GROUNDED Live - 2025: David Pollock - Farming On The Edge

In this episode of GROUNDED Live, we feature David Pollock, a rangelands farmer from Western Australia - and one of the most refreshingly honest voices in Australian agriculture. The bio he sent us in the lead up to the event is worth repeating here: “Despite his laziness and general lack of knowledge, David took over the degraded family station because it seemed like his best bet for making a difference. After 18 years, he’s achieved more than he’d hoped. Pretty much all of his local community think very little of him and his dingoes.”

It’s the kind of introduction that tells you exactly what you’re in for: humour, humility, straight talk and a willingness to question just about everything — including himself.

After many years of frustration about the state of the planet, David has come to a new perspective: that it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. In this solo session, Farming on the Edge, he talks openly about land degradation, dingo management, ecological recovery and what it means to work with country in one of the toughest agricultural landscapes in the world.

David also joined Will Bignell for a later session on farm succession (featured in another upcoming episode), but here he stands alone — insightful, provocative and brilliantly funny.

Settle in and enjoy David Pollock on GROUNDED Live.

GROUNDED Festival is a cross between a food festival, a farming conference and a field day. It combines science and technology with ancient wisdom, provides a respectful place for lively discussion, an audience as interesting as the speakers and an excellent menu of local food, drinks and music, all on a beautiful, regeneratively-managed farm.

GROUNDED is also Australia's only annual, roaming food and farming festival, held in a different farm location every year, so each festival is a unique, unmissable event celebrating local expertise and culture with an inspiring line up of speakers.

In 2026, with the support of the local Upper Barwon and Central Otway Landcare Networks, following successful festivals in Tasmania and Western Australia, GROUNDED FESTIVAL will be held at leading regenerative farm, Yan Yan Gurt West, in the Victorian Otway Ranges, two hours from Melbourne in an area renowned for regenerative agroforestry, tourism, local hospitality and great food and wine.

Tickets are on sale now - head to the GROUNDED website for information on speakers, the location, and to secure your spot today.