Episode 202 - You Don’t Have to Inherit a Farm to Build a Great One

Achieving a successful startup as a first-generation farmer is a tough assignment. On top of that, achieving a ‘direct to consumer, first generation farm’ is even harder. Tens of thousands, as you all know, have tried. Very few have succeeded. 

Meet Tim and Hannah and The Food Farm. 

Their story is remarkable. Their passion inspiring. Their determination unwavering. 
5 years ago, Tim was a sole-operator contractor… surviving on borrowed machinery and blind faith. Hannah an opera singer from inner-Adelaide. Their first $2,000 came from a potato harvest festival that was nearly washed out by floods. It bought their first chicken caravan, towed home to New South Wales from Victoria. 

Today, and where they've arrived to is something to be immensely proud of. Tim and Hannah now lead a team of ten, run their own on-farm butchery, and grow pasture-raised chicken that has been awarded at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show three times. Their organic, quality produce and endeavour even earned them a recent audience with our King!  

Every week, 600 to 700 people sit down to beautiful produce grown by Tim, Hannah and their passionate team. 

In this episode, Tim, Hannah and I explore: 

• the mindset shift that saw them focus and scale their revenues; 

• why direct-to-consumer farmers are really competing with their own self-worth, more so than the supermarkets; 

• the challenges of hiring (and firing) then building their now dedicated team, and learning to lead as young business owners; and 

• the personal development work that has underpinned their growth and success. 

Entrepreneurship is ‘jumping off a cliff and building the parachute on the way down’. Tim and Hannah do that constantly and as their way of doing business… and now, as Hannah says, "we have built a business that can buy a farm." 

So, a question for you: could it be more the internal battle-mindset, self-doubt and self-worth that is holding you back? 

Thank you, Tim and Hannah, for sharing it all so openly - the wins, the hardships and challenges. Thank you also for championing for all Aussie farmers and for helping share a positive story for all that we all do on-farm. It has been an honour to be part of your journey.
 
To more young, brilliant and energetic first-generation farmers backing themselves! 

We have your back. 

Hutch & Team 

P.S. Find out more about Tim and Hannah on  The Food Farm website, and read their story here. 

P.P.S It’s pretty special to think Tim and Hannah’s journey with us all started at TOP Producers. If you’re wondering what it could open up for you and your farm business, come and join us at the next one. 👉 Start building your Freedom Farm