Know Your Numbers & Become A Stronger, More Profitable Farm Owner

Benita joined the FOA coaching team in 2020 and gains tremendous satisfaction supporting members to set and get their goals. Her role ties together Benita’s background and experience in coaching, agriculture and small business, as well as her passion for personal development and entrepreneurship. Benita is part of a family farming operation producing grain, seedstock and commercial beef cattle near Moonie in the Western Downs of Southern Qld. She and her husband Adam completed the Platinum Mastermind program in February 2023 and have experienced its benefits firsthand. From a career in the beef industry, to extension, marketing, communications and coaching, supporting others to be their best and create the results they desire has always been at the heart of Benita’s work. Alongside the farm and her FOA work, Benita is a Mum of four boys, Motherhood Coach, writer, speaker and podcaster.

John is our technical wizard here at Farm Owners Academy. With over 9 years of experience, he is responsible for managing our website, database, and digital marketing. As the go-to person for all tech-related matters, John’s expertise ensures that our online platforms are cutting-edge, user-friendly, and optimized to deliver an exceptional learning experience. His unwavering commitment to excellence and expertise in technology make him an invaluable asset to our team.

With over 8 years of experience providing support to both executives and wider teams, Michaela is an accomplished Administrative professional. Over her career, Michaela has worked with a diverse range of clients and a broad range of industries, most recently as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Principal of a large private School. Michaela holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Macquarie University, and volunteers her spare time as a Telephone Counsellor with Lifeline Australia.

Leah joins FOA with over 20 years of administration/executive assistant background in engineering and defence. She is a jack of all trades who brings her can-do and fun attitude to everything she does.

Andrew Roberts is an executive coach with 20 of years experience, a serial entrepreneur and a business scaling specialist. He has started, built and sold three 7 figure companies. The son of a New England wool grower, Andrew is well known as one of Australia’s leading business mentors, is a Strategic Business specialist, and has been instrumental as a mentor for a host of companies featured in various Business Review Weekly Top 100 lists.

Alison is a 4th generation livestock producer, and together with her family, she has operated in both seedstock and commercial beef cattle production. Alison, her husband Andrew and their two small children, are based near Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina. For the past 12 years, Alison has worked as a consultant to the livestock sector. She is particularly passionate about helping producers improve efficiency in their operation with a strong focus on data and production records. Alison thrives on supporting and working with producers and being part of their growth journey.

Tim Freak – Short bio Coming Soon!

Cheryl is a founding member of Farm Owners Academy, having started her journey in 2015 at a TOP Producers Workshop. She grew up on a farm, worked as a lecturer in rural studies & now runs a mixed farming business in South Australia. Cheryl has experienced first-hand the positive influence and beneficial impact FOA has on farming families and businesses and is now using her wealth of experience to help our farmers gain more profitability and freedom.

David is a founding member of Farm Owners Academy, having started his journey in 2015 at a TOP Producers Workshop. David owns a farm on Kangaroo Island and is now one of the premier livestock producers in Australia. David is a passionate advocate for the power of a positive mindset, consistent learning & creating a business that follows your passion & values.

Tracy brings 30 years of business experience to her role as Head Coach for Farm Owners Academy. Tracy helps you make the small shifts that allow you to increase your profits while decreasing your time working in the business. Tracy specialises in helping you identify the thing holding you back from your ideal health, purpose and lifestyle.

Sam is an experienced executive with strong leadership and business analysis skills gained through 10 years of consulting in the construction industry. During which, Sam led and managed teams of over 65 people and was responsible for all areas of business leadership and management. Sam now translates these skills to the farm business context.

In addition to his previous corporate experience, Sam has been a key contributor in leading the rapid growth of his own Ag Tech business supporting clients all over Australia.

With his 10 years in corporate consulting coupled with the practical experience of leading a fast-growing start-up business, Sam helps clients focus on what is important in their business and supports them to make the robust decisions that help move them towards their goals.

Sam is passionate about the agricultural sector and is committed to delivering on Farm Owners Academy’s mission to help Australian farmers create more profit, more control, and more freedom in their business.

Hayley commenced her FOA journey in March 2018 when she joined the Platinum Mastermind Program. She has a background in business & finance and runs a mixed farming business in Western Victoria. Hayley has experienced firsthand how transformational the FOA programs are and is passionate about cultivating a positive mindset and strong financial foundations within the farming community.

Over the past 10 years, Sam has developed an extensive, large-scale free-range egg production business in south eastern NSW. The property is managed under sustainable farm management principles with a strong focus on soil, pasture, animal and financial health. Business coaching has been pivotal to their success, as has an active involvement in a mastermind initiative with passionate, like-minded farmers. With 4 young daughters, Sam & his wife now focus on supporting their farm team, whilst prioritising personal, family and community objectives.

Marina started her FOA journey in 2015 as part of the Platinum Mastermind program and continues to be involved with FOA as an Alumni member. She runs a self-replacing merino and dual-purpose flock on Kangaroo Island with her husband Brett and three young kids. They are building a stand-alone farm business to open up their future for new careers while keeping their multigenerational family farm going. To her coaching role, Marina also brings her previous experience as an accountant, banker and farm manager to her Coaching role with FOA.

With his wife Annie and four daughters, Rick has been farming at Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, for the past 24 years. The farming system has evolved to becoming a self-replacing maternal ewe flock turning off both store lambs to be grown out elsewhere and replacement ewe lambs with emphasis on weaning percentages, early maturity and do-ability (fat, muscle, worm resistance). Rick has a passion for producing fast-growing, healthy stock from healthy soil with a huge emphasis on lamb survival.

Having gained a Bachelor of Ag Science (Hons.) at Adelaide Uni, Rick spent four years as an agronomist with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture in the mid 90’s and continued practising as a private agronomist on KI for another ten years before getting more serious with the farm, family and fishing. This background has fuelled his passion for soil fertility and plant production.