Category / Leadership

by Lynne Strong

Embracing Open Access for Empowering Young Environmentalists

This blog post celebrates the synergies between open access to research and effective environmental advocacy, highlighting the exemplary work of organisations like VFFF and the YEC program in empowering young environmentalists

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, environmental and social justice staying informed and adaptable is key. This is where the importance of open access to research becomes undeniable. Open access ensures that organisations like Action4Agriculture, dedicated to environmental causes, have access to the latest research and best practices. This approach enables us to address the specific needs of our audience effectively, ensuring that our initiatives are both impactful and relevant.

The Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation’s (VFFF), much like our organisation, understands and values the significance of open access. Their support in this area exemplifies a commitment to ‘walking the talk’. By prioritising open access, VFFF ensures that entities focused on environmental stewardship, like the Young Environmental Champions (YEC) program, can continually refine and enhance their efforts based on current research and emerging trends.

The YEC program, with its alignment to VFFF’s ethos, stands as a prime example of effectively utilising open access research. From addressing the challenges faced by young environmentalists in high schools to promoting community-based collective action, the program is designed to fill the gaps identified by young change-makers and researchers alike. Our ‘From Idea to Impact’ online course epitomises this, offering tailored training and mentorship that responds to the specific needs of young environmentalists, especially in rural and regional communities.

Our experience with the YEC program underlines the necessity of open access in creating meaningful, research-backed environmental initiatives. Organisations like VFFF, which champion this approach, play a pivotal role in equipping young environmentalists with the tools to make a significant impact. As we move forward, the fusion of open access research and practical application will continue to be the cornerstone of empowering the next generation of environmental leaders.

#OpenAccess #EnvironmentalEducation #YECProgram #VFFF #EmpoweringYouth #SustainableFuture

by Lynne Strong

🚀 Empowering the Future: Shaping a 21st Century Education System for Real-World Success 🎓

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the traditional education system, often mired in outdated practices, demands a significant overhaul. As we step into the latter half of the 2020s, the chasm between what employers seek and what our education system delivers has never been more apparent. It’s high time we realise the pressing need for a ‘fit-for-purpose’ education system, one that is in tune with the demands of the 21st century and is tailored to amplify the unique strengths and values of young people.

🔄Gone are the days when rote learning and a one-size-fits-all approach were deemed sufficient. In the digital age, where creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability are paramount, these outdated methods fall dramatically short. The recent ‘Learning Beyond Limits’ report, released in December 2023, underscores this pressing issue, highlighting the disconnect between traditional educational practices and the real-world skills employers are seeking.

🤝Employers today are not just looking for academic excellence; they are seeking individuals who exhibit a blend of technical skills and soft skills – communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. Our educational system needs to pivot, placing greater emphasis on these skill sets, nurturing students to be agile thinkers and lifelong learners.

🌟Every student possesses a unique set of strengths and values. It’s essential that our education system recognises this diversity and provides opportunities for students to explore and develop these areas. Personalised learning paths, project-based learning, and real-world experiences should become the cornerstone of education, allowing students to engage in learning that resonates with their interests and talents.

🖥️Technology plays a pivotal role in transforming education. Digital platforms can offer customised learning experiences, while AI and machine learning can help educators identify and nurture individual student strengths. It’s vital that we leverage these technological advancements to make learning more interactive, engaging, and relevant.

📣As we navigate these changing times, the need for a reimagined education system has never been more urgent. It’s a collective responsibility – educators, policymakers, parents, and employers must come together to create an environment that truly prepares our young people for the future. Let’s commit to an education that goes beyond textbooks, one that values creativity, individuality, and real-world readiness.

👩‍🎓👨‍🎓 Join the movement for a future-ready education system. Together, we can empower the next generation to not just survive, but thrive in the 21st century.

#EducationReform #EmpowerTheFuture 🌍📚

by Lynne Strong

Reimagining Education: The Imperative for Evolution Beyond the 150-Year-Old Classroom Model

 

As Action4Agriculture marks its 20th anniversary, we stand at a pivotal crossroads, reflecting on a journey rich in achievements and lessons learned. This milestone presents an opportune moment to deliberate on our future trajectory in an ever-evolving educational landscape. The critical question facing us is whether to continue forging our path independently, ensuring that our educational programs are tailored to the needs of 21st-century learners and workplaces, or to join forces with like-minded organisations. Collaborating could amplify our impact and enable resource sharing, thereby allocating more funds directly to program delivery. This series of articles aims to explore these options, weighing the benefits of maintaining our distinct identity and autonomy against the potential for greater reach and efficacy through partnerships. In doing so, we seek to chart a course that not only honours our two-decade legacy but also optimally positions us to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

 

As we navigate the 21st century, a striking reality confronts us: our classrooms, the very epicentres of learning and development, have remained largely unchanged for over a century. This observation prompts an urgent question: Why do our educational spaces still mirror those of 150 years ago, and more importantly, how can we reshape them to better prepare our students – who represent not just 20% of our current population but 100% of our future?

The Static Classroom: A Legacy of the Past

Historically, the traditional classroom model was designed for a different era – one that valued rote learning and standardisation. This system, with its rows of desks and a teacher at the front, was meant to instil discipline and uniformity, reflecting the industrial age’s demands. However, this model is increasingly at odds with today’s dynamic and interconnected world.

The Need for Evolution in Education

  1. Embracing Technological Integration: We live in a digital age where technology plays a pivotal role in every aspect of life. Education must keep pace with this evolution. Integrating technology into learning not only makes education more engaging but also more relevant, equipping students with the digital literacy skills they need for the future.
  2. Fostering Critical Thinking and Creativity: The future demands innovators and problem solvers. A transformation from rote memorisation to an emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills is essential. Classrooms should be spaces where questioning is encouraged, and creativity is nurtured.
  3. Preparing for a Globalised World: Our students are not just citizens of their hometowns or countries but of a global community. Education must reflect this reality, offering a global perspective and teaching cultural awareness and empathy.
  4. Personalised Learning Paths: Recognising that each student is unique, with different strengths, interests, and learning styles, is crucial. Modern education should move towards more personalised learning experiences, allowing students to explore and learn at their own pace.
  5. Collaborative and Interactive Learning Environments: The future workplace values collaboration and teamwork. Classrooms should mimic this, encouraging group projects and interactive learning, breaking away from the isolation of traditional desk arrangements.

Our Call to Action

While students may only represent a fraction of our current population, they indeed embody the entirety of our future. The need for education to evolve is not just a necessity but an imperative. We must break free from the constraints of the past and reimagine our classrooms as dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking spaces. Only then can we truly prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

This evolution in education is not just an investment in individual learners but in the future of our society and the world at large. It’s time to embrace change and make education a true reflection of the ever-evolving world we live in.

 

#FutureOfEducation #EvolvingClassrooms #EducationalReform #21stCenturyLearning  #InnovativeTeaching #DigitalLiteracy #GlobalEducation #CreativeLearning #PersonalisedEducation

#InteractiveLearning #EducationTransformation #RethinkingEducation #StudentCentredLearning

#TechInEducation #EmpoweringStudents

By visiting www.action4agriculture.com.au, you’re not just exploring an educational resource; you’re stepping into a community dedicated to shaping a smarter, more sustainable future. Join us in this exciting journey!

by Lynne Strong

Embrace Excellence, Follow Finland: A Call to Action for Sustainable Education!

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We often spend a lot of time trying to come up with new ideas, even when there are proven methods that work well. Finland has done a great job in achieving goals for education and sustainable development. They focus on ensuring teachers are well-trained, treating students fairly, and encouraging creativity.

Photo source

Instead of always trying to invent new ways of doing things, we could learn from Finland’s success. By following their example, we can save time and resources and make progress in education and sustainable development more effectively. It’s like using a roadmap that has already been tested and found to lead to success, rather than constantly trying to find a new path.

In light of Finland’s exemplary model in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and education targets and Action4Agriculture’s extensive monitoring, evaluating and reporting, we recommend that the government undertake a comprehensive policy overhaul to enhance the quality and inclusivity of our education system.

Drawing inspiration from Finland’s key success factors, we propose the following initiatives:

  1. Commitment to Education as a Fundamental Right:
    • Establish and reinforce a national commitment to education as a fundamental right for all citizens, ensuring access and opportunity for every student.
  2. Equitable Education System:
    • Implement measures to reduce disparities among schools and regions, fostering a standardized education system that prioritizes equality and addresses educational inequalities.
  3. Teacher Training and Professionalism:
    • Invest in rigorous teacher training programs to elevate the qualifications and professionalism of educators, acknowledging their pivotal role in the success of the education system.
  4. Child-Centric Approach:
    • Shift the focus from standardized testing towards fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, aligning educational practices with the broader goals of sustainable development.
  5. Holistic Well-Being:
    • Incorporate a holistic approach to education, valuing not only academic achievement but also the overall well-being of students. Integrate health and well-being components into the curriculum.
  6. Social Welfare Policies:
    • Develop and enhance social welfare policies that create a supportive environment for students, addressing healthcare, social security, and family support to indirectly contribute to various SDGs beyond education.
  7. Innovation and Adaptability:
    • Promote innovation and adaptability within the education system, fostering an environment that evolves to meet the changing needs of society and equipping students for the challenges of the future.
  8. Collaboration and Consensus:
    • Encourage collaboration and consensus-building in education policymaking, involving stakeholders such as teachers, parents, and policymakers to create a sense of ownership and commitment to the education system.
  9. Focus on Lifelong Learning:
    • Recognize the importance of lifelong learning by designing educational programs that instill a love for learning throughout individuals’ lives, aligning with Finland’s successful approach.
  10. Environmental Sustainability:
    • Integrate environmental sustainability into educational practices and curriculum, aligning with broader SDGs beyond education and contributing to a global agenda for a sustainable future.

Conclusion: By adopting these recommendations, our government can pave the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable education system. Emulating Finland’s successful model will not only contribute to achieving SDGs but will also foster a society that values education as a cornerstone for sustainable development and societal well-being.

#FollowFinland #SustainableEducationNow #LearnFromTheBest #GlobalGoals #EducationForAll #SDGSuccess #InnovateWithPurpose #HolisticLearning #FutureLeaders #SmartChoices

 

by Lynne Strong

🌱📚 A Journey to Regeneration with Belltrees Public School 🚀

At Action4Agriculture we believe tomorrow’s problems can be solved today, if we can break down silo thinking and move beyond self interest to a collaborative model that sees people and organisations working together for the greater good.

Today we celebrate Belltrees Public School and their collaborators – a beacon of hope showing others it can be done

 

“Go to the experts and then bring the experts back”

Belltrees Public is a small school with big ambitions. Located east of Scone in the Upper Hunter Valley, this school, which in 2023 has only 3 students, is on a mission to become the greenest little school in Australia.

Students engage in a range of sustainability-based programs, led by a Youth Environmental Council, including carbon-emission reduction, waste minimisation and slow food but it is their award-winning (National Sustainable Communities – Young Legend award) journey to agricultural regeneration that truly showcases the power of entrusting our future to the young.

The catalyst for this remarkable journey was a barren school paddock. While standing around this area, void of life in 2019’s challenging drought, a question was asked to local farmer, Rob Scott:

“How do we prepare these students for the challenges they’ll face with changing climatic conditions?”

Rob replied: “Have you heard of regenerative farming?”

Rob’s response prompted a school visit to the Mulloon Institute at Bungendore in NSW, but this was more than a simple excursion.

“Belltrees Public School wanted to support the community in the midst of the worst drought in a century. So, in discussion with Rob, we set the task of hosting an excursion for local farmers to come with the school to learn about regenerative agriculture principles. We secured funding to ensure no farmers were financially restricted from attending, organised our experts and opened it up to students, families and local farmers to attend,” Belltrees principal Shane Roberts says.

Following their adopted motto of “go to the experts and then bring the experts back”, in 2021 the school community hosted a field day on their grounds. Special guest was Martin Royds, who took the opportunity to meet with local farmers outside the school environment. Also involved with the field day were the Warrambungles National Park Environmental Education Centre, the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens, Hunter Local Land Services and Murrurundi and Ellerston Public Schools.

The journey continued in 2022 with another excursion, this time to Armidale to visit five regenerative farms, and again the experts were brought back to the Upper Hunter where 80 farmers attended a field day. In conjunction, Belltrees organised a tree planting day enlisting Costa Georgiadis, Upper Hunter Landcare and Wallabadah and Martindale Public Schools to help celebrate their success.

In the process the once barren paddock has been transformed. A groundswell of interest in regenerative practices from the students, staff and parents now sees chickens and sheep sharing space with an orchard and vegetable plots. Neighbouring schools have taken an active interest in this real-world model for learning about sustainability and beyond the revived school plot countless hectares in the community are benefitting from regenerative agriculture as local farmers ride the wave with the students.

Byron and Fiona Hubbard from Balarang Station in the Upper Hunter are two of those farmers.

“We have been involved with the Belltrees Public School regenerative journey for the past four years and have really enjoyed watching the whole community get behind it and learn from the experiences we have all had together …. To share this with fellow members of our farming community made it all too easy to benefit from the experience. We have all gone on to implement some of these practices into our farm and this has influenced others to try the same,” Byron says.

The Belltrees community has come together to support this journey. Fund-raising enabled participants beyond the school to attend and contribute and this has been re-paid as farmers and other experts have ensured students are maximising their educational opportunities.

“At the core of our efforts has been collaboration. Reaching out to experts in the field to support our next generation better understand the challenges and opportunities that the future holds is key to our planning. We have focused on addressing the Sustainable Development Goals through our schools Youth Environment Council. Each project we have embarked on has led our small school to forming strong relationships with individuals, organisations and collaborators who have guided, supported and mentored us through our efforts,” Shane says.

The journey to regeneration continues. In October the school will host a Paddock to Plate Day and in November will run a Journey to Regeneration field day incorporating the screening of “Rachel’s Farm”, a documentary looking at actor Rachel Ward’s own regenerative journey.

Rachel Ward may have the clout that comes from a life in film-making. Belltrees Public School has the clout of their community and an unwavering commitment to harness a far greater audience – our young people.

#YoungClimateChampions #BelltreesPublicSchool #EnvironmentalHeroes #SustainableSchools #YouthEnvironmentalCouncil #EcoWarriors #GreenGeneration #ClimateAction #FutureLeaders #EcoInnovation

 

 

by Lynne Strong

Young Farming Champions are celebrating milestones with a Nuffield Scholar and a film-maker

Our Young Farming Champions represent all manner of food and fibre industries and this week we are celebrating with Steph Tabone (horticulture) and Bryan Van Wyk (fishing). So, as you plan a prawn and vege stir-fry for dinner tonight, let’s go behind the scenes and look at two young people helping put the food on your plate.

We are proud to announce that Steph is our first Nuffield Scholar! Steph, who works as a researcher with Applied Horticulture Research, was announced as a 2024 Scholar at a gala dinner in Perth held in September.

2024 Nuffield Scholars with Steph Tabone 2nd from left in the front row 

Former Nuffield Scholar and now CEO of Nuffield Australia Jodie Redcliffe says farmer-led research is a proven recipe for success.

“For more than 70 years Nuffield Scholars have travelled the world, bringing home the latest intelligence, farming practices and developments to share with their peers. Their scholarship is an investment in themselves and their capacity to lead their business, their community and their industry by widening their knowledge and networks.”

Supported by Hort Innovation under the Vegetable Research and Development Levy, Steph will investigate the use of legumes as an alternative nitrogen source for vegetable cropping systems. She will use the $35,000 Nuffield Bursary to visit the US, Denmark, India and Brazil to connect with researchers and leading growers in this field.

“Nitrogen fertilisers have a large greenhouse gas emissions footprint through the manufacturing process, transport and in-field use, highlighting the need for alternate nitrogen solutions. Legumes can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria, can improve soil health and offer other rotational benefits. The challenge is knowing when the nitrogen will be released into plant-available forms. I hope to explore the factors that drive nitrogen release from organic residues, and the practical strategies that growers can use to sync the release with the nitrogen needs of a succeeding vegetable crop,” Steph says.

Spreading love for food industries in a totally different way is Bryan Van Wyk, fleet operations manager at Austral Fisheries, who has been busy behind and in front of the video camera.

Brian lives (and thrives) in northern Queensland and uses filmmaking to tell his story.

“Understanding food origin and how food selection can play a big role in overall sustainability is an important yet complicated process for the average consumer to understand. Film making is an effective way of enabling community members to absorb, digest and understand relatively complex stories about seafood through visual and audible experiences,” he says.

Bryan recently shared his love of fishing and north Queensland with an entry in the Mission Beach Outdoor Food Festival, earning fifth place for his high-octane entry.

“Film making (for now) is simply just a hobby for me that, hopefully, inspires others to get out and enjoy life or tell their story.”

You can catch Bryan’s film here.

Bryan is currently busy keeping the Austal fleet moving with the tiger prawn season but he has also incorporated film-making into his work by compiling branded Instagram reels and collecting underwater footage of bycatch reduction devices for educational videos. Recently he found himself on the other side of the camera when he starred in an Austral promotion for Coles. See him talking about the banana prawn industry and Austral’s role as conservationists of the sea here.

Steph and Bryan are both shining examples of young people excelling in Australia’s food and fibre industries and we are proud to call them Young Farming Champions.

by Lynne Strong

🌏🤝 Innovative Multistakeholder projects lifting collaboration rates 💡🤔

Australia has one of the lowest collaboration rates in the OECD

““Everyone I talk to believes that the problem is academics … their incentives are very much associated with publish or perish.” Malcolm Turnbull

Whilst the blame game is often counterproductive, it is important we address the ramifications for research in agriculture which is too often only found behind paywalls. When the majority of this research is funded by the taxpayer it is important to find ways to make it available to all organisations doing applied research.

With support from funding from the National Careers Institute Action4Agriculture is on a journey to encourage a communities of practice model

  • A community of practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic and who come together to fulfill both individual and group goals.
  • Communities of practice often focus on sharing best practices and creating new knowledge to advance a domain of professional practice. Interaction on an ongoing basis is an important part of this.
  • Many communities of practice rely on face-to-face meetings as well as web-based collaborative environments to communicate, connect and conduct community activities. Source 

We are very excited to share with you our E-Book to support others to build successful multistakeholder partnerships

You can download it HERE 

 

#action4agriculture #careerswithpurpose #careerseducation #CollaborationRates #AustraliaResearch #OECD #AcademicIncentives #PublishOrPerish #ResearchInAgriculture #OpenAccess #TaxpayerFundedResearch #NationalCareersInstitute #CommunityOfPractice #KnowledgeSharing #BestPractices #MultistakeholderPartnerships #EBook #Action4Agriculture

by Lynne Strong

🌟🏆 What matters to us: Students champion issues for a better future 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓

A pitch and awards event for the pilot of Action4Agriculture’s Young Environmental Champions program (funded by the NSW Office of Regional Youth and Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation ) gave the stage to 10 teams of young people on May 12 to showcase what matters most to them.

Held at the Newcastle Museum and facilitated by Josh Farr from Campus Consultancy, the event included primary and secondary schools from the Hunter and Hawkesbury regions.

“Over the past 10 weeks, these young minds have dedicated themselves to creating a social impact project that will bring about positive change and contribute towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, “Action4Agriculture director Lynne Strong said. “Our young people are reshaping, rewiring and reimaging the future; a future that they have designed ”

Students found a diversity of projects to focus on including flood water management, sustainable fishing, waste management and recycling, increasing pollinators, improving student mental health, technology to transition students to high school, community partnerships and climate action.

For their final presentation they were tasked with creating a three minute pitch to sell their idea to a judging panel. The panel was led by AAEE (Australian Association of Environmental Educators) chair Sue Martin, accompanied by Newcastle environmental advocate Alexa Stuart, health promotion specialist Dan Brown, CoastXP founder Dominic May and founder of the BEATS.org Tommy Viljoen.

Winning the primary school section was Hamilton Public School who focused on SDGs 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and 13 (Climate Action) to create a project titled People Power.

“[We are] aspiring to improve the health of individuals and our community.

We aim to clean the air and promote physical health by promoting modes of transport that are strictly people powered!”

Winning the secondary school section was St Joseph’s Lochinvar who looked at flood mitigation due to local urbanisation and how it is affecting their school, coming up with a solution that utilised the excess water to irrigate their school farm. Their project incorporated SDGs 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and 15 (Life on Land) and was an excellent example of how global issues can be addressed at a local level.

Runner-up in the primary section the runner-up was St Brigid’s Primary School who focused on SDG 15 (Life on Land).

and in the secondary section was the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Education for their focus on SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing)

The Hon. Kate Washington, Member for Port Stephens/Minister for Families and Communities/ Minister for Disability Inclusion was especially impressed by the calibre of the presentations:

“I love this program. It gives students, who are already solving the problems of the future, a chance to shine,” she said.

The Hon Kate Washington MP with students from St Brigid’s Primary School

The Hon. Tim Crakanthorp, Member for Newcastle with students from Hamilton Public School

 

Other special guests were the Hon. Tim Crakanthorp, Member for Newcastle/Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education/Minister for the Hunter, Declan Clausen, Deputy Mayor of Newcastle and representatives from Newcastle and Maitland Councils, Hunter Local Land Services and the NSW Office of Regional Youth.

#creatingabetterfuturetogether

#youngenvironmental champions

#action4agriculture

 

 

by Lynne Strong

From The Archibull Prize to Young Farming Champion – how Action4Agriculture works for Danielle Fordham

Traditionally agriculture has not conducted longitudinal studies following the journey of participants in its agricultural awareness programs. We look forward to that changing.

Today’s story is very rewarding for our organisation. Our journalist the wonderful Mandy McKeesick interviewed Danielle Fordham who we first met over 12 years ago when she participated in The Archibull Prize during secondary school

 

Young Farming Champion Danielle Fordham (centre front row ) inspiring the next generation of agriculturalists to follow in her footsteps 

Background

Action4Agriculture offers a holistic suite of programs designed to inspire and empower agricultural advocates and leaders. We realise this is not a sprint but a marathon that requires long-term commitment from ourselves, our partners and, most of all, the young people we want to inspire and cultivate.

Danielle Fordham is the perfect example of how the programs and training come together. She was first exposed to Action4Agiculture through The Archibull Prize at Caroline Chisholm College and in 2022 became a Young Farming Champion sponsored by Hunter Local Land Services. As our new program, Action4Youth, readies for roll-out in 2023, Danielle has already been involved – sharing her agricultural journey with students as part of a pilot program at Lake Illawarra High School.

This is Danielle’s Action4Agriculture story ……

Danielle, you were part of the team from Caroline Chisholm College that was named Grand Champion Archibull in 2011 with the wonderful Rubick’s Cube inspired creation “Moobix Cube”. Can you tell us about your Archibull experience?

I was part of The Archibull Prize in 2011 and 2012 and the experience was incredible. It connected my learnings in the classroom to the real world. As a cohort, my friends and I loved participating, bonding and getting to meet like-minded people our own age who shared the same passions.

I enjoyed researching issues such as how to feed a growing population, learning more about cow by-products (did you know cow parts are used in cosmetics and medicine?) and showcasing the trophy-worthy dairy and red-meat industries. It was great to come up with creative ideas to communicate these issues and showcase agriculture in a new light to the wider public.

The experience opened my eyes to the endless opportunities in agriculture and it cemented my interest and career ambitions in the agricultural field. Most importantly The Archibull Prize connected me with the brilliant organisation that is Action4Agriculture (previously Art4Agriculture) and the opportunities it has provided me.

 

Since high school you’ve become a poster girl for the diversity of Australian agriculture, undertaking a business traineeship, attending Tocal Agricultural College (Double Dux!!), working in agribusiness, studying an environmental university degree and working as the Alumni Officer at Tocal. How did it feel to add Young Farming Champion (YFC) to your resume in 2022?

 

It was deeply empowering to be selected as a Young Farming Champion. I was struggling to find my connection back to the agricultural industry as I had moved into the environmental science sector and the YFC program provided the best opportunity to combine the two.

The experiences and workshops provided by Action4Agriculutre as a YFC have strengthened my confidence and ability to a stand as a clear, trusted voice in agriculture. I want to make a positive impact on agriculture and support the community, and YFC has enabled me to do this and more. YFC has broadened my horizons and I feel I can go further with my career than I ever imagined.

 

And, specifically, what skills has the YFC program given you?

The YFC program has taught me essential skills such as how to be an effective communicator, how to be an inspirational speaker and presenter and how to efficiently manage my time. The program has given me a network of peers and industry and community contacts.

Through YFC I have converted my passion for agriculture into a vehicle to empower other young people, such as my students at Tocal Agricultural College.

 

In 2023 we are launching Action4Youth, which aims to introduce disadvantaged young people to career pathways in agriculture. You participated in a pilot program at Lake Illawarra High School last year. What was that like?

It felt incredibly rewarding to be able to connect with students who were like me: interested in agriculture but who didn’t grow up on a farm or have the money to study agriculture straight out of school.

I was able to share my story and empower the students to think outside the square. I could assure them there are plenty of opportunities out there after school and, as a living example, that you are not limited by your HSC or ATAR results. If you are passionate about a career or lifestyle, there is nothing stopping you. You have just got to keep looking for your next step and embrace the skills and lessons you learn along the way.

Additionally, I was equally inspired by the Lake Illawarra students and their tenacity and enthusiasm. It was great to learn from each other and feel connected to the future of agriculture and our communities.

Young Farming Champions Lachie White and Danii Fordham were a big hit with students and teachers at Lake Illawarra High School  

Overall, how do you feel the Action4Agriculture programs align with your aspirations for your own career?

The Action4Agriculture programs align with my aspirations of being a clear, trusted and influential leader in the sustainable agriculture field in two particular arenas: marrying agriculture and science, and promoting women.

The environmental world is in turmoil with global issues of climate change, ocean acidification, food and resource insecurity, habitat destruction, and contamination. These issues threaten all our livelihoods and existence; and this make creating a future we all want to be part of a shared responsibility.  Agriculture is a key industry in combating and controlling these issues with opportunities in technological innovation, sustainable and regenerative practices, environment restoration, carbon capture and rehabilitation integration. The opportunities for agriculture to be part of the solution are endless.

To create these solutions it is vital to strengthen the connection and relationship between agriculture and science and I plan to do this by promoting sustainable agriculture.

Championing women in agriculture and science is also a passion of mine and in 2022 I organised an event to recognise 50 years of female students at Tocal College. By telling my own story and connecting with like-minded women we can overcome social challenges and promote equality.

Action4Agriculture’s ethos and opportunities to connect directly with the next generation and particularly the training and networking received as a Young Farming Champion enables me to effectively communicate these challenges and find the solutions we all need.

 

 

by Lynne Strong

Meet Ryan McParland who is helping young people create and drive youth led organisations

The agricultural show has been part of the Australian landscape since the 1820s, providing a vital connection and
conversation between the city and the bush. Over the years the show has struggled to retain its relevance in a changing
world but Ryan McParland is leading a charge of young people determined to modernise and revolutionise this mainstay of
agricultural pride. With Ryan at the helm the enthusiasm of youth from both urban and rural environments is married to the
wisdom and experience of age, and all in the show world are coming along for the ride.

Ryan McParland with his father Shaun at Government House 

Action4Agriculture director Lynne Strong recently spent a number of weeks working with Ryan McParland at agricultural shows in the Illawarra. She has been inspired by his vision for building a cohort of committed youth volunteers who can support rural and regional Australia.

“The leadership journey begins with knowing how to lead yourself, then to lead teams and finally to lead systems. I believe Ryan has the capacity to not only lead systems but to drive meaningful change within Australian agriculture. He has the skills to create a movement and also the skills to gather around him the role models, mentors, champions and funding partners that he needs to be successful,” Lynne Strong CEO Action4Agriculture

Ryan grew up on a Jamberoo dairy farm and his family have always been strong supporters of the agricultural show movement, including the now-defunct Rural Youth program.

“The McParland name is synonymous with Albion Park Show and I got to know Ryan when he was still in school and would come to show meetings [at age 15 Ryan was the youngest member ever of the Albion Park Show]. I’ve watched his development, seen the beginning of his career with the steelworks and been fascinated by his never-ending enthusiasm for agriculture”  says Colin Hollis former MP and show committee stalwart.

Ryan’s road to honorary Young Farming Champion is differentiated by the fact he does not work in agriculture; instead Ryan is a mechanical engineer with BlueScope Steel and a tireless volunteer for agricultural shows in his spare time. Harry Murphy is Ryan’s boss at BlueScope and understands the tightrope Ryan often walks.

“We work a nine day fortnight where Ryan puts in longer days but that works for him because he then has a four day weekend for his show commitments. He’s a very skilled and keen young engineer who’s a very systematic thinker with excellent time management, and we lean on those skills in our business. He’s learned a lot of those skills through his involvement with agricultural shows, which makes him well ahead of the curve for someone of his age and experience,” Harry Murphy, Manager  Energy Services Asset Development, Digital, Services and Manufacturing Excellence

Ryan, who has been with BlueScope since he began a cadetship ten years ago sees a flow between his agricultural world and his engineering one.

“Growing up on a farm you realise things don’t always go as planned, things change, and you develop a mindset of adapting and getting on and getting the job done. You deal with many different people at the shows and this develops leadership skills. I think that goes a long way towards shaping my career.

“But in the reverse, there’s a big safety and risk management culture at the steelworks that when combined with the structure, critical and creative thinking, people management and problem solving that comes with engineering, can be transferred to agriculture,” Ryan says.

The benefits are also material ones with BlueScope sponsoring Ryan’s show work.

“BlueScope has a vision of industry and agriculture being connected and they see there’s a pathway of bringing people into both industries,” he says.

Carmen Martinago is a McParland family friend who knew Ryan while she also worked at BlueScope, and it is her own volunteer work with Albion Park Show since her retirement that has brought her into a closer working relationship with him. She has watched as he inspires volunteers at their local show, converting them to committee members, and liaises with groups such as the Wollongong Camera Club to leverage benefits to all.

“Ryan has got that combination of having very good ideas and having the boundless energy to actually bring those ideas to fruition. He does this by bringing other people along with him – he’s got this lovely collaborative approach – and he truly acts as a leader; even the older members of the committee become part of the journey,” Carmen Martinago former Learning and Development Manager BlueScope

Over the years Ryan has held just about every position available within agricultural shows but his passion is a modernised revival of Rural Youth, which he has developed into The Ag Group (TAG). His enthusiasm for the project was one of the reasons he was chosen as a RAS Rural Achiever in 2020/2021, joining one of our original YFC: Dione Howard.

“Ryan is a fantastic role model to young members of the agricultural show movement – he takes the time to show youngsters all there is to showing (livestock, poultry) and ways they can volunteer to ensure that the show movement thrives.

At Sydney Royal I very much enjoyed seeing Ryan in his element within the show community who gets behind him and likewise who he supports. Ryan is a natural choice to be an honorary Young Farming Champion, with a career outside of agriculture and a passion and great success within the sector.” Dione Howard, National Rural Ambassador