This week’s top stories from Young Farming Champions across the country.
In the Field
Spring has definitely sprung at Panorama Farms Speckle Park where calving is in full swing for YFC Naomi Hobson and her partner Tim. These cuties are already in the paddock with more crossbred and stud calves due any day!
Spring Calves at Panorama Farms Speckle Park
YFC Emma Ayliffe has also had visitors on farm this week. WIN News Central West went out to chat to Em as part of their drought series.
They spoke about the challenges of encountering a drought in her and her partner Craig’s 1st year on their own property. Em also spoke about the challenges of running a business during drought, Em is a partner in Summit Ag, who provide agronomy services in Central West NSW. Catch the story here
YFC Jess Kirkpatrick snapped this picture while in Ouyen, Victoria this week. It’s one of 8 sites for the Victorian Farmers Federation Roadshow. The day featured a market update from GrainCorp, where Jess is in the Graduate Program as well as talks on chain of responsibility and truck road worthiness
Pretty skies in Ouyen, Victoria for the Victorian Farmers Federation Roadshow
Out of the Field
It was a big day out West with both Wool YFC Bessie Thomas and Emma Turner hosting their events.
Sheep and cattle farmers in far-west NSW kicked off their work boots for the inaugural Barefoot Bowls at Burragan event at Wool YFC Bessie Thomas’s farm on Saturday. Thirty drought affected locals travelled from as far as Tilpa, 115km north-east on the Darling River, to compete in the round robin tournament. The drinks were cold and the competition was hot as teams bowled for the coveted “Occasional Trophy” – a trophy for those occasions where you might occasionally need a trophy.
“Everyone had a fantastic evening and it made us all realise we need to do it more often,” Bessie said. “We had Marie Kelley, Rural Adversity Mental Health Co-Ordinator from Ivanhoe, Rural Chaplains David and Robin Pullen from the Salvation Army, Broken Hill, and lots of food, nibbles, and beautiful dinner and dessert. I think the relaxed, social atmosphere was just what everyone needed, as drought times are so draining and demanding.” Many thanks to everyone who helped pulled off a great night!
Keiley O’Brien kept us all in the loop with the action at the Naromine Show last weekend. As the 2018 Showgirl, for the next 12 months Keiley will be an ambassador for rural NSW and the agricultural show movement. During the show Keiley was involved in everything from the grand parade, Young Farmer Challenge, cattle judging. Head over to the Picture You In Agriculture Facebook page for the full story.
2018 has been a whirlwind of activity for YFC Lucy Collingridge. She found time to have a chat with Behind the Sash about what she’s been up to
Prime Cuts
YFC and Youth Voices Leadership Team Chair Jo Newton was this week announced on the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Award. Jo’s inclusion on the list recognises her and 99 other women who are resilient, agile and have a strong sense of purpose that drives them and enables them to influence others. She joins women representing the arts, health, environment and community development. On winning the award Jo said “I was humbled to find out I had been nominated for the 100 Women of Influence by my peers on the Youth Voices Leadership Team,” Jo said, “and then to find out I was on the list was an overwhelming experience. I hope to use this opportunity to shine a light on the causes that I am passionate about, translating science into real benefits for farms, and advocating, supporting and mentoring young people, particularly women, in agriculture.”
Read the story here
Congratulations to YFC Meg Rice who was offered and has accepted a law clerk position with a Canberra Law firm. This will see her specialise in Rural Succession Planning when she graduates as a lawyer next year.
Meg Rice is heading to Canberra
Rarely a week goes by without at least one of our YFC being recognised for their contributions to agriculture and rural and regional Australia. In this blog our Young Farming Champions identify awards as a significant platform to foster their career journey and reflect on how nominating for an award is an important step on many YFCs career journeys, expanding far beyond a pretty trophy.
Our YFC know it is important to grab opportunity with both hands, to travel and navigate foreign environments, meet new people, develop cultural sensitivity, shift perspective and see where someone else is coming from. In this blog Argentina and Australia – Our Young Farming Champions broaden their perspective, cultural sensitivity and appreciation., YFC Lucy Collingridge, Meg Rice and Anika Molesworth who travelled to Argentina in recent months share their ideas and learn from the South American country, and in doing so opened their eyes to the differences and similarities between Argentine and Australian agriculture.
#YouthinAg #YouthVoices18
