Rock Ridge Farming is proudly owned and operated by Peter and Chelley Howe, both of whom were born and raised in local farming families on the beautiful Atherton Tablelands. Peter spent the early years of his life in the Emerald Creek area, where his parents farmed a variety of crops including tobacco, melons, pumpkins, and other vegetables. Peter and his family later relocated to a property that they purchased in Walkamin, and it was there—under the guidance of his parents—that Peter developed a genuine passion for farming, a passion that continues to drive him today.
Chelley was raised on her family’s farm, where they bred beef cattle and produced eggs through poultry farming. The operation also included hay and grass seed production. The farm remains proudly owned and operated by her family to this day.
The pair met when Peter was contract harvesting grass seed for Chelley’s parents and, as they say, the rest is history. They were married in 1994 and Chelley then made the big move 15 minutes down the road to join Peter on his family farm.
Ten years later, Peter and Chelley purchased their own 20-acre avocado farm. Over the years, they have grown various crops such as grass seed, hay, papaya, bananas, avocados and sugar cane. Bananas and avocados have become the duo’s favourites and are now produced on multiple Rock Ridge farms across the Tablelands.
Peter and Chelley have three children: Thomas, Jess and David.
After finishing high school, Thomas went on to complete an auto-electrical apprenticeship. Four years later, he became qualified and then returned home to the farm in 2017. Thomas’ role on the farm is as an Operations Manager where he works closely with Peter regarding the day-to-day management.
Thomas also manages the Willows Road farm, an avocado orchard he has overseen from additional plantings to ongoing maintenance since the property’s acquisition.
Thomas has always had a love of motorbikes and machinery and learnt to operate various machines at a young age. As a teenager, he would usually spend his weekends on a backhoe or loader building motocross tracks on any unplanted area on the farms. It is safe to say he has caught the farming bug, just like his Dad!
Jess completed a Bachelor of Business in 2017 and joined the Rock Ridge team in 2019, following a stint in Agribusiness lending. Like her brothers, she works as an Operations Manager and enjoys contributing to the growth of the family business. Her skills, energy and enthusiasm are all qualities that help make Rock Ridge what it is today.
While Jess is mostly office-based and manages a wide range of operational requirements as they arise, she also plays a key role in supporting her husband James during the avocado harvest season, helping to oversee the packhouse operations. Together, they ensure that all stakeholders – from local growers to supermarket chain customers enjoy a positive and seamless experience with Rock Ridge
With nearly one million trays of avocados packed through the Rock Ridge Packhouse each season, both Jess and James have developed extensive knowledge of avocado quality and logistics. Outside of work, they are raising their young son Andy, who is already a regular presence around the farms and packhouse – a proud part of the next generation at Rock Ridge Farming.
David, the youngest of the three, joined Rock Ridge in 2022 after completing his trade as a qualified Diesel Mechanic. With a lifelong interest in engines, tools, and the outdoors, his path into the world of agriculture and machinery felt like a natural fit. In fact, it’s clear the apple—or should we say, the avocado—hasn’t fallen far from the tree.
Much like his dad, David has a true passion for farm machinery, antique tractors, and horticulture. His mechanical skills, combined with a love for the land, make him an invaluable part of the team.
Today, David plays a key role in co-managing the Willows Road farm. He oversees the day-to-day operations and lends his mechanical expertise to maintain and repair equipment across the property. Whether he’s in the workshop or out among the orchard rows, David brings energy, precision, and dedication to everything he does.
As fourth-generation farmers, Tom, Jess and David are passionate about agriculture and growing exceptional produce for the Australian market. They will continue to learn and grow through their untapped access to the wealth of knowledge that is contained within the Rock Ridge team. Going forward, Thomas, Jess and David will be vital in the operation of Rock Ridge Farming as the coming years will present challenges that this generation of farmers will be best equipped to take advantage of.
With every year that passes, we experience new challenges and new successes. We are seeing farming operations evolve from the typical husband and wife structures to more complex and sophisticated operations. To continue to operate successfully and be able to produce efficiently and competitively in this ever-changing environment, we must embrace the remarkable advances in technology that we are being presented with. These technological advances provide us with a greater insight into the development and harvesting of our crops, helping us to better meet the needs of the Australian market.
No matter what the future holds, horticulture exists in every fibre of our being and Rock Ridge Farming is here for the long run.
