Look again at our farming stock
BLESSED are the goat cheese producers, with a southern Tasmanian farming couple featuring in a book to capture the varying images of the country’s farmers.
Author and photographer Kim Storey spent 18 months travelling around the country, collecting a range of farmers, rather than the stereotypical old man in overalls for her book What Does a Farmer
Look Like? During October, $5 from each book purchased will be donated to beyondblue to raise mental health awareness in regional Australia.
The image of what a farmer looks like is as varied as Australia’s landscape.
Kate and Iain Field let their love of cheese drive their work at Leap Farm, using organic principles to dairy farm and make cheese on-farm at Copping. It is the home of awardwinning Tongola Cheese.
The 107ha farm, on the side of a hill with commanding views of the valley and Marion Bay, also runs about 80 Poll Hereford-Red Angus crossbred cattle and they sell their pasture-fed and chemical and hormone-free beef directly to the public.
“We love being in the book, we are passionate about farming and passionate about the future of farming,” said Dr Field, who also works parttime as an emergency specialist doctor at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
“It’s good to see so many young families in the book, it busts the stereotype a little of what people normally think a farmer looks like.
“The book shows the stunning landscape of Tasmania and reveals how the state punches above its weight.”
The Fields run a dairy goat herd of about 200 Swiss Toggenburg goats.
Ms Storey said there are smart business people who are quite positive about where the industry can go and are look- ing at improving things all the time. “I’ve tried to cover as many different types of farms as I could,” Ms Storey said.
“Australia grows nearly everything. From oysters to truffles and fruit, vegies, fish, cattle and crops. There’s some unique stuff going on too, like sheep and buffalo dairies.”
The book also shows a changing mindset among the farming community. What Does a Farmer Look
Like? is available at www.what doesafarmerlooklike.com.