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The Angus Table

The Angus Table

By: Scott Wright CEO Angus Australia
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 Welcome to the new look Angus Australia podcast. This season we'll be bringing you conversations designed to add real value to your business. As members of Angus Australia, you'll hear from the people across the breed and the wider beef industry sharing insights, stories, and ideas that really matter.Copyright © 2025, Angus Australia, All rights reserved.
Episodes
  • Episode 31 | How WA Angus Builds Community Across Distance, with Jess Dewar

    Episode 31 | How WA Angus Builds Community Across Distance, with Jess Dewar
    Jun 22 2026
    In this Western Australia-focused episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with Jess Dewar, co-operator of Ardcairnie Angus Stud and volunteer editor of the Western Australian Angus News.Jess shares her journey from Perth retail management to agriculture, meeting husband Joe in 2018 and purchasing Ardcairnie Angus in 2020 from life members Jim and Pam McGregor.She discusses the unique WA Angus community, which represents 44% of the state's cattle breed and emphasises larger frames and foot structure for distance and demanding soil.Jess’s WA Angus committee volunteer work includes coordinating the spring walk at feedlot facilities and the Farm Weekly heifer competition which generates 21,000+ entries annually, as well as the gold-standard in Angus publications, the WA Angus News.Jess and Scott discuss her Gen Angus program experience and why she highly recommends the program, and the opportunities and challenges facing the breed as it grows across WA's 1,200-kilometre geographic spread.So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for this conversation about building community across distance and the power of volunteer leadership in regional Angus.Key topics covered:About the makeup of Angus in WA, including geographical spread and what differentiates WA Angus breeding approach from eastern statesJess’s journey from Perth retail management into agriculture after meeting her husband Joe in 2018, and their purchase of Ardcanie Angus stud in 2020 from Jim and Pam McGregorHow Ardkanie Angus operates, combining seed stock/commercial cattle, grain, hay and Merino sheep across 400kmThe impact and longevity of the WA Angus News publication (37 years, since 1989), producing a biannual 60-70 page magazine with advertiser support that reaches Angus breeders across the state and even internationallyWA Angus committee activities including the spring walk in September at feedlot/processors, heifer competition with Farm Weekly (21,000+ entries annually November-February), AGM and workshop day in JanuaryJess’s takeaways from the Gen Angus Program, including the benefits of the network and connections, and the supportive mentorship from Simone Bond (SA Angus VP)The importance of different roles in a farming family, and valuing each person’s contributions and strengths, whether in the home or the paddockThe strength of the WA Angus community, which keeps the focus on promoting Angus and supporting the next generation, building collaboration with a warm welcoming culture and leveraging the diversity of experience in the groupHow Jess lives her values of follow-through, transparency in decision making, respect for diversity across geographic extremes, and staying grounded and practical through life on the farmThe many opportunities ahead for WA Angus, including continued commercial growth driven by proven on-farm results, premium beef programs and export market strength, and the next generation embracing data/geneticsThe challenges of maintaining community connection across 1,200km geographic spread requiring ongoing effort, market and seasonal variability requiring producer resilience, staying practical and relevant with value-add committee decisions.Why Angus Australia is rolling out DNA verification programs to address integrity and the challenge of other breeds ‘piggybacking’ on Angus successHow Jess’ personal background as a competitive surfer and growing up in a male-dominated sport shaped her communication styleThe mentorships Jess has benefited from, including Pam McGregor and her husband Joe’s farming knowledge driving Jess’ industry engagement and enthusiasmWhy Jess’ best beef eating experience is more about the people and the location than the beef itselfContact details:This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn ++Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +CREDITS:Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email ceo@angusaustralia.com.auProducer: Mel Strasburg mel.strasburg@angusaustralia.com.auAudio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au
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    58 mins
  • Re-Release: Helping Farming Families Through Adversity with Rural Aid CEO John Warlters

    Re-Release: Helping Farming Families Through Adversity with Rural Aid CEO John Warlters
    Jun 15 2026
    In this re-release of our most heartfelt episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with John Warlters, CEO of Rural Aid, for an important conversation about supporting farming families through disasters and everyday adversity.John shares insights from Rural Aid's 11-year journey since forming during the 2015 drought, the remarkable scale of their impact, how trust guides every decision as their north star principle, and the importance of being visible in communities rather than waiting for crisis moments.They discuss John's journalism background preparing him for this role, the challenge of balancing strategic thinking with operational response, the importance of mental health support for all but especially for rural families, and why the difficult act of asking for help opens doors to support.So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for insights on community resilience and the organization making a difference for rural Australia.Key topics covered:How Rural Aid supports farmers first, their families, and communities as proudly farmer-focused organisationThe scale of impact since 2015: 200,000 bales of hay, 100 million litres of household drinking water, prepaid Visa cards ($1,500 typical value) empowering individuals to meet specific needs with money flowing back to local communitiesRural Aid’s national network of 10 counsellors seeing producers on-farm where possible in order to break down barriers around potential judgment or stigmaErica Halliday's story of receiving Rural Aid support during 2017-19 drought, then joining the board to give back to organisation that helped her familyTrust as Rural Aid’s guiding principle: donors trust that funds reach the right people at right time, producers trust the organisation when making themselves vulnerable by asking for helpWhy Rural Aid waits for recovery phase rather than emergency response to avoid getting in way of front line and emergency servicesThe dairy farmer who said he was "a little bit broken on the inside," put on smiley face each morning thinking that's what his family needed, but counselling helped him recognise he needed help and it completely changed his outlookHow strategic thinking challenges John when operational response demands constant attention, and he balancing act between mental health counsellors on ground vs immediate disaster relief capacityHow everyday challenges (rising costs, fluctuating prices, health scares, succession planning) need support beyond disaster context, not just emergency eventsLooking to 2030: growing to 20,000+ registered producers (currently 18,500) and amplifying Rural Aid’s voice to governmentJohn’s simple call to action: ask for help if you need it, phone 1300 327 624Relevant links mentioned in the episode:Rural Aid https://www.everystep.ruralaid.org.au/Phone: 1300 327 624Contact details:This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/+Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn ++Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +CREDITS:Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email ceo@angusaustralia.com.auProducer: Mel Strasburg mel.strasburg@angusaustralia.com.auAudio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au
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    48 mins
  • Re-Release: A Century of Angus Cattle in Central Australia with Paul Smith, Tieyon Station

    Re-Release: A Century of Angus Cattle in Central Australia with Paul Smith, Tieyon Station
    Jun 10 2026

    In this re-release episode of The Angus Table, host Scott Wright sits down with Paul Smith from Tieyon Station in Central Australia for a remarkable conversation about 100 years of Angus cattle breeding in one of the world's driest cattle regions.

    Paul shares how his great-grandfather Frank ordered a van of Angus bulls from a newspaper ad in 1925, walked them 100 kilometers from the railhead, and slowly replaced all Shorthorns to create the only pure Angus herd remaining in Central Australia.

    They discuss managing 6,500 square kilometers (650,000 hectares) with just 2-4 staff, breeding and finishing cattle with under 200mm average rainfall, designing cows specifically for the landscape through EBV selection, surviving the 2018-21 drought while managing his wife's breast cancer diagnosis, and why temperament, structure and attitude matter more than anything else.

    So pull up a chair at the Angus Table for an inspiring story of resilience, innovation, and custodianship in Australia's red centre.

    This podcast is proudly brought to you by Angus Australia https://www.angusaustralia.com.au/

    +Follow Angus Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X + LinkedIn +

    +Follow Angus Youth Australia on + Facebook + Instagram + X +

    CREDITS:

    Host: Scott Wright, CEO. Get in touch via email ceo@angusaustralia.com.au

    Producer: Mel Strasburg mel.strasburg@angusaustralia.com.au

    Audio editing and post-production: Ellen Ronalds Keene at https://perkdigital.com.au
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    53 mins
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