Supporting local farms, families and community
Libby and Andrew stepped into a business with deep local roots when they took over Everton Farm Supplies last year, continuing its more than 20-year presence in the community.
The couple became the third owners in June 2024, after moving to the North East three and a half years earlier. Drawn by the region’s farming community, outdoor lifestyle and strong sense of connection, they settled on a farm near Tarrawingee and quickly felt at home.
Both bring decades of experience in agriculture. Libby’s background is in animal health and extension, while Andrew or Woody, as most people know him, has worked in agronomy and animal nutrition. For years, they had talked about owning a business together, one that would allow them to continue working in agriculture while building something for their family.
“We’ve always wanted to run a business that helps people,” Libby says. “We both enjoy agriculture and working with farmers, so when the opportunity came up, it felt like the right fit.”
While both had previously operated consulting businesses as well as working in corporate roles, taking on a retail business was a different experience. Like many small business owners, one of the biggest changes is, along with serving customers, you are also responsible for everything from bookkeeping, IT, HR and marketing, to deliveries, stock management, and unloading trucks.
“Every day is different and there is always something to be done,” Andrew says. “But at the same time, we realised we’d spent the last 20 years building the skills to run a business like this.”
Family is an important part of the business. Their two children, aged ten and eleven, regularly help in the store, taking pride in serving customers and even competing with their parents to see who can record the most sales.
For Libby and Andrew, one of the most rewarding parts of owning Everton Farm Supplies has been the relationships they have built with local customers. Many people stop in regularly, not only to pick up supplies but also for a chat or stir one of our team members, Simon, up about Collingwood.
“A customer said recently that they enjoy coming in because they like the personal connection as they get to know us,” Libby says.
That local knowledge is a key part of how they work. Alongside supplying stock feed, fencing, seed, animal health products and farm equipment, they spend a lot of time helping customers work through practical questions about their farms and businesses.
Because they farm themselves, they understand many of the same challenges facing local producers. Whether it is seasonal conditions, pasture establishment or livestock management, their advice comes from both professional experience and firsthand understanding.
“We care about our customers and their farms,” Andrew says. “We’re locals, we understand the area and we’re often dealing with the same things they are.”
The business also includes a pasture trial site beside the store, allowing farmers to compare more than 35 pasture varieties growing under local conditions. The aim is simple: provide practical information that farmers can see for themselves before making decisions on their own properties.
That focus on sharing knowledge has extended beyond the store. Last year, Everton Farm Supplies hosted its first Everton Field Day, bringing together suppliers, industry organisations, and local farmers for a day of demonstrations, conversations, and learning opportunities.
What started as a community barbecue quickly grew into a major event, attracting around 500 people and featuring 30 exhibitors, local organisations, and industry representatives.
“The biggest feedback was that people value having access to information and being able to have genuine conversations,” Libby says.
Planning is already underway for this year’s Everton Field Day on Friday 2nd October, with a continued focus on bringing people together and supporting local farmers and the wider community.
Local Tips from Libby and Andrew