People often ask how Josh runs a cattle stud from a wheelchair. The Weekly Times recently told that story in a feature by Sue Smethurst on farmers with disability using new technology to run thriving rural businesses.
In 2008 Josh suffered a spinal cord injury playing rugby. He was walking again within weeks, but a serious car accident during his recovery left him an incomplete quadriplegic. It took years to convince his father he could follow his dream of running a stud, and as Josh puts it, “I think I’ve earned their respect.”
The article looks at how technology has opened up farming, from drones and smart ear tags to voice-controlled apps. For Josh the biggest change was a wheelchair-accessible 4WD truck imported from the United States, which lets him get in and out on his own and has given him far more independence. He always has a crew around him in the yards, looking out for him.