A new magazine has hit the streets of Far North Queensland highlighting everything agricultural in the region. FNQ Ag Mag features stories ranging from water issues and politics to innovative farming approaches.
Editor Carmen Miller says she hopes the biannual publication will help showcase what can sometimes be an overlooked industry in the Far North.
“The people involved in agriculture are such honest, down-to-earth, hard-working people, and it’s really a passion of mine to tell their stories,” says Carmen.
“Everybody goes on about the South East Queensland pocket for growing and cattle grazing, and while it is fantastic, we’ve got so much to offer here.”
Despite economic uncertainty still being felt across the region as a result of COVID, Carmen says she knew it was the right time to launch such a locally minded magazine.
“I just think the mentality is right,” she says.
“We’re all really conscious of where our food is coming from. Everyone wants to buy local, and there is that real mentality of rallying together and supporting local.
“We’re going to need our farmers more than ever, so I think now is the time to shine the light on them and show what they’ve got to offer.”
We’ve had stockists ringing up asking to restock because they’ve run out of magazines.
She says she’s been thrilled with the reception the magazine has received all over FNQ since its launch in October.
“We’ve had stockists ringing up asking to restock because they’ve run out of magazines.
“Everyone in the agricultural industry is right behind it, and even people who have no close involvement with agriculture enjoy the read too.”
While not a farmer herself, Carmen says she fell in love with the agricultural industry after years of reporting for the Toowoomba Chronicle.
She and her family are also lucky enough to spend their holidays at a cattle farm owned by her husband’s parents in Toowoomba.
The couple spent several years living and working in Sydney, Brisbane and Toowoomba before ultimately deciding they were FNQ locals at heart.
“I love it here,” says Carmen. “I was raised here, and I could picture what my kids’ lives would be like.”
Carmen says her long term goal is to add an NQ Ag Mag into the mix to cover the Townsville to Mackay region.
But for now, she is happy enough with the knowledge she gets to do what she loves.
Readers can also look forward to seeing more of Carmen’s work in upcoming Connect Cairns magazines.