The Grazing Game

The Grazing Game invites players to hypothetically experience the challenge of balancing livestock farming with landscape resilience.

Initially devised by Imogen Semmler and Dr Judi Earl throughout 2019, the Grazing Game was further developed by Judi and Imogen in collaboration with Dr Christopher Moore, Associate Professor of Communications and Media at the University of Wollongong.

Designed for both farmers and the general public, players must reach the end of a grazing season financially ‘in the black’, without degrading their landscape. Juggling livestock numbers with available pasture, variable rainfall cards and financial challenges (including fluctuating cattle prices and unexpected farm costs!), players navigate scenarios one by one around the table sharing their decision making and questions with the rest of the group.

With both an easy and complex version available, The Grazing Game can be tailored to all types of audiences. It helps the general public understand the complexities of grazing management decisions faced by farmers; and for farmers it creates a playful and hyphothetical space to experiment with new knowledge about managing for resilient landscapes away from the context and pressures of their own farm.

Get in touch if you would like the Grazing Game at your next event or workshop.