# 168 - A Shout-Out to the Great Work of Agri-Entrepreneurs - The Wayne Perkinz Story

Every great innovation starts with a question — Could this be done better?

For Wayne Perkins, that question came in a wool shed, with a busted back, and a view of shearing that hadn’t changed in a century. He wasn’t looking to build a business. He was looking to fix a problem.

And in true agri-entrepreneur fashion, what followed was part invention, part persistence — and one heck of a story.

In this episode, we shine a light on the doers. The tinkerers. The farm-based problem-solvers who aren’t waiting for permission — they’re out there building something better.

Wayne Perkins is the founder of Perkinz, and the creator of the CrutchMaster and ShearMaster — two breakthrough systems in sheep handling that have become a lifeline for farmers and shearers across Australia and New Zealand. Backed by a background in shearing and solid grounding in farming, Wayne's story is a raw and real account of what it takes to create, adapt, and endure.

We explore:

• Why practical farmer feedback — not engineering perfection — led to breakthroughs

• What it’s like to lead a growing business when the industry you serve is under pressure

• And why innovation sometimes starts with a hunk of steel and the belief that things can be better

Wayne has been through the wringer — financially, physically, emotionally. And yet, through all of it, he’s held onto a simple, powerful vision: make shearing better. He is one of the most determined, self-made thinkers in our space — and someone who reminds us all that real progress often starts with having a go.

If you’re an agri-entrepreneur forging your own path, this episode is for you. And if you're looking to reduce the strain and sharpen the system on your own farm, check out the Perkinz CrutchMaster and ShearMaster at perkinz.com.au.

Wayne — thank you for showing us what it means to stay the course, solve the real problems, and lead with vision (and a bit of good Kiwi cheek).

Here’s to every farmer and agri-entrepreneur asking that same question: Could this be done better?

Keep building. Keep asking. And keep believing in better.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team

P.S. If you’ve got a spark of something — an idea, a side project, a better way — the challenge is keeping it alive while everything else demands your time. That’s where our planner comes in. In just 10 minutes, it will help farm owners like you, get back in control and keep your good ideas moving forward.

👉 Click here to download your free planner