Coffee with Megan Dorrell

This month we caught up with Megan Dorrell to get some insider perspective of farm life. Megan’s journey is a story of unexpected turns, a deep connection to the land, and the importance of community.

Despite spending her early years on a family farm in Gnowangerup, Megan Dorrell never imagined she’d find herself back in the farming world as an adult. After moving to Albany for school at the age of 10, she pursued studies in retail and business, built a career in office work, and thought her life would stay away from the land. But life had other plans.

Megan grew up on a family farm that had been part of Gnowangerup for 130 years. Although her father chose a different path, moving away from farming, the connection to the land remained. After years of working in offices and achieving her Cert II in Retail and business certificates through TAFE, it wasn’t until she met her husband, Mike, through mutual friends at a B&S Ball that farming life became part of her story again.

Finding Her Place Back on the Farm

Joining a farming family as an adult came with a warm welcome for Megan. She quickly felt part of both the family and the business, though she acknowledges it was a very different experience compared to visiting farms as a child. The responsibilities were greater, and even now, she says, learning never stops.

Juggling Farm Work, Family, and Passions

Life for Megan is a constant balancing act. Between farm work, raising kids, contributing to Women in Farming activities, and taking on roles like State Councillor and District Branch Secretary for Isolated Children's Parents' Association, there's always something happening. Despite the busy schedule, Megan makes time for what she's most passionate about, particularly advocating for remote and rural children.

Discovering Her Niche on the Farm

Megan has found that she loves the organisational side of farming, particularly managing office tasks and operating headers and machinery—skills she proudly learned on the job. However, anything mechanical is firmly in her "not for me" category.

Getting Involved with Women in Farming

Megan's involvement with Women in Farming began with a small misunderstanding—she initially thought you had to be a wife to join! But after seeing workshops focused on women's roles in farming enterprises, she decided to jump in.

Being part of the group has been a huge support, offering a network where members can exchange ideas, share recommendations, and collaborate across farms. The tours and workshops have opened up experiences that Megan might never have had otherwise.

Megan reflects on how Women in Farming has changed her approach to both work and life on the farm. The sense of community and the reassurance that others are facing similar challenges have been invaluable.

The Power of rural Communities

One thing Megan wishes more people understood is the deep love farmers have for the lifestyle. Town living just doesn't fit everyone. The connection to the land and environment runs deep—something that recent debates, like live export, have highlighted as many outside farming circles struggle to understand the realities and commitments of rural life.

Megan believes that more people should celebrate the incredible community spirit that defines rural living. Neighbours are more than just neighbours; they are critical parts of the community fabric. Megan recalls times when volunteers came together during local fires, protecting land, managing traffic, and supporting each other through a tightly connected community WhatsApp group.

Finding the Lighter Side of farm Life

Life on the land isn’t just about hard work; it’s also about finding time to relax and enjoy the little moments. After a busy day, Megan loves winding down with a glass of wine, a good book, scrapbooking, or heading out for a well-earned pub trip with friends. She also makes a conscious effort to avoid falling into the endless "scroll hole" of social media.

Farm life brings plenty of laughter too. Megan recalls one unforgettable moment during sheep work when she spotted her husband, Mike, flailing about. Everyone rushed over, fearing it was a snake, only to find a bobtail lizard stubbornly attached to his foot. The scene brought much amusement to the whole family.

These days, Megan is happy doing what she loves most, raising her family, contributing to the farm, and staying connected to her community. She proves that life on the land isn’t just about hard work; it’s about passion, resilience, and always having a good story to share at the end of the day.

Interview by Gavin Hard & Bec Pauley