Community
15 May, 2026
Farmers invited to social dinner
FARMERS across the district have been invited to a social dinner to reflect on the challenges they’ve faced and learn more about how to overcome them moving forward.
Two Refresh and Reset Farmer Dinners will be held in the region – one in Skipton on Wednesday, May 27 and one in Leslie Manor on Friday, May 29.
Rural People Co consultant Cath Jenkins said the dinners are free events supported by Agriculture Victoria.
“We’ve been engaged by Agriculture Victoria as part of funding which went out from the State Government to support the farmers managing the drought conditions we’ve had for the last couple of years, which have been particularly challenging in south west Victoria,” she said.
“We do a lot of work with farmers around farm business management, succession planning and working with their teams.
“We’ve been running some group events in the form of the Refresh and Reset Farmer Dinners across south west Victoria this autumn with a view of getting farmers together to have a social night off the farm, enjoy a meal and to talk about the challenges they’ve been experiencing over the last couple of years and where to next.
“On top of the drought, there’s been other challenges as well emerging, such as the fuel challenges, fertiliser supply, interest rates and what’s been happening in the economic environment nationally and globally.”
Both dinners will commence at 6.30pm, with a free two-course meal and drinks available at bar prices.
Skipton’s Refresh and Reset Farmer Dinner will be hosted by the Skipton Bowling Club at 1 Skipton-Geelong Road, while the Leslie Manor dinner will be held at the Leslie Manor Country Fire Authority (CFA) shed at 35 Gnarpurt Road.
Mrs Jenkins said she hoped to see farmers inviting their friends and family to come along.
“I hope they have an enjoyable evening where there’s a bit of social connection talking to other farmers – whether it’s people they already know or people they haven’t met,” she said.
“The other thing is to take a bit of time to stop and think about the challenges they’ve overcome over the last couple of years and in terms of what they’ve learned and done well.
“We hope they think about the things they can keep working on to continue forward.”
Bookings are strongly encouraged.
To book for the Skipton dinner, visit www.eventbrite.com.au/e/skipton-refresh-and-reset-farmer-dinner-tickets-1988599385293.
To book for the Leslie Manor event, visit www.eventbrite.com.au/e/leslie-manor-refresh-and-reset-farmer-dinner-tickets-1988599765430.
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