Howdy
Howdy is the brainchild of Hunter-based entrepreneur Mia Ryan. In late 2023, Mia, while running a highly-successful horse business and studying full-time at university, saw a gap in the dating market to meet like-minded country singles. At the age of 22, she launched a first-of-its-kind dating and social networking app for rural singles to revolutionise dating in the bush. Unlike other dating apps, female-founded Howdy is made for country people in mind, with an innovative unlimited radius setting allowing farmers, ringers, agronomists, chopper pilots, bush mechanics, flying vets and anyone else who lives in rural or regional Australia to match with a special someone from all corners of the country, from Walkabout Creek to Woollahra, Bondi to Back O’ Bourke to Bunbury.
The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)
The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) plays a critical role in advancing the cotton industry by funding research and innovation aimed at improving farming practices and productivity. As a key contributor, CRDC drives innovation within the cotton sector, ensuring its global competitiveness. Through strategic research and development, CRDC empowers cotton growers to tackle challenges, improve yields, and promote environmental stewardship. In 2023 RPR&Co. partnered with the (CRDC) on a four-year retainer to deliver PR, social media, and thought leadership initiatives. As a joint effort between the Commonwealth Government and Australian cotton growers, CRDC invests heavily in research, development, and extension (RD&E), with $32.13 million co-invested for the 2024/25 year alone. RPR&Co.’s role has been pivotal in reshaping the narrative around cotton, moving the conversation beyond traditional agricultural media and addressing the perception of cotton as an environmentally harmful commodity.
Hello Yellow, The Canola Trail
Launched in 2017, The Canola Trail has steadily grown in popularity, drawing more visitors to the Riverina each year. By 2023, however, it became clear that the initiative needed a more focused approach to fully realise its potential. Key attractions like Coolamon Cheese, Temora Aviation Museum, and Junee Licorice Factory teamed up with the Temora, Coolamon, and Junee Shire Councils to launch the Hello Yellow campaign.
With resource limitations and lower local awareness among businesses and residents, the campaign’s reach was not as impactful as it could be. These insights highlighted an opportunity to refine the Hello Yellow initiative, creating clearer messaging and stronger community engagement to showcase the Canola Trail as an inspiring and must-visit destination.
RPR&Co. was initially engaged to amplify the Hello Yellow campaign ahead of the canola flowering season. However, in our first meeting, it was apparent that the existing website and channels blurred the distinction between Hello Yellow and the Canola Trail. Both initiatives were being promoted through the same platform, which we identified as a significant barrier to clarity and engagement.
To address this, we recommended stepping back from a PR-first approach and instead proposed a comprehensive brand and website audit. This allowed us to uncover key challenges around brand clarity, messaging, and user experience. By laying this groundwork, we ensured that all messaging, branding, and digital assets were aligned and compelling, setting the stage for a far more targeted and impactful PR campaign.
AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards
Country women wear many hats. They’re change makers and tyre changers. Sunscreen police and entrepreneurs. Businesswomen, family CEOs, list makers, aunts, musterers, coffee-drinkers-while-running-for-the-school-busers, fencers, mothers, dirt road drivers, roll up the sleevers, gardeners, volunteers and committee members. Work doesn’t stop at 5pm for most women in the bush, and it’s not just the flickering internet service that poses a challenge. It’s the roos on the side of the road, the limited health resources and the long distances to travel. The ripple effects of drought, flood and fire, whether on the land or not.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award (RWA) acknowledges and elevates the incredible work of these women, providing a platform to amplify their impact. Running for more than two decades, the Award has boosted the exposure of more than 60 like-minded, vibrant women vying to instil change in their communities. Alongside a $10,000 Westpac bursary, each annual state winner is offered mentoring, resources (including a full publicity campaign) professional development and support via its nation-wide network of business and community leaders. It’s a life-changing opportunity for women championing to make a difference locally.
