The  Art4Agriculture network is a passionate group of young people and their supporters who have a vision for an agricultural sector that is vibrant, dynamic and profitable and is seen as a cutting edge career opportunity to grab with both hands

A large part of what we do is identify young people who want to share their love of agriculture with the world and provide them with the confidence and skills set to change the conversations around agriculture. Another important aspect of the program is that it encourages young people to connect with different agriculture sectors. In this way they can see that our agricultural industries share many common problems that can most effectively be addressed by working together.

Young people in agriculture have some big challenges to tackle and one of the ways they can fast track this is to build their communities of influence.

One of the best initiatives that I have seen that help them do this is by participating in Heywire. Heywire brings together young people from rural and regional communities across Australia who care about stuff and want to take action

 Its a wonderful program to help young people (introverts and extroverts alike ) think strategically, to collaborate and work with others through the hands on experience of developing a project. Its  an outstanding program to  help young people  build up courage and conviction that they actually can lead, that they have a voice and can have an opinion.

If you’re aged 16-22, and live outside the big cities, enter your story in the Heywire competition and be part of something big. Entries close 16 September 2016.

 

 

Big shout out to Young Farming Champion Kirsty McCormick who recently won the Cattle Council National NAB Agribusiness Rising Beef Champion Award

Kirsty’s finalist blurb shares her love of being an active participant in, and role model for #youthinag in the agricultural supply chain from paddock to plate and her passion to connect producers and consumers

Kirsty McCormack is a passionate young woman currently working for OBE Organic based in Brisbane. Hailing from the New England region in NSW, Kirsty’s experience in industry has spanned across the supply chain – from working alongside her family contract mustering, leading Stud cattle, meat judging and now to her role of Sales and Production Executive at OBE.

This love of the land brought her to study a Bachelor of Rural Science at the University of New England. Throughout this time, she learned the science behind agriculture and on-farm decision making, and the implications they can have along the supply chain. Throughout her time at university Kirsty has also been heavily involved in a number of committees and programs to further her knowledge and perspective of production across Australia and the globe. Completing agricultural tours through Cambodia, Vietnam and China with UNE and the Syngenta Connections Program in the Philippines, Kirsty realised the ability and obligation we have in Australia to continue providing safe quality food for the world.

Through being a Young Farming Champion in the Art4Agriuclture program, the exposure Kirsty has had with school children in urban areas has increased her awareness of the need for transparency and education throughout the beef supply chain to allow consumers to reconnect with their food.

“Any opportunity to showcase the innovative technologies that are being used within the beef industry, and the power of social media is one step in the right direction”, says Kirsty.  She believes that the opportunity to participate in the Cattle Councils Rising Champion program will allow her to further promote and brand Australian beef both domestically and on a national scale.

Kirsty joined the Young Farming Champions program in 2013 – read her blog here.

Kirsty centre with her fellow 2016 Rising Beef Champion finalists 

 She is a tiny little pocket rocket and would have to be one of the most delightful people you could ever meet. She loves agriculture and everyone in agriculture loves her. We look forward to watching her star rise and rise