Young Farming Champion Josh Gilbert has received many accolades since he became a activist for agricultural, environmental and Indigenous justice

In the past week he has won both the Australian Geographic Young Conservationist of the Year and  the NSW Government’s Green Globe Young Sustainability Champion Award. 

The Green Globe award recognises and rewards a young individual for practical environmental solutions, and for promoting and engaging a community to improve its environmental issues. This award recognises a future environmental leader and is open to anyone 25 or younger living in NSW. 

Joshua Gilbert is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when vision, knowledge, research and passion combine.

 

The Young Farming Champions program focus is developing confident, independent, reflective thinkers who can share their story and their personal experiences, while voicing their own opinions about agricultural issues in their industry and more broadly.

Yesterday I was reminded how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many courageous young people

Firstly there was this testimonial for Young Farming Champion Dee George. I know how much this will mean to Dee (you are a true champion Dee)

And there was this entry in The Archibull Prize based on the ethos of the Dr Suess book The Lorax. After 4 weeks on the road with the art judge videoing the students it had got to the stage where I was queen of the bloopers and struggling to turn the record button on and off at the right time.

What does all this have to do with Josh. Well Josh is like The Lorax

I love his sense of right and wrong.

I love that he recognizes the need to speak for those who have no voice.

I love that he sees the beauty of an unspoiled forest.

I love that he’s willing to stand up for what he believes in, even when it is the unpopular opinion.

But most of all, I love that he maintains a hope for the future, even when it seems so dismal.

And I love that he not only believes that one person can change the world, but like all the Young Farming Champions he puts his heart and soul into being part of a movement that empowers them to do so.

I videoed his presentation and his speech. It was a very courageous moment