The farm kid who has spent the past 30 years transforming how Australia sells livestock
Ken Salan has spent nearly three decades helping turn what started as a fax machine and a phone line into one of Australia's most trusted livestock...
1 min read
Ben Law - The Financial Bloke
:
Apr, 7, 2026
What if the thing holding your family business back… isn’t lack of opportunity — but lack of exposure?
In this conversation with Kara Knudsen, co-founder of a rapidly scaling northern cattle operation, we get a rare look at what actually happens when a farming family decides to think bigger, act earlier, and deliberately build something that outlasts them.
Kara shares the story behind their growth — from humble beginnings and hard seasons to building a business that no longer relies on family labour to survive. Along the way, she challenges the traditional idea of what a “family business” should look like… and replaces it with something far more resilient.
You’ll hear how they’ve approached developing their next generation — not through entitlement, but through responsibility, exposure, and real-world experience. Why stepping outside the farm gate can completely reshape how you see your own business. And what changes when you stop reacting to challenges… and start preparing for them.
There’s also a deeper thread running through this episode — around discomfort, decision-making, and the moments where things could go either way. The kind of moments most families face… but few talk about.
If you’ve ever wondered how some families seem to grow, adapt, and stay aligned while others stall… this one will get you thinking.
Ken Salan has spent nearly three decades helping turn what started as a fax machine and a phone line into one of Australia's most trusted livestock...
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