Farmers Speak on Workforce Gaps

Panel | Farmers doing it for themselves

Necessity-driven innovation has been at the heart of agriculture for generations and now farmers are developing their own tech and creating their own platforms for many reasons. Yes, the disconnect between Silicon Valley and day-to-day realities on the ground is real — but does it go deeper? Historically, farmers have always been inventors. From the chaser bin to electric wool presses, jetting races to mobile sheep feeders, so many tools and systems now considered “standard” were dreamt up and built in someone’s farm workshop because nothing off-the-shelf would do the job. This isn’t a new phenomenon — what’s changed is the accessibility of tools like sensors, coding platforms, AI and additive manufacturing, which are now within reach of those same DIY mindsets. Join this panel and meet four ag entrepreneurs who felt inspired, got sick of waiting for someone else to come up with the goods and  just gave it a burl to find solutions for problems that maybe you just had to be there to understand.
 

About Hannah

Hannah Bamford is a highly driven agricultural professional, rural contractor, and the founder of AgWorks Solutions, a platform designed to connect farmers with skilled agricultural contractors. Hannah’s diverse career spans civil construction and earthmoving, public service including six years as a Marine Tactical Officer for the Australian Border Force, where she worked in high-pressure environments enforcing Australian laws and safeguarding national borders. Her experience in these industries has shaped her adaptability, leadership, and problem-solving skills—qualities she has carried into her successful career in agriculture.

Despite not growing up on a farm, Hannah’s passion for the industry led her to establish a thriving rural contracting business, which inspired the creation of Ag-Work Solutions. Hannah is committed to strengthening the agricultural workforce by expanding industry networks, filling workplace gaps and creating and developing a training facility to introduce new entrants to farming careers. Professional, resourceful, and future-focused, Hannah is dedicated to breaking barriers and driving innovation in Australian agriculture.