The Creators

The creators, Simone Kain and Ben Hood, grew up on farming properties in the south east of South Australia. Their families still work the land, and Simone’s husband, Justin, runs a family beef cattle enterprise with his brothers. Their creative agency, ‘helloFriday’ services businesses and organisations primarily associated with agriculture or education including the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia with whom they have developed Australian school-curriculum aligned educational videos and web resources for.

They have been awarded the Brand South Australia Flinders University Education Award for their work with George the Farmer, and have been a finalist in the Telstra Small Business Awards. The current George the Farmer app consistently sits in the iTunes top 10 educational apps for Australia and New Zealand in the Technologies section, and the original music that they create is currently being played on top national kids radio station Funky Kids Radio.

Both Simone and Ben are passionate about food, agriculture, children, and education. They hope that George the Farmer will help to give both rural and city-based children a better understanding and connection to where their food and fibre comes from, which is critical for the future sustainability of our food supply chain and critical in making healthy food choices.

Simone Kain

Simone Kain has received a number of outstanding awards during her career including the 2017 Agrifutures Rural Women's Award National Runner Up, 2015 NAB Women’s Agenda Regional Entrepreneur of the Year, 2015 winner of the Arts category in the Innovative Women in SA Awards, Advantage SA Regional Speaker in Schools and the South Australian Young Achiever Award (Regional Initiative). She has sat on numerous boards and committees including Agrifutures' Ignite Panel, the Department of Agriculture's Rural R&D for Profit Panel and Regional Development Australia (Limestone Coast) board. Simone has also lectured interactive multimedia at TAFE SA.

Although Simone's career began as a designer, she is now responsible for the writing of George's adventures, management of new product development and marketing.

Simone and her husband Justin live in Penola, South Australia and have three young boys - George, 9 and twins, Frank and Louis, 6. The family also have a beautiful red and white border collie sheep dog named Barney.

Ben Hood

Ben Hood is a graphic and website designer with over 20 years experience in print and web medias. He has received numerous accolades for his illustration work as well as being short-listed for the Australian Desktop Magazine Create Awards. Ben has served on a variety of committees and boards including the South Australian Graphic Design Association, the Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce and the Limestone Coast’s community philanthropic foundation, the Stand Like Stone Foundation. Ben has also lectured in interactive multimedia at TAFE SA.

Ben spent his childhood cleaning troughs, roustabouting and tearing around on his motorbike on the Hood family farm 25km south of Naracoorte in the south east of South Australia. An all-rounder, Ben is responsible for the fantastic George the Farmer illustrations, branding, designs and website as well as writing and performing George the Farmer's songs.

Ben and wife Ellen reside in Mount Gambier, South Australia and together have two beautiful girls Neave 12, Piper 8 and 2 year old boy, Arlo. When Ben isn't illustrating and designing, he loves hanging out with his family, canoeing and camping on the Glenelg River and entertaining the crowds around the region showing off his musical talent.