G’day ,

When most people think of a pastoralist, they probably picture someone checking cattle in an outback paddock. But after reading a recent article by Caleb Schwartz featuring Northern Territory pastoralist Paul Smith from Tieyon Station, you'll find the role runs far deeper than that. In fact, being a pastoralist is as much about people, country and decision-making as it is about livestock. With 2026 recognised as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, I thought it might be the perfect time to explore the people helping shape some of Australia's most remote and iconic landscapes.

Located in the Finke region on the NT-SA border, Tieyon Station has been in the Smith family for more than a century. Today, Paul and Jo Smith run the operation alongside their children, continuing a legacy that stretches back to 1925 when Paul's great-grandfather introduced Angus cattle to the property after a wagon-load of bulls arrived via the old Ghan railway at nearby Abminga.

For Paul, a pastoralist isn't simply someone who owns cattle. It's someone who accepts responsibility for both livestock and landscape. Every season, every rainfall event and every management decision leaves its mark on the country. As Paul explains, the condition of your land and herd reflects the choices you make, and out here there's nowhere to hide from the results...

Read the full story by Caleb Schwartz

Hooroo for now,

Simon

Founder RFTTE - The Online Campfire | E: simon@rfttejobs.com or simply reply to this newsletter | Subscribe to this newsletter | The RFTTE Story | RFTTE MERCH 

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