In this episode of The Grounded Farmer, we flip the mic to hear the story behind co-host Jack Owen—author, farmer, and passionate advocate for the human side of agriculture. From growing up on a family farm to burning out while chasing the hustle, Jack shares a refreshingly honest look at his journey through trades, crutching trailers, and ultimately back to the land. But this isn’t just a story about work—it’s about redefining worth, shifting priorities, and realising that farming success is about more than productivity. Jack opens up about the early pressure to prove himself, the pivotal mindset shifts that changed how he leads, and why he’s now more focused on building a life that fits rather than just surviving seasons. He also unpacks what drove him to write You Are Not Your Farm and start this podcast—to make the personal conversations in agriculture a whole lot more common. This is an episode for anyone who’s ever tied their identity to their output, questioned if they’re doing enough, or wondered what it might look like to do things differently.
· You don’t need a certificate to take over a multi-million dollar farm—but maybe you should. Jack reflects on the responsibility that comes with stepping into farm ownership without formal training and how that realisation shaped his approach.
· Success isn’t just about effort—it’s about impact. Early on, Jack believed working seven days a week meant he wouldn’t fail. Now, he’s focused on high-value tasks, strategic decisions, and letting go of the need to prove his worth through sheer effort.
· There’s no silver bullet in farming—just better questions. After years of chasing operational fixes, Jack discovered the real game-changer was improving his thinking, financial literacy, and decision-making.
· You are not your farm. Jack’s core message is simple but profound: your self-worth isn’t tied to seasonal outcomes, commodity prices, or paddock performance. It’s time to detach your identity from your productivity.
· The farm is a vehicle—not your whole identity. Jack wants farmers to see their work as a means to build the life they want, not the sum total of who they are. Business is cyclical, and so is life.
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