This week’s news from our Young Farming Champions across the country
In the Field
It’s been all action for our Wool Young Farming Champions (YFC) this week with the annual Australian Sheep and Wool show on in Bendigo, Victoria. Three of our “Woolly” YFC, Jo Newton, Sam Wan and Melissa Henry, and our newest Rice YFC Erica Heffer converged on the industry’s biggest event of the year and we’ve had some top stories emerge:
The amazing Sam Wan spent the weekend stewarding and speaking at the Soils Make Sense careers forum at the Careers and Technology Hub.
It’s been a huge month for Sam who has been named as one of three finalists in The National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australian Annual Wool Broker Awards. She has also been recognised with the One Elders Operational Performance Award for July. Read the full story here. Great work, Sam!
If you’re in the world of wool you may have heard Sam speak at a recent growers function for Elders South Australia, or heard her as one of the wool auctioneer’s interviewed on the Victorian Country Hour at the last wool sale of the selling season in Melbourne last week. Take a listen here
Wool YFC and coloured wool grower Melissa Henry judged the Black and Coloured sheep section and the coloured fleece section at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show. With 55 sheep entered from 8 exhibitors it was a tough task and Melissa said “The line ups for Grand Champion Ram, Ewe and Lamb were crackers!” One of her weekend highlights was the chance to see so many different breeds of sheep that you normally only see in books. We’re rapt you had such a great weekend, Mel!
Youth Voices Leadership Team Chair Jo Newton was busy hosting our Picture You In Agriculture social media channels in between stewarding merino sheep competitions.
At Friday night’s Young Stud Masters Muster Jo was one of six wool representatives hosting a panel aimed at inspiring young people into agriculture. The New Breed initiative launch, supported by Stock & Land, discussed topics including attracting young people into the wool industry, rebranding agriculture in schools, Ag-Tech, and the culture of agriculture. Way to go, Jo!
Jo also caught up with our newest Rice YFC Erica Heffer who spent the weekend stewarding as part of her Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) Rural Achievers Experience.
Check out this great video interview with Erica about her experiences at the Sheep and Wool Show here:
From country Victoria to the top of Western Australia, Cotton YFC Alexander Stephens is possibly the nation’s most famous cotton picker this week! Alexander is about to harvest Western Australia’s first commercial cotton crop in nearly fifty years and at the time of writing, his story had been shared across Facebook almost 300 times. All eyes in the Aussie cotton industry are on this exciting and innovative venture right now. Read more about it here:
Cotton YFC and agronomist Martin Murray is also making headlines this week, in the world of bees! Check out his story via the Young Farmers Business Project, where Martin talks about acquiring his first hive of these amazing winged creatures that keep the world of agriculture running. Read the story here
Out of the Field
YFC Anika Molesworth is in Argentina this week. As part of her work with the Argentine Agriculture Minister and the Australian Minister for Agriculture, Anika will be visiting farms, running workshops with young farmers, presenting on global agricultural challenges and opportunities and preparing a report for the Ministers on the vision of strong and resilient farming sectors. We can’t wait to hear more about your trip Anika!
In country NSW, Grain YFC Keiley Obrien attended the @YoungFarmerBP Business Ready Workshop in Dubbo.
as you can see from Keiley’s quote she was impressed
“ WOW what an event. We learnt a lot & found it extremely relevant given the current re-structure out contracting business is going through. Great networking op as well. Would highly recommend! #YFBP”
Archibull Prize school visits are well underway and several YFC are heading into classrooms this week. These visits are exciting days for students but for YFC they are an absolute highlight of the year. The chance to get out of the paddock, office or research lab and into schools to share their life’s passion is a thrilling and rewarding experience. This week:
Wool YFC and newly graduated vet Dione Howard is visiting Bombala High School.
Grain YFC Dan Fox is visiting Kellyville High School and Granville Boys High School.
And Casey Onus is visiting Oxley High School.
Good luck everyone!
#YouthinAg #YouthVoices18 #ArchieAction
