S5 Ep 12 - Land in Safe Hands

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. So we've chosen someone whose passion for agriculture started at a very young age on her family's grazing property in Queensland. She's turned that passion into a career with a focus on exceptional land management. To further her skills in the area, she's currently completing her PhD. To learn more about her varied agricultural career and her passion for horse-riding,  Ang Hammond joins me now. Ang reflects on growing up on a grazing property and shares some of her favourite places and memories from a life deeply connected to the land. Agriculture was always part of Ang's world, and she speaks about the strong sense of community within the industry and the lifelong relationships she has built along the way. She shares fond memories of life in Lightning Ridge, including the unique multicultural community that made such a lasting impression and continues to draw her back. Determined to forge an independent career in agriculture, Ang spent five years riding racehorses before completing her studies and discovering her true passion within the industry. Ang discusses how inheritance was traditionally passed through the male line and reflects on how she challenged those expectations and carved out her own path. She explores the important connection between land stewardship and mainstream agriculture, and why both must work hand in hand for the future of farming. Working with Landcare Australia, Ang describes the role as feeling like "coming home" and explains why the work is so personally meaningful. Ang shares her involvement in industry research projects funded by the Federal Government and the key learnings she has taken from that work. She discusses the changes currently being implemented across the agricultural sector and the positive impact they are having on farming landscapes and sustainability. On a personal note, Ang reveals plans for an upcoming horse-riding adventure through Argentina with her husband. For Ang, the best part of life on the land has always been the people and the communities that make the industry so special. One of the most unexpected changes she has witnessed throughout her career has been the growing number of young women entering the agricultural industry. Ang addresses common misconceptions about women in agriculture and shares the changes she believes are still needed across the sector. Looking ahead, Ang shares her ultimate dream for the future and her hopes for the next generation in agriculture. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus  Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers  Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram      Landcare Australia  Facebook @landcareaustralia  Instagram @landcareaustralia X @ LandcareAust LinkedIn @LandcareAustralia Connect with Angela Hammond on LinkedIn       Produced by Pretty Podcasts