Celebrating Women in Agriculture at 2019 Australian Farmer of the Year Awards. LtoR Meg Rice, Aimee Snowden, Lynne Strong, Sally Downie, Jackie Jarvis, Sarah Parker, Charlie Aves and Sally Murfett
Ten years ago an organisation called Picture You in Agriculture (PYiA) launched with the vision of creating a network of empowered young farmers to represent the positive and progressive face of Australian agriculture. At the same time Kondinin Group and ABC Rural joined forces to create the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards.
In the decade since PYiA team members have featured six times in the Awards. In 2011 PYiA founder and director Lynne Strong was runner up in the Farm Industry Leader of the Year category. In 2015 Anika Molesworth was recognised as the Young Australian Farmer. In 2017 Greg Mills won the Rural Consultant category. Dan Fox was runner up for the Young Australian Farmer in 2017 and in 2018 he won the award for Excellence in Innovation. This year Young Farming Champion Sally Downie has received the inaugural Agricultural Student of the Year Award.
“From the hottest, driest continent with some of the poorest soils on the planet, Australian farmers supply food for 60,000 people across the globe and to do this Australian agriculture requires talented people,” Lynne says. “PYIA works with our supporting partners to identify agriculture’s emerging talent and develop their problem-solving, creative, communication and teamwork skills. The legacy of our Young Farming Champion program is a network of young agricultural leaders creating efficient, profitable and climate resilient farming systems and the perception, in the general community, that agriculture is an exciting industry. We foster an environment where innovation, disruption and creativity are encouraged, where careers with purpose can grow limitlessly and where partnerships across sectors are created and nurtured.”
Sally Downie wins Agricultural Student of the Year
Congratulations to Sally on being recognised for her commitment to Australian agriculture. Congratulations also to all of our Young Farming Champions who work with young people in the community to strive for a better world each and every day.
You can read all the winners stories here
