Big Things Are Changing: West Australians of the Year at Grounded 2025

The RegenNarration

Continuing our series today from Grounded Festival here in Australia, a conversation with West Australians of the Year, pioneers of Natural Intelligence Farming, and so much more beyond the farm, Dianne and Ian Haggerty.

We talk about what it’s been like being West Aussies of the Year, and farmers. And go from there, once again, into some emotional and hilarious exchanges, on what’s emerging from the year, how different things feel now, and the call to all parties to rally now towards some bigger visions.

Weaved into all that, we also further explore the incredible week that was here in WA, including their three big events: from the launch of a new Alliance at Government House, to a tour on-farm ahead of the Regenerating Food Systems conference (featured on the podcast in recent weeks), through to their first enormous community showcase event.

As it happens, the new Alliance you’ll hear about has its first development workshop today – so more on that soon. There was so much to talk about. Let’s head back to the sun-drenched green of Galloway Springs farm.

Chapter markers & transcript.

Recorded 20 September 2025.

Title image: AJ, Di and Ian on stage (pic: Alan Benson).

See more photos on the episode web page, and for more behind the scenes, become a supporting listener below.

Music:

Rowdy, by The Lonely Ramblers (sourced from Artlist).

Regeneration, by Amelia Barden.

The RegenNarration playlist, music chosen by guests.

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Chapters

1. Setting The Stakes With Leaders (00:00:00)

2. The shock of becoming West Aussies of the Year (00:01:45)

3. An extraordinary year (00:09:35)

4. Do things feel different now? (00:14:05)

5. The emotions & reality of farming while stepping up to this plate? (00:17:00)

6. Self-organising systems in reality helped make the year happen (00:19:15)

7. Is there more commitment coming with the increasing promises from people? (00:21:15)

8. A hopeful encounter with the family of the Australian of the Year (00:25:45)

9. No one here has heard of MND Alley? (00:28:16)

10. Government House is now sourcing from the Haggertys (00:29:15)

11. Calling all parties to the food hub proposal (00:33:16)

12. The mind-boggling reality of the Haggerty’s terms of trade – and the win-win on offer (00:37:26)

13. Q1 – how can we support all this? (00:40:35)

14. Q2 – the food hub is just so exciting (00:45:06)

15. Q3 (Barry Green) – How to convince governments of the economic benefits of slashing public health bills this way? (00:47:56)

16. Q4 – The bigger food vision (00:50:09)

17. Q5 – Why aren’t hospitals sourcing from our quality farmers? (00:51:26)

18. Q6 (Will Bignell) - Scaling this burned me up, do you think you can pull this off? (00:52:58)