond today’s NLIS tags. Founders Carl Hockey and Colin Bennett supply custom electronic tags and readers that enhance traceability and data capturethroughout the supply chain. 

Their solutions fit with existing farm workflows and are compatible with digital herd management systems.

Hosted by Amy Phillips with panellists: 

• Jerome Leray - InFarm 

• Dan Korf - Rabobank 

• Gran & Carly Burnham - Bonnie Doone Beef

An insightful discussion with host Vickie Burkinshaw and panellists: 

• Bec Burnham - REB Grazing 

• Karin Robinson - Spinifex Goats 

• Jenny Thompson - Bethungra Park 

• Jeff Mickan - illcrest

Bonnie Doone Organic Beef is a leading cattle property operated by Carly and Grant Burnham and family. Located west of Monto in the beautiful NorthBurnett, “Bonnie Doone” is an ecological and diversified 20,000 acre property. Enterprises include soil carbon and award winning farm stay accommodation.

Herd XL is a practical cattle app made up of five powerful livestock calculators designed to help producers make more informed, data-driven decisions. HerdXL's goal is to help producers boost profit margins and make every dollar count.Built by producers, for producers.

Argus Media is a leading independent provider of market intelligence to global commodity markets. They offer price assessments, news, analytics and datascience tools. They have a global presence with 1,400 employees and 30 offices worldwide. 

With a focus on the Australian cattle and beef export markets, Argus provides tightly specified, trusted benchmarks to manage growing risk, protect margins and monitor price spreads.

Job Safe Pro is a simple, ag focused app that takes the stress out of safety, staff management, and record-keeping. Built by people who get farming, it keeps you organised, audit-ready, and on top of compliance. No more piles ofpaperwork just peace of mind and a safer workplace for your crew.

Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) is the Queensland Government’s global business agency. It helps local companies access international markets, growexports, and attract foreign investment to the state. TIQ provides market intelligence, trade missions, and networking opportunities to support Queensland’s economic growth.

Integrity Systems Company (ISC), a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Meat & Livestock Australia, manages Australia’s red meat integrity systems which includes the LPA, NLIS and NVD/eNVD programs. Together, these programs enhance transparency, traceability and trust in the Australian red meat industry.

The focus of Kids+ is improving performance in goats to increase productivity and profitability on-farm – supported by the largest research investment to datefor the goat industry.

The $3.7 million project is being funded through the MLA Donor Company in partnership with the University of Queensland (UQ). Georgia and Toby Whip have been part of the Kids+ Project since June 2024.

Agricultural consultants and experts in farm business strategy and growth, Agrista's services are designed to support producers at every stage, whether they're entering the field, seeking to expand through leasing, or aiming tooptimise operations.   

Their approach combines rigorous analysis, benchmarking, and a deep understanding of both financial management and agricultural science.

InFarm is an agricultural AI company focused on delivering ground breaking technology to farmers. 

They use state of the art AI and advanced technology to develop tools that help producers become more profitable and efficient.

Know your wool micron anywhere, anytime. Woven Optics has developedhand-held technology for real-time, on-farm wool micron testing - enabling farmers to improve bale sorting, enhance breeding efficiency, and overcome the delays and costs of traditional testing methods. 

Woven Optics' farmer-focused solutions make wool production easier, faster, and more profitable.

As Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company, Telstra prioritises helping regional customers adapt to technological change, and the opportunities it can bring to their communities. 

From making AgTech solutions, healthcare and education more accessible, to reducing the impacts associated with climate change and realising the opportunities that technology can bring.

Quikfence started in 1998 making gates, and expanded their products in the early 2000s. External market pressure prompted expansion and the creation of new and innovative products to help streamline the rural fencing industry.  

Quikfence has products in Australia, New Zealand and across America, such as- FastFENCER, PostDrivers, and end assemblies.

RAPAD is a regional organisation of councils that works together to support, facilitate, promote, deliver, and encourage the region’s community, environmental and economic development.

They work with State and Federal leaders, agencies, industry, organisations and our local communities to represent the central west region. 

The RAPAD board is made up of the Mayors of the seven local government areas in Central West Queensland.

There is more than one way into agriculture, and Mia Amos-Rush is proof of that. Starting off studying criminal law and now with AAM Investment Group, Mia shared her journey into the industry and how the AAM Investment Program is opening doors for the next generation of ag leaders.  

Her session explored how corporate ag experience can set you up with the knowledge and confidence, the importance of networking and making the most of placements and internships, and how programs like AAM’s can provide a strong stepping stone into the industry.  Mia’s story shows that building a career in ag doesn’t have to follow a traditional path, and that there are exciting opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and create their own future in the industry.

Panel session 2 faciltated by GroWQ's Anna Cochrane with:  

• Dylan Mott: Bass to Barra - Night scopes 

• Rachel Hay: TNQ Drought Hub - Connectivity 

• Kate Paterson: K3P Mapping Services - Avenza Maps

Panel discussion facilitated by GroWQ's Anna Cochrane with: 

- Andrew Barton: OPS  

- Ian McCamley: MCC Pastoral 

- Liza Cameron: AustraliaWestern Game Processing

Mustering is in our blood & with over eight years experience it is a huge passion at Roam Aviation.We pride ourselves in delivering a low stress stock handling experience through our finesse of compassionate stockmanship & continue to grow a high level of safe & reliable culture around cattle & property.

Bet you haven’t heard of us, put seatbelts on your ears, it going to be a wild ride. Simon’s passion for sheep yard and shearing shed design and innovation is a thing to behold. We are the premier custom design and innovation stockyard and shearing company in Australia. We are here to discuss the importance of custom design and how farmers should settle for nothing less.

Cibo Labs is an agricultural data analytics company bringing new and more effective approaches to the monitoring and managementAustralia's grazing lands. We combine world-leading satellite remote sensing and data science with on-farm knowledge to estimate feed supply for every hectare and to monitor changes in the feedbase and land condition on a weekly basis.

Impulse Training is a central western Queensland based first aid training &medical supplies company delivering nationally recognised 'industry' specific First Aid Training. Offering Australia's most comprehensive hands on 'we come to you' Rural & Remote First Aid Course. Supplying First Aid Equipment, Defibrillators, Snake Bite Kits and MediSwags - First Aid kits that are tough, versatile and compact.

The company motto ‘Old Values, New Ways’ is a direct reflection of TopX Australia’s approach to doing business. With the implementation of mobile technologies, each franchise is a TopX office wherever they are, whether that be in the paddock or on the road.Tom knows how to use a smart phone to maximise potential.

MyFootprint is a greenhouse gas calculator for pastoral farmers, calculating the emissions from your livestock, fuel and electricity usage, plus chemical and fertiliser application, minus the sequestration from any vegetation you have planted.

Australian Wool Innovation is a not-for-profit enterprise that conducts research, development and marketing along the worldwide supply chain of Australian wool to increase the long-term profitability of Australian woolgrowers. Race delivery shearing is improving the way we shear.

SheepMetriX is an independent consultancy business based out of Young NSW. We work with sheep and goat producers, with a key focus on navigating the genetic and data capture space to help improve on farm productivity and profitability with science-based information and advice.

The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is a research institute of The University of Queensland (UQ), supported by the Queensland Government. The Northern Genomics Project focused on the development of data to select young bulls and heifers to drive accelerated genetic gain across herds.

Datamars Livestock is a market leader in animal & data recording.With a portfolio of leading brands such as Tru-Test Scale & EIDequipment, Speedrite & Stafix Electric Fencing, Z Tag Ear Tags, NJ Phillips animal health delivery systems & Australia’s only seller of world famous Prattley Sheep Handling & portable yard equipment.

Glenn is from a family operation that works with landholders to identify the most likely opportunities where restoring & improving landscape function can assist with drought, flood & financial security. We specialise in assisting landholders to plan & construct cost effective works & processes to take water currently causing erosion & damage, & get it back into the landscape to drive financial & environmental productivity.

Ian McCamley is a beef producer from central Queensland, who focuses on grass management, labour effectiveness and hitting the target market. Ian will showcase the innovations he and his family have adopted over the years to achieve their goals and increase their bottom line. Ian has previously won the Queensland Red Meat Awards: Innovation in Red Meat – Beef Producer of the Year.

Western Game Processing is a wild game meat processing facility based in Longreach. As sole supplier to a pet food manufacturer and having smaller guaranteed markets, the business has experienced considerable growth since 2018. 

WGP has up to 150 registered harvesters across 16 locations, scattered throughout the central and southwest and have recently purchased the Charleville processing facility which will see further expansion in 2024.

Precision Pastures is an independent soil, pasture and carbon services company. We fix your dirt, to run more head and do this soil carbon thingy. Hamish is on both sides of fence as producerand carbon specialist.

Ag360 has customised weather forecasting, record keeping and powerful predictive models help prepare for the coming seasons.The Armidale Node of SQNNSW Innovation Hub is based at the University of New England. It works with primary producers to build resilience to drought and climate variability. UNE providesAg360 free to producers.

Seaford Red Goats: Breeding quality seed stock goats for the rangeland. Home of the Australis Black breed, known for adaptability and resilience. Expert team, genetic diversity, and superior traits. Committed to customer support, sustainable practices, and industry leadership.

Agscent Breath Diagnostic devices will be a game changer. They will allow point of care (POC) pregnancy and disease diagnostics which will improve livestock operator productivity, decrease costs, reduce operator injury and improve animal welfare.

Ben started collecting data on his sheep in 2012. In 2015 he realised he wasn’t doing anything with it. Come and hear what he has done with that data to improve productivity and profit, as well as other innovations he has used in his family run sheep business.

Maia Grazing is an Australian-founded AgTech company focused on improving profit and production for livestock farmers. They combine the best of data science and on-the-ground grazing experience to drive land managers to make agile decisions, while improving land condition and performance.

Bush Recruitment finds high quality staff for livestock stations and cropping properties.

They are passionate about keeping people on the land, and passionate about supplying the right person for the right job.

Beef Breeding Services (BBS) is the most comprehensive artificial breeding centre in Queensland, with semen storage, testing and processing centres plus all reproduction supplies in both Brisbane and Rockhampton. BBS also has a dedicated centre for the collection of bulls, artificial insemination (AI) programs and horse reproduction in Rockhampton. Their technicians regularly service western Queensland.

Optiweigh is the solution to gaining real-time livestock weight data direct from the paddock. With more than 450 units now in operation around Australia and delivering real benefits - with the information creating opportunities to improve sale returns and increase overall weight gain performance.