04/09/2026
It's been 6 months since Pauline Hanson's Please Explain, Barnaby Joyce and Karl Stefanovic (can't find his FB page?) came to the farm.
The happenings after this event were quite the experience so I thought I'd break down how it came about and what happened afterwards.
Firstly, I was on the Today Show with Karl in 2023 and it went viral. The live cross (where I couldn't see them and only heard them via an earpiece with significant time delay) was covering our 24/7 Staffless Butchery. Karl asked the most obvious question "What about theft" and I said that we experience no shrinkage - a common retail term. Karl lost it and went into a giggle fit.
Lots of people were upset with Karl for derailing the interview and many reached out to me sympathetic and apologising. The comment section blew up.
I had no idea it happened in real time as I couldn't see him and couldn't hear his laughing through the lag.
Honestly, when I found out I also thought it was hilarious and thought that it played out perfectly + it sent us viral! The website crashed and every radio station wanted a live cross. It was perfect.
Fast forward to early 2026 and my mum put her hand up to represent One Nation for Farrar and was one of the finalist candidates. Stefanovic was coming down to MC a debate and had lined up a podcast interview with Pauline Hanson & Barnaby Joyce.
Where we fall into this complicated little story about not really much is that Karl's team contacted me the week before if they could take a photo of Karl sitting behind a desk with a farmscape backdrop for a billboard that they were putting up in QLD. I believe they literally googled "Farm Albury" and started calling people.
Serendipitously, with Cycle Station selling I had taken my desk out of my office there and replaced my home desk. The old home desk was bound for the burn pile and was sitting in the paddock. (Otto had started turning it into a nest box for his chooks)
I said that they were welcome to come use our farm for a photo shoot and that I even had a desk to offer!
I don't believe the fact that I was on The Today Show a few years earlier had any bearing on this. It's not like I have Karl's number. (His team is welcome to correct the record as it'd be news to me!)
Last minute I got another call from his team asking if I'd be willing to host Karl's podcast on the farm for a recording because their venue had cancelled last minute. (I read online that "Today Show Lawyers" got involved and cancelled it or something but I never heard anything regarding this from Karl or anyone on his team)
I said "Yeah for sure! We can set you up in the house, or in the shed, or on the lawn! That'd be awesome! By the way - who is he interviewing?"
Hosting the podcast was a lot of fun. We met a heap of people from the ON team and everyone was lovely. The whole family enjoyed the busy atmosphere and everyone had a blast.
After the fact, when we posted pictures of the ON Team & Karl on the farm we received a really mixed response. I expected it, but it was still surprising.
The post went viral and the next couple days were busy with me being preoccupied dealing with Australia's polarisation.
First - the refunds started. Customers were emailing disgusted that we'd host them and demanding refunds - which I gave them. I rerouted freight in transit and sent the meat to good customers or family that were on the same line haul as to where the box was heading.
Every day we purchase goods or services from people who have different opinions, beliefs, religions and thoughts to ours - but they are generally private. The moment they become public, worst yet - in the limelight, they are grounds for a divorce.
I want through this experience.
In a strange way, I wasn't surprised, yet I was.
Secondly - Some customers started privately messaging me asking me to clarify my personal political beliefs so that they could justify continuing to order our produce. I personally appreciated the forum and everyone was polite and candid.
I understand that we attract a very specific motivated consumer who wants to make their retail dollar count - I encourage it.
Thirdly - orders started coming in. Order comments such as "Great to see Karl on the farm" or "Go Pauline" written in the comments.
It was honestly probably a wash. I don't think we grew and we definitely didn't go backwards, although I'm sure there are a few old customers that thought it was a bridge too far - which is sad.
Having this crew on the farm was not a political statement.
I replied to a few people in the comment section explaining that we are a venue. I've hosted Liberal MPS, Ministers and Shadow Ministers. I'm sure just about every person I've ever had on the farm has quite severe political and moral differences with me, and that's OK.
I had an absolute blast in the comment section. One guy asked me how much I was paid to host them and I replied 150k. I thought that this was obviously a joke. He took a screen shot and started showing it everywhere to prove that I was bought and paid for 😂
I know that I walk a pretty tight line politically. I wear the odd Tshirts and make the odd post, but I've never told you who you should vote for and I don't think I've ever told you who I voted for. Maybe I have. (That's the problem with posting so much and thinking out loud so often, it's honestly hard to keep track)
I think we all want the same stuff. Affordability with the the opportunity for prosperity. Safety. A happy family. Maybe a house cow or two!
Anyway, the story is probably a bit more boring that you thought. I learned after the fact everyone thought it was because of The Today Show or my mum, but I think it was just because we appeared of google and have some hills in the background!
