“You’re the average of the five people you spend most time with” (Jim Rohn)
As a city chick, who had travelled the world before heading west for work, this quote struck a chord when I found myself married, with small children and living on a 66,000-acre cattle property in Western Queensland.
I have seen first hand the struggles farming families face and wanted to provide online resources that utilised technology to ensure that although isolated, no-one feels alone.
The purpose of the website and associated online platforms is to facilitate positive long-term change within Australian agriculture by providing practical tools and resources, meaningful conversation starters and a positive narrative for agriculture.
Australian primary producers wear many hats
The food and fibre produced by Australian farmers is in high demand throughout the world. At agriculture’s heart are the people whose lives are interconnected through shared experiences, values and a vision for the future that embraces innovation, adaptability and collaboration.
There have been many lessons learnt over the years. In 2002, drought forced my husband, Owen, and I to take 1400 calving cows on the stock route. Aside from the incredible insight into the types of people in this world and who we wanted to be, we learnt you are actually never out of options.
Over the years we have invested in training for personal and skills development. We have lived through droughts, battled Government departments for the right to manage our vegetation and more recently experienced the reality of co-existence with a CSG company.
We have attended field days, workshops, forums, webinars, training courses and interacted with experts and Agricultural consultants.
Twenty years on, Owen and I have three children and feel very grateful for the opportunity to grow the family business established by Owen’s parents, as we prepare for the next generation to join our business.
But one thing was missing…
A centralised online hub where we could access information specific to our business needs that was easy to navigate, relevant to our Industry and road tested by other grass roots producers.
An inside-out perspective into Australian farming families
As members of an intergenerational farming family we acknowledge the often competing needs of the individual, the family and the business. We understand the unique operating environment family-farming enterprises operate within and recognise the reality of separating the family business from the business of family can be challenging.
It acknowledges the competing priorities of different generations and believes open communication and transparent processes are the key to harmonious relationships.
Sanity- saving solutions start with simple systems that can be easily adapted to any workplace. There however, guiding principles that underpin top performers. From personal experience, we know the last place producers want to be is inside an office.
Let’s support each other
But, as small business owners, we also understand profits are made when market research, business planning, simple systems and informed decision-making processes can be used to capitalise on opportunities to grow and develop.
Rural Resources Online is a platform for those passionate about being better, doing better and producing better in support of each other for the benefit of Australian agriculture.
About our images
We are proud to showcase Lisa Alexander Photography throughout our site and on our social media memes. Lisa’s passion is to capture those real life moments that are treasured forever.
Lisa is a great friend, wife, mother and natural light photographer who calls a 23,000 acre sheep and cattle property in Outback Queensland home. Believing she lives in the most amazing part of the world, Lisa believes it is a privilege to be able to capture the ever-changing landscape and provide a photographic window into the rural lifestyle.
Follow Lisa on facebook or visit her website lisaalexanderphotography.com.au to see more of her amazing work.
