FarmHER Hands: Sisters of the Soil

There is a grounded beauty in hearing two sisters talk about life on the land, the rhythm, the responsibility and the pride that weaves through it all. For Angie and Shona, fifth generation graziers and co-founders of FarmHER Hands, the story begins and circles back to home. They both grew up on a cattle property where long days in the paddock and early lessons in responsibility were part of the family DNA. “We used to ride the four wheeler twenty kilometres to school,” laughs Angie. “We didn’t think much of it back then, it was just life.”

Like many country kids, the sisters left home for boarding school, their worlds suddenly full of city pace and different possibilities. Shona became a teacher, working across regional Queensland and eventually teaching remotely. Angie became a beautician, worked with horses, and spent years on remote stations as a jillaroo, learning the grit and independence that now define her approach to work and life.

Yet the pull of the land and of family was constant. One by one, they found their way back. Shona returned in 2010, Angie a decade later, both bringing new skills, husbands from non-farming backgrounds, and seven children between them. Today the sisters and their families run a thriving grazing business together, balancing livestock, home life, and two parallel ventures that connect their love for the land with a modern, creative spark.

A Business Born from Sun and Skin

FarmHER Hands began as a conversation and a frustration. “I’d just ripped another pair of ugly old gloves,” says Shona. “We were having coffee, and I remember saying, why can’t we have work gear that actually fits and feels good?” What started as an idea to make durable, protective gloves for women quickly grew into a brand with a purpose, to protect rural Australians from the sun while helping them feel confident in their workwear. Shona’s own experience teaching in remote regions and Angie’s deep connection to rural communities shaped their early design choices.“We’ve both seen what sun damage can do, especially in our families,” Shona shares. “Skin cancer is a real risk in our industry, so we wanted something that wasn’t just functional but preventative.”

Ten months later, FarmHER Hands launched with their signature gloves, stylish, hard-wearing and thoughtfully made. The range has since expanded to include neck scarves and apparel, all designed by the sisters and hand packed on the property. The women handle everything themselves, from design sketches and supplier calls to social media and e-commerce, all while managing cattle movements and helping with school lessons between musters.

Family, Work and the Art of Balance

For Shona and Angie, variety is the secret ingredient. “It’s what keeps us energised,” says Angie. “The men are often out in the paddock and get plenty of variety in their work too, always learning new crafts or taking on new projects, so it feels natural for us to have our own mix of things that keep us inspired.”

Their days are a constant dance between motherhood and management. Both families live on the property, and with the help of a governess, their children attend School of the Air, connecting to lessons via Starlink, the satellite internet that has become as essential as a good set of boots.

Technology, they agree, has transformed their lives, from satellite schooling to Farm Bots monitoring water tanks and cloud-based livestock systems. “We couldn’t do half of what we do without technology,” says Shona. “But we still keep the notebook. You can’t replace walking the paddock yourself.”“We always have a backup,” Angie adds. “Tech is incredible, but the land still asks for hands-on care, the human part.”

The Simple Life Reimagined

Between the business, the podcast and the farm, there is little time left over, and that is how they like it. “We love the variety,” says Shona. “You never get bored. And we love that the kids get to grow up like we did, with responsibility, fresh air and freedom.” Their children, aged from toddlers to teens, all have real jobs on the property, feeding calves, checking waters, helping with stock. “They’ve got autonomy,” Angie says proudly. “They play in nature, they have chores, and they learn that work can be joyful.”

That philosophy flows through everything they build, from their grazing business to the FarmHER Hands brand and the Married to the Land podcast Angie hosts, which shares the untold stories of rural women.“I started the podcast because I was tired of only hearing from big names,” she says. “I wanted to capture the everyday people, the ones holding things together behind the scenes.”

Hands that Work, Stories that Matter

As FarmHER Hands grows, the sisters continue to blend tradition and technology, family and enterprise, carving a model of modern rural life that feels both grounded and progressive. Their gloves now travel far beyond the station gate, protecting farmers, gardeners, hikers and outdoor workers across Australia. But their heart remains at home, in the red dust, the paddocks and the laughter of children learning to drive before they can reach the pedals.“This lifestyle gives you everything, challenge, connection, creativity,” Shona reflects. “It’s not always easy, but it’s full. And that’s the kind of rich we want to be.”

For Angie and Shona, FarmHER Hands is not just about gloves. It is about agency, for women, for families, and for the next generation of Australians growing up between technology and the open sky.

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You can explore their work at farmherhands.com, listen to Angie on the Married to the Land podcast, and connect with them on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram to follow their journey.

If you would like to hear more from Angie and Shona, join us for our next TEKWOMEN Virtual Lunch & Learn event, Building for the Future: Founders, Farmers and the AgTech Frontier, on Thursday 27 November from 12.30 to 1.30pm AEST. They will share insights on building a business and how technology weaves through every part of life on the land, bringing freedom, connection and opportunity to those who call it home.

You can register your spot > > here < <