In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down in the paddock with Brodie Game, who shares how she and her husband Kevin went from milking two cows on a travelling stock reserve to building a high-performing dairy business in the Bega Valley.
Along the way, they’ve navigated drought, fire, financial constraints - and the reality of being first-generation farmers without a clear roadmap.
This episode explores the decisions, risks, and relationships that shaped their journey - and how access to the right finance help such as the RIC at the right time helped accelerate their growth.
RIC is the Australian Government’s farm business lender providing low-interest loans for farmers and farm-related small businesses to prepare for, manage through and recover from tough financial times.
Key insights from the conversation:
- First-generation farming and non-traditional pathways
- Building a business without owning land initially
- The role of relationships and reputation in agriculture
- Risk, resilience, and long-term thinking
- Using finance as a strategic tool - not just survival
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Brodie and Kevin's Journey
01:53 The Landscape of Bega Valley
03:18 Early Interests in Agriculture
04:51 The Path to Dairy Farming
06:51 The Love Story and Partnership
07:40 Understanding Share Farming
09:10 Transitioning to Leasing
11:15 The Importance of Networking
12:10 Acquiring Their Own Farm
14:10 The Role of Community Support
15:37 Daily Life on the Farm
17:26 Ownership vs. Leasing in Farming
19:32 The Value of Dairy Farming
20:51 Exploring Ag Tech Innovations
22:19 Investment Decisions in Farming
24:37 Utilising Finance for Growth
27:31 Future Aspirations and Growth
29:09 Vulnerability and Accountability in Farming
31:32 Pride in Their Achievements