GROUNDED Live - 2025: Heidi Mippy, Di & Ian Haggerty - First Nations Integration into the Food System

In this episode of GROUNDED Live, we share another unedited session from GROUNDED Festival 2025, recorded on farm in Bridgetown, Western Australia.A question that arises often in Australian agriculture is: How can farmers meaningfully engage with First Nations people — and what does genuine collaboration actually look like? For this session, we wanted to move beyond theory and bring together people already walking that path.This conversation, First Nations Integration into the Food System, features Heidi Mippy, a Noongar and Thiin-Mah-Warriyangka woman from WA’s South West, who has been working closely with Ian and Di Haggerty — broadacre croppers and sheep producers farming 3–4 hours east of Perth in the Wheatbelt. The Haggertys are known for their Natural Intelligence Farming approach, which centres ecology, soil biology and working with natural systems.Together on stage, Heidi and the Haggerty family talk candidly about their partnership: what sparked it, what they’ve learned, the cultural and ecological perspectives they’re weaving together, and the challenges and conversations that arise when two worlds meet in the paddock.It’s honest, insightful and at times confronting — exactly the kind of discussion that’s often needed, but rarely happens so openly.Settle in and enjoy this powerful session on GROUNDED Live.GROUNDED Festival is a cross between a food festival, a farming conference and a field day. It combines science and technology with ancient wisdom, provides a respectful place for lively discussion, an audience as interesting as the speakers and an excellent menu of local food, drinks and music, all on a beautiful, regeneratively-managed farm. GROUNDED is also Australia's only annual, roaming food and farming festival, held in a different farm location every year, so each festival is a unique, unmissable event celebrating local expertise and culture with an inspiring line up of speakers. In 2026, with the support of the local Upper Barwon and Central Otway Landcare Networks, following successful festivals in Tasmania and Western Australia, GROUNDED FESTIVAL will be held at leading regenerative farm, Yan Yan Gurt West, in the Victorian Otway Ranges, two hours from Melbourne in an area renowned for regenerative agroforestry, tourism, local hospitality and great food and wine. Tickets are on sale now - head to the GROUNDED website for information on speakers, the location, and to secure your spot today.