Young Farming Champion Lucy Collingridge shares her 28th Commonwealth Agriculture Conference experience

Picture this. It is snowing, the temperature is -12*C and it is October. You are wearing business clothes and heading to a conference, using a yellow school bus to get from your hotel to the conference venue. Over 70 young people, all under the age of 40, have congregated to discuss the future of agriculture, agriculture events and the challenges facing agricultural communities across the world. Where are you? You are at the 2018 Royal Agricultural Societies of the Commonwealth (RASC) conference in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada!

On the 27th October 2018 I flew out of Sydney on a 15 hour flight destined for Canada. As a recipient of a scholarship from the Agricultural Societies Council of New South Wales, I was heading to the 28th Commonwealth Agriculture Conference as an Australian delegate. But, first things first, I spent a few days traveling around Banff and Lake Louise taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the Rocky Mountains. For only the second time in my life, I was experiencing snow falling and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

IMG-5090

Peyto Lake. –  Can you see the dogs head? I had a stunning snow day to view Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon and the Bow Valley Parkway!

IMG-6442

Before the tour and conference started, I added a few extra days of sightseeing through the Rocky Mountains. I enjoyed a snow day and here I am on my way down the hill from viewing Peyto Lake.

After a 4 hour drive from Banff to Edmonton, it was time to meet the team that would make up the pre-conference tour contingent. A group of around 50 people of varying ages and backgrounds, from various countries and having various connections to agriculture made up the group of keen agriculturalists. We were privileged to visit some fantastic enterprises throughout the  tour and meet some innovating and exciting people. On the first day visited a beef farm that calves down around 500 cows in the height of the Canadian winter and utilises a barn to assist with their winter nights that can reach -40*C.

IMG-5532

The pre-conference tour contingent at Lewis Farms

Following our property visit, we were able to tour the only plant in Canada that produces beef patties for McDonald’s burgers. Over 3 million patties are made on site every day and they all contain 100% Canadian beef. Following this stop, we had lunch at McDonald’s to sample the burgers made from the patty’s we had just seen. A quick trip to Jasper for some tourist activities, including a swim in the hot springs, a private tour of on the Jasper Sky Tram, an evening with the Jasper Planetarium and lunch at the Fairmont Hotel with lake and mountain views.

IMG-5533

Some of the pre-conference tour contingent enjoying the snow at the top of the Jasper Skytram. For a few of the Aussies, it was the first time seeing snow. Although we couldn’t see the spectacular views, we made up for it with snow angels, snow ball fights and trying to slide down the hill!! Our snow day in Jasper was an awesome bonding experience for the group and helped to create some special friendships which not only lasted the length of the conference but for many years to come.

The second tour day included a trip to visit a $50 million, farmer owned, fruit and vegetable wholesaler who source produce from across North and Central America. The farmers who own the business receive market price for their produce sold through the business during the year, then a percentage of profit at the end of the year. Following this, we attended the Rock Ridge Dairy, where 900 goats are milked every day in a specialised milking barn. Along with the home grown milk, the family buys in local milk to produce a range of goats and cow’s milk and soft cheeses.

IMG-5380

Dueces Greenhouses. Here we have a new section of cucumbers that have been in the system a few small weeks.

The afternoon was spent at Deuces Greenhouses where 11ac of Greenhouses allow the family owned business to produce summer vegetables in the height of the Canadian winter, and therefore attract high premiums during periods of low supply and high demand. Our last day of the pre-tour featured the Canadian grains industry, with a trip to Galloway Seeds, a family owned seed cleaning business. Cleaning around 18t of grain per hour, and removing over 99% of impurities, the company has mastered the 4 step cleaning process.

IMG-5437

John Deere, the international symbol for anything green! This big rig was parked up at Galloway Seeds.  

IMG-5444

One bank of the silos used at Galloway Seeds for storing grain before cleaning.

After lunch we visited the Rig Hand Distillery, a small company who are specialising in local grown alcohol. They source most of their inputs from within 20 miles of the distillery, and utilise local season produce such as potatoes, garlic, raspberries, wheat and beeswax. Each night after the tour, we would find ourselves at different functions and mingling with the delegates from across the globe. These connections will last us a lifetime and have not only provided holiday destinations around the world, but also provided links between people who wish to make global agriculture better!

The conference started with some sessions dedicated to the Next Generation contingent. We had presentations from a range of experts and agriculturalists around the world that opened up our way of thinking and strengthened our passion from sustainable agricultural production. We were challenged and motivated, encouraged and grew as professionals. One of the most interesting presentations for me was from Professor David Hughes, or as he is better known Dr. Food. A thought-provoking presentation from Dr. Food has had me thinking about the future of agriculture for the last 4 weeks, and I have added some thoughts below.

  • An increase in population of over 2 billion people by 2050, where 1.6 billion will be of Muslim or Hindu faith. What will these consumers prefer? What will be their protein of choice? What does this mean for our current, and future, farmers?
  • Africa will double population by 2050 (1 billion to 2 billion), and India, Bangladesh and Pakistan will increase by 0.5b each. Most Eastern European countries will decrease, so what impacts will this have on dynamics in-country? Who will care for their ageing?
  • Population growth is expected to be concentrated to cities. The 10th most populated city in China has the same GDP as the whole of Norway, or double that of NZ!
  • By 2050, China will be importing 6 million tonnes of animal products and 30% of global soy production. What does this mean for the rest of the world’s consumers? What impact will this have on protein demand worldwide?
  • Asian families typically sit down to a 12 course meal whereas westernised families sit down to meat and 3 veg. What does this mean for exporter’s worldwide? Do we need to put more emphasis on how our end consumer cooks and eats? What do they value? Just because chicken breast is the preferred cut in Australia doesn’t mean it is in any Asia country.
  • Protein sources. As producers and scientists, we see fish and red meat as two separate items. However consumers see them as competing protein sources. Should we be considering fish as a competing source when we market it as producers?
  • The future of food and protein. Are we moving to an era that sees red meat and fish take a step back to insects, meatless meat or maggots? Or will we see an increase in these products being used as a protein source for the animals that we use as a protein source?

The main conference joined the Next Generation delegates with the more senior delegates from across the globe. We heard from Princess Anne, and participated in sessions including:

  • Bees, Berries, Bars and Beer – young entrepreneurs who are forging their way in the agricultural industry in Canada
  • Management Show Topic – Managing the complexity of agricultural events on a large scale.
  • Bud Mercer – the future of special events. A perspective gained through the planning for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
  • Jeffery Fitzpatrick-Stilwell – Sustainability in beef and what it means for McDonald’s from a sourcing and processing perspective.
  • Social License Agriculture – Advocacy for agriculture. Should we protect people from the unpleasant or show the whole agricultural industry as it stands?
  • Agritainment panel – From the Calgary Stampede in Canada to the Kranji Countryside Association in Singapore, we learned how different dynamics lead to different methods of keeping crowds engaged and entertained
  • Peterson Farm Brothers – How using parodies of well-known songs can create opportunities to educate the world on agriculture and farming

The opportunity to attend the RASC Agricultural Conference in Edmonton, Canada, has reinvigorated my passion for agriculture and agricultural events. It has provided me with networks across the globe, containing people from all backgrounds and all ages. The conference introduced me to a range of experts and entrepreneurs who are forging their own path in global agriculture, and they have encouraged me that I have the ability to achieve my aims in agriculture. I have established connections in Australia, and look forward to working with more young people across our country, for example strengthening the connection of the youth committees of the RAS of NSW and RASV.

IMG-5649

A group of Next Generation Delegates – including agriculturalists from Australia, England, Wales and New Zealand! “

If anyone would like to know any more on the RASC Agricultural Conference or my experiences in Canada, I am more than happy to have a chat.

Tallong Public School win Grand Champion Kreative Koala 2018

Tallong Public School was declared Grand Champion Koala for their creative efforts investigating UN Sustainable Development Goal Life on the Land to bring attention to the endangered Tallong Midge Orchid, as part of the 2018 Kreative Koalas – Design a Bright Future Challenge, in an awards ceremony held at St Saviour’s Hall in Goulburn on Tuesday November 27.

Holcim (9).jpg

Principal Ellie Moore and Declan Close from Holcim Australia with students from Tallong Public School 

Alongside their giant koala Tallong Public School ran a community concert. “Students either danced in a class dance and/or acted in a play called “Snugglepot and Cuddlepie in Tallong” where the gumnut babies find the rare and endangered Tallong Midge Orchid and together with their bush animal friends and students from TPS, find and protect the little orchid,” the school said. “The concert was well attended and received very positive feedback. The play directly connected to the message given by the Koala artwork; that of a need to protect the local endangered species of plants and animals.”

Tallong Public School (8)

Tallong Public School Principal Ellie Moore with students and Mary Bonet (LachLandcare) Giselle Newbury ( Southern Tablelands Arts) and Patricia Garcia AO National Program Manager  UN Sustainable Development Goals

The students from 4D at Young Public School were awarded runners-up with their evocative artwork named Chewy the Choking Koala. The students studied the SDG of Life Below the Water. “Through our research, we have been shocked and saddened by the amount of rubbish going into our waterways and eventually into the ocean,” the school said. “4D have identified plastic as the most damaging element of our rubbish.”

Kreativekoalas Awards Day(341)

 Students from Young Public School with sponsors Declan Close from Holcim Australia, Tanya Roberts from Australian Wind Alliance and Craig Simon from Acciona Energy with Kranky Koala

 Kreative Koalas is a unique example of 21st Century learning linking sustainability and art, pairing school students with Community Champions to create a call to action to help Australia meet its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In 2018 seven primary schools across the southern highlands participated.

Kreative Koalas asks students to communicate their learnings in art form on a giant fibreglass koala and to design an environmental community Call to Action project. More information on the program can be found on the website at www.kreativekoalas.com.au

Winners of the Best Digital Learning Journal section was Braidwood Central School.

Braidwood Central School.jpg

The team from Braidwood Central School

The Award for Kreative Koalas Youth Ambassador was presented to Goulburn West Public School student Mae O’Flynn by Mayor Bob Kirk

Kreativekoalas (268).jpg

Mayor Bob Kirk with Mae O’Flynn

Special guests at the Kreative Koalas awards ceremony were Australia’s National Program Manager for the UN Sustainable Development Goals Patricia Garcia AO and Mayor of the Goulburn Mulwaree Council Bob Kirk.

Kreative Koalas is proudly supported by Holcim Australia,  Acciona Energy, Australian Wind Alliance, Lachlandcare, Southern Tablelands Art and NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Special shoutout to MC Warren Brown for officiating on the day

All the photos from the Awards Day can be found here

HOW CAN YOUR REGION PARTICIPATE IN KREATIVE KOALAS 2019?

Kreative Koalas – Design a Bright Future Challenge puts students at the centre of the learning experience and empowers teachers to support their students to create the bright future we all deserve.

The Kreative Koalas funding model celebrates the research that shows that kids who go to schools that have strong relationships with business and the community have a much greater opportunity to thrive. Businesses and communities who engage with schools can enrich and enhance the delivery of education. Students can see their learnings have real-world significance. When schools, parents, business and communities partner together great things can happen in the lives of children and young adults.

If you would like to partner with your community to bring Kreative Koalas to your region, please contact Lynne Strong HeadKoala@kreativekoalas.com.au

Young Farming Champions Muster December Edition 2

This week’s top stories from Young Farming Champions across the country.  

In the Field

What would a December wrap up be in YFC world without some harvest photos? It’s been a tough year for many grain producers but fortunately some were able to get the headers out after some late rain to finish the season. Grains YFCs Keiley O’Brien and Marlee Langfield sent in some epic paddock shots, thanks ladies! Wishing those who are still yet to finish their harvest all the best.

Keiley Obrien Harvest

Grains YFC Keiley O’Brien – “Not everything we planted made it through this year due to the drought. We had to spray some oats out earlier as it was too moisture stressed, so we are extremely grateful that we are even using the header this year.”

 

MarleeHarvest

Grains YFC Marlee Langfield – “Team work makes the dream work. Harvest 2018, we did it!”

Young Farming Champion Tim Eyes and partner Hannah Greenshields are reaping the benefits of introducing bee hives at their  Food Farm on the Central Coast .

If there is one thing that is integral to a healthy ecosystem on a farm, it’s bees! These little guys are from our hive from Bee Yourself – they are native stingless bees who are the hardest workers on our farm doing a wonderful job of pollinating our chemical free produce.

Click on the video to watch the bees in action

Out of the Field

YFC and Youth Voices Leadership Team Chair Jo Newton had an opinion piece published in the Stock and Land. She called for a focus on creating pathways into leadership instead of the rollout of further intensive leadership development programs. Read the full article here.   She was very excited to get lots of great positive feedback and people/organisations reaching out

Jo Newton OP-ED 1.JPG

Coinciding with National Soils Day, Grains YFC Sam Coggins featured on an episode of The AgVocate Podcast. ‘Soil is not dirty word’. You can catch Sam talking all things soil and why he’s so passionate about Ag here

Our YFCs not only get to share their stories with students as part of the Archibull Prize, they are also involved with Picture You in Agriculture’s recently launched Kreative Koalas program. This program encourages students and teachers to have courageous conversations around the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Wool YFC Adele Smith visited Young Public School in November to share wool’s sustainability story. Check out what the students from Young Public School learnt in the program in the video below!

You might have heard Wool YFC and Riverina Local Land Services District Veterinarian Dione Howard on the ABC NSW Country Hour a couple of weeks ago. Dione spoke about the risks of livestock grazing canola which has been an issue this year due to farmers using failed crops for grazing. You can hear her interview from 21:08 here.

Congratulations to one of our inaugural YFC Hollie Baillieu on her new position as Manager of Public Policy at Woolworths.

Hollie Baillieu

Formerly Senior Policy Office to Hon Niall Blair MP Minister for Agriculture in NSW Government, Hollie was the inaugural chair of the NSW Farmers Young Farmer Council. Passionate about upskilling young people in agriculture on policy and how to develop it we are looking forward to Hollie taking on a mentor role.

Prime Cuts

It has been a very exciting week for wool YFC Sam Wan, who celebrated a birthday and was also named as Elders 2018 Employee of the Year at the One Elders Awards! Sam joined the Elders team in 2012 and is currently in a Wool Technical Coordinator role at Elders National Wool Selling Centre in Melbourne. Sam’s award recognised her innovative ideas, as Sam connected wool growers with the live auction room by live streaming wool auctions online. Well done Sam!

Sam Wan Elders Employee of the Year

Wool YFC Sam Wan was this week named as Elders 2018 Employer of the Year. Image courtesy of Elders.

Congratulations to grains YFC Rebecca Thistlethwaite who was recently announced as one of the 2019 Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Rural Achievers. Rebecca will be involved in RAS and ASC activities during the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2019 and we look forward to following her journey!

rebecca-thistlethwaite

Grains YFC Rebecca Thistlewaite has recently been named as one of the 2019 RAS Rural Achievers

It’s been a big few weeks for Grains YFC Jess Kirkpatrick, she’s bought a little farm and in January is heading up to Tamworth to commence her dream job as a Grain Marketer with Graincorp.

Jessica Kirkpatrick

Grains YFC Jess Kirkpatrick has had a big month securing her dream job and buying a farm!

It is the week for graduations! University of New England celebrated YFCs Lucy Collingridge who has completed her Graduate Certificate in Agriculture and Keiley O’Brien who graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing. YFC Dione Howard graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Bachelor of Veterinary Science. Congratulations ladies!

Jasmine Whitten and Lucy Collingridge Grad

YFC Lucy Collingridge (right) graduated from University of New England. She is pictured with YFC Jasmine Whitten (left) who is set to graduate from UNE in 2019.

Keiley OBrien and Ruby

YFC Keiley O’Brien graduated from University of New England and is pictured with her gorgeous daughter Ruby.

Dione Howard Graduation

YFC Dione Howard graduated from Charles Sturt University.

_2018 A4ASponsors_foremail

Young Farming Champions Muster December 2018 1st Edition

This week’s top stories from Young Farming Champions around the country (and globe!)

In the Field

Grains YFC and farmer Dan Fox has been busy, along with a lot of the dryland farmers, getting crops harvested. Yields are down but generally the quality of crops this year has been really good!

Dan Fox Grain storage

Beef YFC Felicity Taylor has been in a field of a different kind for the past two months, working with Rabobank Food, Agri Mergers and Acquisitions in the Netherlands.

“It was mainly European and North American coverage but had a couple of Aussie companies in the mix also,” Felicity says. “It was very interesting working in a cross-cultural team, especially with people with a lifetime of corporate finance experience learnt across the globe. Overall it was very cool to be working in long term strategic moves for well known consumer food brands and important agriculture supply chain links.”

“It was a great opportunity to confirm where my passions lie, though for now I am keen to get back home and out with farmers again,” Felicity says.

Felicity Taylor Rabobank Office

Felicity’s view on her way to work each day in the Netherlands.

Casey Onus and her fellow Cotton YFC are in the process of completing their audits on cotton producers farms. The aims of the audits are to ensure that growers are complying with the rules and regulations of growing cotton as well as adhering to the resistance management strategies that protect the amazing genetics that are bred into the plants.

Cotton Crop

A number of YFC have been celebrating National Ag Day with a snapshot from their lives. This beautiful message on the GrainCorp Facebook page from Grains YFC Jessica Kirkpatrick sparked a great response on social media:

Great shot from Kristy McCormack who’s currently working in Canada:

Kirsty McCormack.jpg

…and this from friend of the YFC program Melissa Neal at #RedMeat2018 forum:

Melissa Neal Red Meat.jpg

Out of the Field

YVLT Chair and Dairy YFC Jo Newton has traded Melbourne’s summer for life in the village of Fermoy, Ireland. She’s there for 6 months as part of the Endeavour Research Fellowship Program. As part of her training she’s heading to a Genetics Conference hosted by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation & Sheep Ireland next week. She’ll be sharing all the action on twitter this Wednesday & Thursday.

Jo Newton Ireland Tweet.jpg

YFC Tayla Field spent three days in Tasmania this week finishing the ‘Masterclass of Horticultural Business’ with University of Tasmania, along with a great bunch of growers and business owners from across the country. The trip included a celebration dinner with the Governor of Tasmania as well as two days of touring farms from all areas of the industry. Watch Tayla share her thoughts on the Masterclass here

Tayla Field.jpg

Tayla is also celebrating big time that three of the schools she visited in 2018 were announced in the winners circle at The Archibull Prize Awards 

Wool YFC and veterinarian Dione Howard put her interview skills – following last month’s YFC workshop with Greg Mills – to good use last week and got a run on ABC Riverina talking dust storms and animal health on the radio. Listen here.

Wool YFC Samantha Wan ventured to Goulburn to share the positive story that is her career the Australian #wool industry at the city’s Regional Development Australia Southern Inland’s Ag Day barbeque.

Sam Wan Goulburn Post.jpg

Sam’s story was featured in the Goulburn Post. Read it here.

YFC Steph Fowler is back on Aussie soil after crossing the Pacific for the Royal Agricultural Societies of the Commonwealth conference in Canada, thanks to a scholarship from RAS NSW. Steph posted this moving testimony about her trip:

“Starting the trip home and despite everyone else from the conference posting about it I still can’t find the words. Perhaps it is because the opportunity to be involved with the RASC has only just begun or maybe it is because I still struggle to put together how the girl from the suburbs who loved animals as a kid has gone this far.

“If you had told 14 year old me, nervous as hell at my first ag show in Newcastle, that all these years later I would head across the world to be part of this I would have said you were on something.

“Massive thank you to the Agricultural Societies Council for the scholarship but more importantly thank you to Cowra Show, particularly our secretary Christie. I would not have been here without your support. Now looking forward to seeing where this journey will take me. Fingers crossed for Norfolk in two years, at least!”

Steph Fowler RAS Conference

Picture Yourself In Agriculture YFC Alana Black spoke on ABC Country Hour last week. Take a listen to the last five minutes of the November 20th podcast and you’ll hear Alana speak about her project Fledgling Farmers,  succession on family farms and the need for education of young farmers on communications competence. Listen here.

YFC Anika Molesworth presented at the Brave New World conference on climate and by all reports gave a fabulous, from the heart speech about the future and risks to Australia agriculture. The feedback from those lucky enough to be there has been outstanding. Well done Anika!

Last week YFC Meg Rice and Jasmine Whitten travelled to the nation’s capital for the 2018 Country to Canberra Power Trip conference.

Jasmine C2c.jpg

Jasmine had the privilege of being a panel speaker at the Country to Canberra Power Trip with Alpha Cheng, Nip Wijewickrema and Lousie Burrows speaking on “Personal Perspectives: Navigating the Road to Equality.”

She shared her life experiences of being a woman working in agriculture and how people have told her she could not be something because she was young or female. A testament to her positivity, Jasmine sees these barriers as redirections because they push her to find different pathways or to create her own pathway to achieve her goals. Her experiences resonated with many women in the room and let them know they are not alone on their journey. Jasmine believes in the adage,  “We share our stories not for ourselves but to help other who are on the same journey.”

Meg attended Monday night’s panel session, saying, “ The evening was a wonderful opportunity to meet the brave young women from rural and remote communities who had put their hands up to be leaders as well as listen to the inspiring stories of those that are already leaders within our communities. I was very proud to listen to fellow YFC and friend, Jasmine Whitten, share her struggles and triumphs within the agricultural industry.”

The University of New England has featured a few of our wonderful YFC (and UNE alumni) on their blog this week. Congratulations to Casey Onus who recently graduated from UNE with her MBA, no mean feat while working full time: Read her story here.

Jo Newton, our YVLT chair has also been featured at UNE for all of her fabulous work both in and out of the field, championing young women’s careers and proving that there is no such thing as too smart for agriculture. Read her story here.

Cotton YFC Emma Ayliffe also began the first half of her adventure are in ADAMA’s Young Agronomist of the Year competition. Emma jetted to Sydney to join the winners and runners up of the competition, as well as the Cotton Industries Young Achievers winners and nominees for the last three years. It was an opportunity for networking, with a strong focus on Ag Tech and its fit into the future of farming. Emma, along with the winner Kirsty and rising star Michelle, will venture to Israel next year on a two week study tour.

Emma ADAMA.jpg

Prime Cuts

Congratulations to YFC Sam Coggins whose startup Rise Harvest has been selected for a Singapore based accelerator to develop and scale a smartphone app that will deliver site-specific fertiliser recommendations to smallholder rice growers in Myanmar using leaf photos and the farmer’s knowledge. Brilliant news Sam, well done!

Sam Coggins Pic 3

Sam Coggins Pic 1

Well done to Cotton YFC Alexandria Galea who was recently nominated for the Ministers Emerging Leaders Award at the AgFutures Investment and Innovation Forum in Brisbane.

Alexandria Galea

#YouthVoices18 #YouthinAg #YoungFarmingChampions