In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre is joined by SproutAg Senior Agribusiness Manager, Oscar McLean, alongside Humans of Agriculture Talent Specialist, Zoe Burgess, to explore the opportunities available as SproutAg continues its rapid growth across regional Australia.

After starting his career in agtech before moving into agricultural banking, Oscar shares the journey that led him to SproutAg and why helping farmers navigate increasingly complex finance decisions has become such a rewarding career. He explains how the business works alongside farming enterprises to provide independent finance, debt advisory and business planning services that help clients achieve their long-term goals.

The conversation also provides an inside look at what it's like to work at SproutAg. Oscar explains what an Agribusiness Manager does day-to-day, the type of people who thrive in the business, and why attitude, curiosity and a willingness to learn matter more than ticking every box on a job description.

As SproutAg continues to expand across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and beyond, Oscar shares why now is an exciting time to join the business, the career pathways available, and how ambitious people can grow alongside one of Australia's fastest-growing agribusiness advisory firms.

Whether you're already working in agricultural banking, finance or agribusiness, or you're looking for your next career move, this episode offers a genuine insight into the people, culture and opportunities behind SproutAg's continued growth.

Key insights from the conversation:

• Oscar's career journey from Marcus Oldham to banking and into SproutAg
• Why independent agribusiness finance and advisory is one of agriculture's fastest-growing sectors
• What an Agribusiness Manager does day-to-day
• The type of people SproutAg is looking to recruit
• Why attitude, curiosity and a willingness to learn matter more than having every technical skill
• Career pathways and progression opportunities as SproutAg continues to expand across Australia
• Why now is an exciting time to join the business, including its recent acquisition and ambitious growth plans
• What makes Tamworth and regional Australia great places to build a career and lifestyle

Interested in learning more? We have a full job description and additional information available on our Careers page: https://humansofagriculture.com/careers/job-board/agribusiness-manager-70hq

Or connect with Zoe Burgess for a confidential conversation about the opportunities available with SproutAg.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to SproutAg and Recruitment Opportunities
02:13 Oscar McLean's Career Journey and Insights
05:01 Understanding SproutAg's Business Model
07:38 Role of Agribusiness Manager: Responsibilities and Expectations
11:26 Growth and Expansion of SproutAg
14:26 Career Pathways and Opportunities at SproutAg
17:59 Selling Tamworth: A Regional Hub for Agriculture
20:56 Encouragement for Potential Candidates

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Hamish Irvine, Head of Southern States at Halter Australia, to explore the technology, leadership and mindset driving one of agriculture’s fastest-growing companies.

Growing up on a mixed farming operation in western New South Wales, Hamish always imagined a future on the land. But after drought forced a change in direction, his career took him through the meat industry, global supply chains and commercial leadership before landing at Halter, the virtual fencing and livestock management company now transforming grazing systems across Australia and New Zealand.

This conversation goes beyond the technology itself. Hamish shares the lessons that shaped his career, what it takes to build high-performing teams, and why feedback, accountability and culture are critical in fast-growing businesses. He also unpacks how Halter is helping farmers rethink labour, pasture management and livestock performance through virtual fencing and real-time animal insights.

From career progression and leadership to innovation and the future of livestock farming, this is a conversation about embracing change and creating impact.

Key insights from the conversation:

• How growing up on a family farm and experiencing drought shaped Hamish’s career journey
• Why stepping outside traditional agriculture career pathways can create unexpected opportunities
• The lessons learned from building a career across meat processing, sales and agribusiness leadership
• What high-performance culture looks like in practice and why feedback is central to success
• How Halter uses virtual fencing and animal insights to transform livestock management
• The three biggest drivers of value for farmers: pasture utilisation, labour efficiency, and animal health
• Why adopting new technology requires trust, clear outcomes and a willingness to change
• How innovation is reshaping the future of livestock farming and creating new opportunities across agriculture
• The importance of leadership, ownership and accountability in building successful teams
• Why agriculture needs more people focused on solving industry challenges rather than following traditional career paths

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Halter and Hamish Irvine
02:05 Career Path and Early Experiences
04:37 The Importance of Diverse Experiences
08:37 Reflections on Career Choices
10:37 Leadership and Team Building at Halter
12:17 Transitioning to Halter: Embracing Change
20:13 High-Performance Culture at Halter
26:56 The Art of Feedback and Communication
30:18 The Birth of Halter: A Journey from Dairy Farming to Tech Innovation
34:37 Expanding Horizons: Halter's Growth in Australia
37:36 Understanding Farmer Needs: The Halter Approach
39:59 Building Trust: Overcoming Skepticism in Agriculture
43:45 Transformational Technology: The Future of Farming
46:42 Bridging Agriculture and Technology: The Ideal Candidate
48:07 The Future of Agriculture: Opportunities and Challenges

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli heads to the windswept coastline of Seaspray in Gippsland to sit down with first-generation farmer Danna Boulton.

Growing up just down the road on her family’s dairy farm, Danna always dreamed of farming - but like many young Australians, the pathway to ownership wasn’t straightforward. After building a career as a teacher, making sacrifices, studying the land market for years, and leaning on the right support networks, she found her opportunity.

Today, Danna is three years into running her own beef operation on “the island” at the Honeysuckles - a unique coastal property she now calls home. With support from her family, a rural financial counsellor, her bank, and a RIC AgriStarter Loan, she’s been able to take that leap into ownership and build a business from the ground up.

This episode explores patience, persistence, and the reality of doing it on your own - while also highlighting the importance of community, financial support, and backing yourself when the opportunity finally comes.

RIC is the Australian Government’s farm business lender providing low-interest loans to help farmers establish a first farm business and support with succession arrangements.

Key insights from the conversation:

• Non-linear pathways into farming and first-generation ownership
• The power of patience and studying the market over time
• Making sacrifices to build a deposit and create opportunity
• The role of support networks - family, advisors, and community
• Using finance to reduce pressure and enable sustainable growth
• Learning to ask for help and manage risk on your own

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Farming Life

02:23 Growing Up on a Dairy Farm

05:11 Transitioning from Teaching to Farming

08:09 Navigating Financial Challenges in Farming

10:51 Acquiring Land and Starting a Farm

13:59 Support Systems in Farming

16:37 Challenges of Solo Farming

19:34 Advice for Aspiring Farmers