Michael Gooden

Michael brings the practical day-to-day experience of running a grazing business, as well as the skills and knowledge of working in the DPI/NRM bodies. A graduate of Farming & GrazingforProfit in 2018 and alongside his wife, Heloise, and three children, they operate their cattle breeding property in the Riverina.

Michael provides remote and on-farm business and grazing management advice to RCS clients. Michael works with a variety of NSW based agricultural businesses to develop personalised, drought resilience focused business plans under a Future Drought Fund initiative.

Michael grew up on a mixed cropping, irrigation and livestock farm in the Riverina, Southern NSW. After spending a couple of years as a Jackaroo in the Riverina he attended Marcus Oldham College, Geelong and completed his Mid-Year working in a grazing business near Hamilton in the Western District.

He joined the family business upon graduation in 2004 and in 2010 he completed Holistic Management training with Bruce Ward. From here, Michael started planned grazing in 2011. Having a love of breeding cattle, he established an Angus cattle stud in 2016. Michael and his wife are also part of a management group consisting of 8 families that practice holistic management, meeting every six weeks since 2012.

Employed as the first Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator for Riverina Local Land Services in 2018, Michael facilitated and coordinated training programs providing land managers opportunities to transition mixed farming business to regenerative agriculture.

Michael’s specialties include: