# 179 - Touring to 50+ FOA Farms Across Australia with Tim and Cheryl Freak

“You’re doing better than you think.” It’s the simple, powerful reminder that Tim and Cheryl Freak leave behind after every farm visit.

In this episode, I sit down with two of our long-time FOA members and coaches, Tim and Cheryl, who have spent the past three years deeply embedded in our community, supporting hundreds of farm businesses across Australia. This year alone, they’ve completed more than 50+ full day, in-person visits and share rare insight into what’s really going on in farming right now.

From drought-hit sheep properties in Victoria, to feedlot expansions in NSW, to cropping and irrigation operations in Queensland, they’ve sat at kitchen tables and walked paddocks, helping farming families align around a shared vision, map out their next steps, and reconnect with why they’re doing what they’re doing.

They bring a fresh perspective, often seeing things that others can’t because they’re too close to it. Whether it’s spotting simple changes, helping families refocus on what really matters, or gently challenging assumptions, their approach is grounded in experience and care.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The key themes from their farm visits, from confinement feeding and breed decisions, to water shortages, machinery investments and more
• How the most effective operators are thinking strategically, knowing their numbers, and making informed decisions even in tight seasons
• Succession planning, and the honest conversations that many families avoid but desperately need to have
• The power of having a clear Clarity Action Plan that brings the whole team into alignment, and maps a path forward
• Why investing in your people and seeing your team as an asset, not a cost, is key to building a business that lasts
• The importance of finding joy, creating harmony, and celebrating wins along the way

What Tim & Cheryl bring to these visits with fresh eyes, deep understanding, and a tonne of lived experience is gold.

They often walk into some homes where stress is written all over people’s faces and by the time they leave, there’s a visible shift. Shoulders ease. Confidence returns. People stand a little taller, not because everything’s perfect, but because they’re clearer, calmer, and more focused on what matters most.

Whether you’re a grazier in Victoria, a cropper in NSW, a dairy operator navigating burnout, or running a mixed-enterprise with a family team, there’s something in this one for you.

Tim and Cheryl, you have given yourselves fully and wholeheartedly to this community. You have helped families feel seen, supported, and stronger through some of their most challenging moments. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for the care, wisdom, and compassion you continue to share so generously.

Let’s get into it.

Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team