"Have another Crack": Why the 2nd time round is the trick for Bryce Neyland

What happens when you step outside your own patch and spend time learning from some of the best operators in agriculture?

2026 Australian Zanda McDonald Award winner Bryce Neyland joins Oli after completing his mentoring trips across New Zealand and Australia. Bryce shares what he learned about risk, resilience, investment and leadership, and why seeing how other businesses operate has challenged the way he thinks about his own career and family farming business.

Importantly, Bryce didn’t win the first time he applied. He reflects on what changed between applications, the value of getting clear on where you want to go, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is put your hand up and have another crack.

In this episode:

What Bryce learned travelling through Australian and New Zealand agricultureWhy New Zealand challenged his thinking about productivity and getting more from what you haveWhat resilient Australian farming businesses do differentlyHow leading businesses think about investment, risk and long-term decision-makingWhy Bryce is now thinking differently about planning for tough seasons on the family farmLearning to expect pressure rather than being surprised by itWhy getting outside your own "sandbox" matters for personal and professional growthWhat changed between Bryce's first unsuccessful Zanda application and ultimately winning the AwardWhy the alumni network may be one of the Award's greatest opportunitiesBryce's advice for anyone considering putting their hand up

Applications for the Zanda McDonald Award are open from 1 October to 31 October 2026.

If you’re involved in agriculture, want to keep learning and are curious about where you could take your career, Bryce’s advice is pretty simple: get your application in and have a crack.

Chapters

00:00 Catching up with Bryce

02:15 Life as the 2026 Zanda McDonald Award winner

03:11 The Australian and New Zealand mentoring trips

05:20 What New Zealand agriculture taught Bryce