CHRISTIAN FARMERS CONFERENCES
There are four weekend conferences held each year in different locations in Australia. Each conference is organised by an independent local committee, and has a different theme and speakers. This website provides links to access details for each conference.
who attends
You don’t have to be a farmer to attend one of the Christian Farmers Conferences, just a person who is interested in farming and rural living.
The conferences aren’t just for Christians either. They are attended by men with a wide range of beliefs or unbelief, including sceptics, those with little or no interest in Christianity, as well as those who see Christian faith as integral to their everyday decisions.
The conferences are a place for people to meet each other in an environment that is encouraging and accepting. Experiences are passed on from one to another. Technical and life skills are learnt and shared.
Networks and friendships are formed that can be accessed throughout the year and extend well beyond the conference.
WHY ATTEND
- Enjoy being with each other and having time out from normal daily routines.
- Make friends with similar interests from other districts with whom you can have ongoing contact throughout the year.
- Learn some life skills, which you can use each day.
- Learn how others approach life and farming.
- Leave for home inspired by what you’ve heard.
The conferences provide an excellent opportunity for fathers and sons to spend time together as well as mix and meet with others. We encourage you to join other rural men and bring your student/teenager son – or your father – to one of the conferences.
2024 Dates
Date: 14-16 June 2024
Location: Forest Edge CYC, Neerim East, Victoria
Speakers: Tim Curtis – Rope Factory Church
Bill Muehlenberg – Family Council of Victoria
Clinton Tepper – Forest Scientist
Gordon Liddle – Update on Moldova
Tim pastors Rope Factory Church in Warragul. He used to be an architect in the UK, but moved into pastoral ministry in his 30’s. Before joining the Rope Factory, he spent seven years pastoring a student congregation in Melbourne.
Bill is a spokesman for the Family Council of Victoria. He also runs the website CultureWatch which deals with various issues: theology, philosophy, the culture wars, politics, social issues, and ethics.
Clinton’s business “Just Add Trees” follows his core passion of integrating trees into farms using the multi-storey farming system developed on his farm. This system has been adopted by a steadily increasing cohort of farmers, seeking to make their farms more resilient and ultimately profitable.
In 2017, Clinton and a small group of Christian men started “Tools Down”, a group which seeks to introduce the love of Jesus to men through fellowship over a meal and listening to a speaker in a relaxed, rural setting. Now in its 8th year, average attendances have grown to 90+ men each month. Clinton is forever excited by what God can do with faith as small as a mustard seed.
Date: 19-21 July 2024
Speakers: Simon Manchester
Second speaker TBC & bios to follow
Venue: Discovery Camp, 95 Schmidt Lane, Yackandandah (formerly Back Creek Camp).
Date: 26 – 28 July 2024
Speakers: Hon John Anderson AC
Bernard Gabbott – Vicar of Narrabri Anglican Church
Jarrod Amery – Forbes grains farmer
Keith Edwards – Retired WEC missionary
Location: Ridgecrest Christian Education and Convention Centre, Mumbil, NSW
Hon John Anderson AC
John is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. He currently farms on the family property, whilst also being active in his Conversations series and website johnanderson.net.au, various directorships, public speaking and in the not-for-profit sector.
Bernard Gabbott
Bernard is married to Anita, and father to Seth, Baxter, Elsa and Sage. Bernard is Vicar of Narrabri Anglican Church. He loves his family, food, exercise (because of his love for food), being outside, NW NSW … and most importantly, being bathed in the blood of the Lamb so that he walks with Jesus as Lord.
Jarrod Amery
A leap of faith during a drought saw Jarrod plant a crop of canola and saw a miraculous result that saved his farm during the 2019 season. Jarrod is married to Emma, they have six beautiful children, and farm in the Forbes area. Jarrod is also the 2020 Nuffield Scholarship winner.
Keith Edwards
Keith started his working life in a small steel fabrication business in Nowra, NSW. After his apprenticeship, Keith attended WEC Missionary Training College where he his wife Terrie. They joined WEC International in 1979 and served the Lord in Australia and west Africa for 20 years mostly in building and construction. They returned to Australia in 1999 and are now retired in Barmedman.
CFC FIELD DAY – DOOBOOBETIC, VICTORIA
Location: Pearse Family Farms, Dooboobetic, Victoria
Date: 16 August 2024
A conversation with Toby McIntosh.
Toby was previously an agronomist in the Wimmera. Currently he is pastor at a Presbyterian church in Ballarat.
Registration
Registration by COB Monday 12th August is essential for catering purposes.
Please register your attendance with Mark McPherson on mobile 0429 904 305 / email – brimview@gmail.com
Cost is by donation direct to CFC
BSB: 083-874 Acct No: 518 472 248
Please bring a chair for your own comfort