Rural Life, Farming and Community Involvement with Sandra Ireson
Like many people in rural Australia, Sandra Ireson has this level of optimism, realness and a willingness to know that sometimes the only way to get things moving in her community is to roll her sleeves up.
“We went through some really tough times in 2009 and 2010, when the river stopped…I think having that experience just makes it easier [at the moment]” - Sandra said,
It’s this sense of optimism and lived experience that Sandra takes into her farming business, reflecting that for others without that experience it can be really a much harsher and difficult experience for them.
“My husbands father used to always say ‘sell and repent, but sell’
They’re constantly assessing a variety of factors including seasonal conditions, livestock prices, and weather forecasts just to name a few.
Twelve months ago, the floods on their family property near Booligal in Western NSW meant they were only able to access parts of the property by motorbike. Fast forward to late 2023 and although there is ‘good feed in the paddocks’, they know the declared El Nino usually brings drier and more challenging times.
“[We’re] thinking about what’s happened in the past and what worked and what didn’t and trying not to get too caught up in the hype and the media about how bad it is, how bad it is going to be, it’s just part of our business”
Image supplied by Sandra Ireson
Beyond the business, Sandra is the type of person who wears many hats; a volunteer in various community groups, actively involved in the livestock industry as a red meat ambassador. When we discovered her several years ago, it was her impact bringing young people into the sector and letting them experience the ‘everyday’ of farmers in her district.
“I noticed the population loss when my eldest child was born in 1998. I turned around one day and realised that 12 of the families that had moved to the community had left the district. In 2011, Hay had the fastest falling population in the country.”
Not wanting to be one to sit on the sidelines, Sandra knew that there was so much to share about Hay, about the region and about agriculture. It was this realisation that led her to establish Hay Inc 10 years ago, alongside several other volunteers. Providing an opportunity to grow the exposure of city kids to country life in Hay, NSW. “The feedback was amazing”
“I just thought one of these young boys could be our future Prime Minister, if they get this one chance to learn about where their food comes from… you never know where it could lead”
And it’s with that attitude that Sandra continues to create waves and opportunities for so many others.
Find Sandra’s podcast via your favourite podcast app or hit play below!
Sandra is one of those people who is super involved in the community and seems to juggle a lot - she volunteers in various groups, she's got the family farming business, and she also wants to contribute to the industry. She's also been involved with a few different programs through Meat and Livestock Australia (this week episode sponsor) Red Meat Ambassadors Program.