Young Beef Producers Forum

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Young Beef Producers Forum

YBPF is an annual conference held in Roma, QLD for young people passionate about beef production on the 19-20 November 2026

The YBPF is a two day conference focused on providing educational, networking and capacity building opportunities for u40 year olds with an interest in the beef industry. The event is proudly hosted by the Future Farmers Network. Now in its 17th year, the YBPF is of the highest quality, inspiring, engaging and life changing - equipping young beef producers to make a difference in all aspects of their lives, including on-farm, off-farm, family, personal and business related areas. So whether you’re a beef producer, involved in a family business or have a connection with the industry, this year’s Young Beef Producers’ Forum is simply not to be missed.

28/10/2026

✨SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT ✨

Helen Ruddy has spent more than two decades working alongside regional businesses, primary producers and families, helping them navigate everything from business growth to succession planning. She’s passionate about building strong relationships and helping clients plan confidently for the future.

Helen joined the BMO team in April 2013 with a background in accounting and agribusiness-banking roles based at Miles and St George. With a Bachelor of Commerce under her belt and qualified CPA status, Helen brings with her strong qualifications in accounting and taxation. In 2023, Helen become an associate at BMO, joining the management team, as we begin succession planning and growing her client base. In October 2025 Helen became a Partner, purchasing into the business and joining our existing Partners group to represent the next generation of BMO’s leadership.

Helen was drawn to BMO from not only a personal reference but also the flexible working arrangements and supportive team environment. Having grown up at Drillham, Helen has a synergy with farming enterprises and enjoys helping them to achieve results for their business.

26/10/2026

🌟SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT🌟

Tim was appointed as a Beef Extension Officer with the Department of Primary Industries based at Roma in early 2009. For eight years he helped organise and deliver extension activities and was involved in projects/demos focused on genetics, NLIS as a management tool, next gen, high output forages and the economics of different finishing systems.

In 2017 he joined the Tropical Beef Technology Services (TBTS) team as a Technical Officer on a 4.5-year secondment from DPI. With TBTS, he was still based in Roma but travelled extensively across QLD/NT/WA working closely with both seedstock and commercial producers, with the goal of increasing the adoption of BREEDPLAN and associated genetic technologies.

Since returning to extension with DPI in July 2021, he has heavily supported producers with Farm Business Resilience Plans (>120 to date) and had some involvement in the Advancing Beef Leaders Program. He regularly gets asked to deliver breeding and genetics focused presentations across the state (ad hoc/Breeding EDGE/BredWell FedWell) and fields countless enquiries on the topic.

Tim is involved in his parents’ nearby beef business, owns a small breeding herd (40 females) and enjoys travelling the world learning about global agricultural production systems. He was a long-standing (13 years) organising committee member of YBPF and was named a Zanda McDonald Award Finalist in 2021.

26/10/2026

✨SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT ✨

“From Beef to a Bottle Business”

Lewis Co-Founded YOWY alongside Rick Morrison. They’ve designed and manufactured the only square 6L stainless steel water bottle, specifically for ringers. Founded in 2024 it’s now grown to 270+ retail stores across Australia.

Lewis & Rick have proudly partnered with countless charities and non for profits, aiming to give back and support those in the bush where they need it most.

They’ve donated over $80,000 in the last 2 years to various organisations and hope to keep increasing this into the future.

24/10/2026

⭐️SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT⭐️

“Why Every Young Producer Needs to Know Biosecurity”

Kristie Lisle is a Central Queensland grazier, businesswoman and passionate advocate for agriculture and regional communities.

Together with her husband Matt and their two children, Kristie operates a cattle trading and backgrounding business across multiple Queensland properties, with their home property, Moonkan Park, located west of Rockhampton. Their business has grown significantly over recent years, trading cattle across regions and continually investing in infrastructure — including a full rebuild of water, fencing and yards — alongside stronger grazing systems and a more resilient operation overall.

Kristie brings a strong business background to agriculture, with more than 12 years’ experience across finance and bookkeeping and a Diploma in Agribusiness. She is a graduate of the Advancing Beef Leaders Program and has continued her involvement as a mentor and Finance Coordinator.

In 2026, Kristie was selected as a Queensland Biosecurity Ambassador, an opportunity that complements her growing interest in the practical biosecurity risks that come with changing land use, and in strengthening awareness across agriculture and the broader community.

Away from the business, Kristie is a rural mum, school bus operator and active member of her local community who believes some of agriculture’s best conversations happen when we are willing to share the lessons we’ve learnt along the way.

22/10/2026

🌟SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT 🌟

“Regeneration - Questioning the Narrative”

Jack and Georgie’s connection to the beef industry began from an early age, both growing up in family beef breeding operations. Jack’s early years were spent in Morven, where his parents established their commercial cattle business. Following the expansion of the operation into the Begonia district, Jack moved into a management role which he has held for the past five years. Georgie grew up in Central Queensland where her parents operated a brahman seedstock business focused on producing low input, adapted genetics. The family is now based in the Western Downs and Georgie has completed a Bachelor of Agribusiness with the University of New England.

Today, Georgie works alongside Jack managing 30,000 hectares of backgrounding country as part of the family operation. Their shared interest in regenerative agriculture is centred around working with the landscape and understanding how cattle, country and people can work together. They are continually looking for ways to improve their grazing and livestock management, with adapted genetics, good stockmanship and capable working dogs all playing a part in the way they run their operation.

Jack and Georgie are participants in the 2026 Lachlan Hughes Foundation Program. The program has provided opportunities for them to extend their Regenerative Agriculture knowledge, learn from others and broaden their perspective. They believe progress comes from staying curious, being open to different ideas and having the willingness to give new things a go.

18/10/2026

YBPF is just 32 days away! Let’s start thinking Beef Without Borders with a few global market facts about Australian beef 🌏🥩

Tickets are currently sold out! Any last-minute tickets that become available will be offered to those on the waitlist.

16/10/2026

⭐️SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT ⭐️

“Livestock handling that is going to elevate the cattle industry’s profitability”

Clancy Mackay is the founder of Dust Devil Stockhandling, a practical livestock-handling training business working across Australian cattle stations and feedlots.

Raised in the cattle industry in the NT, Clancy developed his stockmanship skills working cattle from horseback. He later spent approximately seven years mustering professionally as a helicopter pilot throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory. This experience gave him a practical understanding of cattle behaviour and how it affects safety, productivity and livestock performance.

Through Dust Devil Stockhandling, Clancy and his team work with some of Australia’s leading cattle businesses, including JBS, AACo and NAPCo. Their training is delivered while normal production continues, allowing staff to immediately apply the principles to the cattle and challenges in front of them.

Clancy & business partner Peter Lord’s goal is to build staff confidence and reduce risk to people, livestock and equipment. The results can include calmer cattle, safer workplaces, fewer injuries, reduced bruising and dark cutters, and more efficient processing. Which can save large operations thousands of dollars each year.

Clancy is passionate about making good stockmanship practical and useful across every part of the beef industry—from northern cattle stations to large commercial feedlots.

16/10/2026

✨SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT ✨

“Sharing practical techniques for safer, more cost-effective cattle handling and better stockmanship”

Peter “Skinny Pete” Lord is a cattleman, businessman and partner in Dust Devil Stockhandling, with extensive practical experience working cattle across a wide range of Australian beef operations.

Pete has spent much of his working life around cattle, including significant experience with feral cattle, mustering with horses and motorbikes, and working alongside helicopters. He has also done extensive day work across all types of cattle properties, from large company-owned operations to smaller family businesses. His experience includes working in large and small teams and completely on his own.

These experiences have given Pete a strong understanding of cattle, the people who work with them and the different challenges faced across the industry. He has a genuine passion for cattle and believes that working cattle kindly, calmly and intelligently is not only better for the animals, but can also be one of the most effective ways to reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase the profitability of a cattle business.

Through Dust Devil Stockhandling, Pete delivers practical stock-handling schools for cattle stations and feedlots, helping businesses develop better stockmanship while identifying ways to work cattle more safely and efficiently.

Pete strongly believes that good stockmanship isn’t something you simply have to be a “natural” at. It is a skill that can be learnt, developed and passed on.

13/10/2026

🌟MC ANNOUNCEMENT 🌟

The YBPF committee is thrilled to welcome Kaitie Nash back to the stage this year as our MC for the 2026 Young Beef Producers Forum!

We were fortunate to hear from Kaitie as a speaker in 2024 when she spoke candidly about her story as a city girl turned First Time Farmer - navigating the challenges of rural life with humour and humility. Since joining her husbands family farm in 2018, Kaitie has faced numerous challenges that tested her resilience and determination.

In November 2023, she chose to share her journey online, connecting with people worldwide and showcasing the realities of farm life. Through her authentic storytelling, Kaitie aims to inspire others as they embark on their first time farmer journeys, by providing a sense of belonging and raising awareness about the importance of Agriculture in our lives.

We cannot wait to have Kaitie on stage throughout the two days, keeping us on track, and everyone in check!

29/09/2026

Brendan Cullen hid severe depression for years behind hard work and “nah, I’m fine” - until the day he walked into Broken Hill hospital and asked for help.

What came next nobody saw coming: the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, a book, and a message that all Young Beef Producer Forum attendees are lucky enough to hear.

He’s got red dirt and a hell of a story.

Address

Roma, QLD
4455

Website

http://www.ybpf.com.au/

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