Wingham's Linga Longa Farm has been nominated for the Prime Super Agricultural Innovation Award for the innovation they have shown in value adding to the business.
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This is the second year running that Greg and Lauren Newell have been nominated as part of the NSW/ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards.
"It's lovely that people outside think of you like that and think you are worthy of being nominated for something. It's a wonderful feeling, especially if they are a fellow producer, as well," Lauren said.
Linga Longa was indeed nominated by a fellow producer, a stallholder at Carriageworks Farmers Markets in Sydney, which the Newells attend weekly to sell their cuts of certified grass-fed, hormone-free and antibiotic-free beef.
The newest innovation at the farm involves the total nose-to-tail use of the cattle. Lauren is now producing bone broth, which is cooked over 48 hours with vegetables, herbs and spices added.
"We have been selling it at the markets for the past two years. It is growing in popularity due to a growing awareness of its health properties. I recently had it tested for shelf life and can assure people it lasts [up to] five weeks in the fridge," Lauren said.
"I have just got it into Harris Farm and it has been on the shelves for the past couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to it growing."
Lauren has started to produce a plain version for pets, without the added vegetables, herbs and spices. She had just commenced 'tastings' at the Carriageworks Farmers Markets for customers' dogs.
"I had a little bowl and I was offering it to the dogs. That was very different!" Lauren said.
I was just looking at dog friendly cafes and getting labels printed, and then COVID hit. Im still selling it and making it, but I cant get it out there at the moment.
- Lauren Newell
The Newells also came up with a creative way for the business to survive through the drought, with their 'Name a Cow' campaign, whereby people could sponsor and name a cow for the cost of $20.
"It went far and wide - it went overseas. And it basically got us through the drought. It enabled us to buy feed, otherwise we probably would have gone under or had a very huge debt at the end of it," Lauren said.
Additionally, the Newells offer farmstay accommodation in a self-contained cottage at Linga Longa. Lauren said it is not a traditional 'pat a cow' farmstay, but provides a '360 experience' for adults.
"We get a lot of people that buy our meat in Sydney and come up to the cottage," Lauren said.
"We walk them around and explain how we are regenerative farmers and how we cell graze and look after the land and the cows. So they get to see where their food's grown."
The NSW/ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards are being judged on September 23, with the awards presentation taking place on Friday, November 20.