Who we are.

Macintyre Ag Alliance is a not-for-profit organisation based at Goondiwindi, working with the community to achieve production and environmental outcomes across the greater Goondiwindi region. Our diverse community covers 13,000km2 and includes broadacre and dryland cereal farming, beef and sheep enterprises, cotton, irrigated farming and piggeries.

The Macintyre Ag Alliance Committee is made up of 17 local community members, including producers and agribusiness professionals, who guide the direction and activities for the Macintyre Ag Alliance area. The committee is always seeking and welcomes input from the wider community about future focus and what resources we need to bring to our agricultural community.

Our Committee

Charles Carson | Vice Chair

OCCUPATION: Farm manager

Cattle 

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Cattle, sheep and goat grazing utilising fodder crops and best management techniques. 

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA: I enjoy learning about different farm management practices with the aim for long term sustainability. I have attended multiple field days and would like to support a great rural group.

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: I grew up near Karara on a Merino sheep farm, studied agribusiness at UNE in Armidale majoring in rural Science while doing seasonal work over summer. Returned to help during the 2019 drought and haven't left, enjoying working on the land and looking after the family cattle farm near Goondiwindi.  

Sophie McInnerney | Committee

OCCUPATION: Journalist/ Farmer

I grew up on a mixed farming operation just south of Goyders Line in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. After leaving school I spent time in the NT and QLD chasing cows before completing a degree in journalism and PR at USQ Toowoomba. This led to an opportunity to work for ABC Radio where I spent seven years working predominantly as a rural reporter and program producer in SA’s Port Pirie studio.

Following the birth of our three children our family moved to Goondiwindi where we now manage an Angus/wagyu breeding operation for a local family as well as operate our own small farm east of Yelarbon.

I care deeply for our environment and I believe that as landowners we, through regenerative farming practises, can make an enormous difference to the health of not only our own patch of dirt, but our entire community and our environment as a whole.

I was so excited to discover MAA and an entire network of local people on a similar wavelength to me. I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of a forward thinking group who is working towards both environmental and farming production outcomes.

Alex Jackson | Committee

OCCUPATION: Agribusiness Manager, ANZ

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Of course agri banking, commodities, anything finance, beef cattle and dry land cropping.

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA: I am very passionate about the ag industry and love the clients and people I am lucky enough to work with on a daily basis. Organisations like Mac Ag are few and far between and after attending multiple events and being involved from a sponsorship perspective, the quality of events and education that is provided by this group is fundamental to our future in ag.

The success of these organisations though do not come without a lot of work in the background so by joining the committee I feel like this is my way of giving back to our local community whilst also learning and growing personally. There is so much knowledge we can all share as a group and but also work together to achieve our own individual goals.

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: I grew up in Goondiwindi with a background in financials planning and commodity broking and now agri banking for 12 years. My husband and I own a farm ourselves with a small cattle breeding operation.

Being involved with the bank has given me a vast range of agri knowledge, visiting different farms sometimes on daily basis and learning about the inner workings of all different farming operations, meeting like-minded people from all corners of the industry.

Rebecca Perrin | Committee

OCCUPATION: Primary Producer

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Cattle, sheep, cropping and regenerative ag.

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA/WHY YOU ENJOY BEING INVOLVED: I enjoy working in agriculture and have found MAA to organise great workshops and events. Working in ag, the environment is important to consider and by joining MAA I have an opportunity to learn more. I love being part of the community, the more I contribute, the more I get out of MAA. Of course, the social side is fun too.

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: I grew up on a farm in NSW and have worked as a jillaroo at various times. After being involved in agriculture for the last 20 years, I now enjoy the challenges of having my own farm NE of Goondiwindi.

Bryan Lahey | Chair

OCCUPATION: Landowner/manager

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Sustainable agriculture with a passion for the environment improving soil health, growing grass and raising livestock. Developing lesser soil types into productive grazing systems

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA/WHY YOU ENJOY BEING INVOLVED: A desire to give back to community and to be involved with other likeminded people

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: 

I grew up in the Wyaga district 70km NNE of Goondiwindi, became very attached to the region from an early age. I attended Ag college, tripped around Australia working on stations in the north and mixed farms in the south, tripped around UK and worked on mixed farms .

I currently operate in the same region I grew up in with my wife Sally and four grown up children (hopefully some come home one day so I can retire)

Steph Terry | Secretary

OCCUPATION: Farm hand 

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Livestock, mainly cattle. Fodder cropping and soil improvements.

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA: MAA provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with individuals who share similar interests. Being involved enables me to explore different perspectives and approaches as well as being part of a passionate and dedicated team. Allowing me to contribute to the community while also learning from others. 

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: Had a family farm up near Hughenden as a child. Following school I went back up there to work for my uncle on a cattle station. Then came down to Goondiwindi to work for a ram stud that also runs cattle and fodder cropping and haven’t left. 

Harry Selby | Committee

OCCUPATION: Grazier

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Soil health and property development. My family has a small cattle operation. My interests stem from a wish to maximise the potential of our land in order to increase the size of the operation. I think there is a lot of potential from organisations like Mac Ag to learn from other farmers and bring back the knowledge that suits your business.

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA/WHY YOU ENJOY BEING INVOLVED: It is a great opportunity to collaborate with farmers who share similar challenges that persist in the local area. After each MAA event, I enjoy applying the knowledge acquired to our own family business. 

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: I grew up on our family farm north of Goondiwindi where my family have a mix of trade cattle and F1 Wagyu breeders. After years of working within construction and engineering I have returned to Goondiwindi to work full-time on the family property.

Sarah Prior | Committee

OCCUPATION:  Part-time Farmer (and part-time work at local hospital)

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Livestock (sheep) and broadacre cropping; regenerative agriculture

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA/WHY YOU ENJOY BEING INVOLVED:  Since becoming involved in the running of our current property, I have always been keen to explore soil regeneration further and feel this can improve our resilience in both livestock and cropping enterprises. MAA is a fantastic network to be involved in with such passionate people and I jumped at the opportunity with work with them!

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: My extended family has always been broadacre and cattle farmers and I have very fond memories of family holidays at their properties! I have been involved in running our current property with my husband for past 10 years. Always keen to learn new things and try new practices though! 😊

Tom Killen | Treasurer

OCCUPATION: Grazier & Grain Grower

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: In the recent years since the 2019 drought and finishing University, I’ve taken an interest in sustainable land management to improve business resilience in both a cropping & grazing enterprise. Improving grazing practices through rotational grazing and developing an ideal crop rotation are two key areas that I intend on developing my understanding of in the coming years.

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA: It is a valuable opportunity to be able to help enable other producers to learn from one another through holding workshops & field days. Being a part of MAA will give me a valuable insight into what others are doing in the agricultural space & how we can improve practice as a whole in this great industry.

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: I grew up on our family grazing & cropping farm near Kindon. I grew up working on the family property over school holidays and then took a gap year in the Kimberley post school. After working at home & on a feedlot for a time, I went and studied a Bachelor of Agribusiness at the University of Qld. After graduating in 2019 I worked in corporate agriculture for 2 years. I now live & work on our family property.

Ian Archer | Committee

My agricultural interests include dry land cropping, innovation and technology, regenerative farming principles and risk management. 

Upon leaving school I worked for 2 years on a cattle station in North Queensland before returning home to Spring Ridge for a year. From there I went on to attend Marcus Oldham and gained a bachelor of Agribusiness. After some time working for a corporate farming group and institutional investor, I travelled to Canada and America for a 6 month working holiday. 

I now live and work with my wife on her family farm at Goondiwindi where we predominantly crop and background cattle. 

I enjoy being involved with MAA, as the group consists of progressive, forward thinkers I believe that huge advancements in agriculture are upon us and this group will be at the forefront of it. 

Fraser Webb | Committee

OCCUPATION: Farm Manager.

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Beef cattle production in southern Queensland focusing on sustainable grazing management and fodder cropping principles that utilize regenerative techniques.

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA: The MAA network is a group of like-minded producers, consultants, suppliers and alumni that I personally see value in working with. Being able to be a part of a such a unique group is a great opportunity to be at the leading edge of current and upcoming initiatives.

AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND NOTES: Growing up in a family beef breeding operation is enough to give anyone the inspiration to pursue a career in agriculture. After completing school, I studied a bachelor of spatial science and worked as a land surveyor for 7 years just to try something different. The itch to get back into agriculture has now led me into a Farm Manager position on a family farm north west of Goondiwindi, where we background trade cattle.

Tom Lahey | Committee

OCCUPATION: Grazier

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS: Born and bred in the Goondiwindi district on the family farm, my passion for soil and grazing began after a trip to the USA in 2019 looking at several regenerative ranches.

I believe there is a huge opportunity in this space, and the more we can communicate and prove these principles through organisations like Mac Ag the better.

REASON FOR BEING INVOLVED WITH MAA: I returned home at the start of 2022 after a few years in WA and a stint at university. I thought it is a good reason to join the committee to get involved with the community and to help spread positive things we’re doing in the industry.

Hannah Richters | Committee

Occupation: Farm manager & Administration Officer for family transport/ farming business

Agricultural interests: My focus is around cattle & sheep production and sustainable agriculture.  

Reason for being involved with MAA and why? 

I'm part of MAA to benefit from its positive farming networks. MAA showcases the diverse offerings of the agricultural community and fosters continuous learning which the Goondiwindi region are blessed to have.  

Agricultural background: 

I worked for a few years around Cunnamulla as an assistant manager for a company that focuses on holistic management and cell grazing practices. From there I was keen to learn more about the agricultural industry so my partner and I decided to take a job opportunity on a couple of properties around the Charters Towers region where we gained experience and worked in some diverse environments. After years of being away from home in Goondiwindi we decided to return to join my family transport business with cattle and sheep productions run on the side and for my husband to build on his mechanical trade background. We have now just started our own business in Goondiwindi, Richters Rural Contracting. 

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