Tag / Agricultural Networking

by Lynne Strong

Riverina Local Land Services launch scholarships to find latest round of Young Farming Champions

In 2020 Riverina Local Land Services established a scholarship for a young person from the Riverina to participate in the acclaimed leadership program Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders delivered by Action4Agriculture. PhD student Dylan Male was the worthy winner. Following this success Riverina Local Land Services is happy to announce two more scholarships for 2022 and invites local people, aged between 18 and 35, passionate about agriculture, to apply.

 

“Riverina Local Land Services is very pleased, once again, to support this Action4Agriculture project,” general manager Ray Willis said. “Helping to “build capacity” of current and future primary producers and agricultural ambassadors is a high priority for Local Land Services and this project is an excellent opportunity to facilitate personal development of young people interested in agriculture. Local Land Services will also benefit from the opportunity to provide information to schools on topics of key importance such as: Aboriginal cultural heritage and cultural burns; woodland birds and threatened species found in the Riverina; healthy waterways; and pest animals and biosecurity.”

 

Young people who are doing post graduate research in agriculture related fields or are working in the agriculture sector are invited to apply for the Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders program. Successful applicants will receive a two-year package of support including media training, networking and mentorship opportunities to help them share why their heart is in the Riverina and in agriculture.  In the second year of the program these young leaders will have the opportunity to hone their advocacy skills by engaging with primary and secondary students with A4A’s in-school programs The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas.

 

“Being awarded the 2020 scholarship has been invaluable to my personal growth and career development,” Dylan said. “Throughout this program, I have had access to exclusive workshop opportunities, facilitated by some of the greatest minds in Australia and around the world. These workshops are equipping me with the knowledge and skills needed to drive positive change in Australia’s agricultural sector. One big takeaway has been gaining an appreciation and understanding into what it takes to be an effective leader in today’s rapidly evolving world. Perhaps most significantly, the program has seen me welcomed into a supportive community of passionate young agricultural changemakers from right across Australia.

“I am incredibly grateful for the support of RLLS, who continue to support my journey by providing me with ongoing learning opportunities. A highlight for me was the opportunity in 2021 to participate on a field trip to Young, where I was able to present at a board meeting, visit local farmers and learn more about how the RLLS works and the people they engage with.”

 

 

Read the Expression of Interest Brochure here

Expressions of interest for the 2022 Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders program can be made here

For further information contact  Lynne Strong at lynnestrong@action4ag.com.au

 

 

 

by Lynne Strong

Meet Danielle Fordham who is proud to be creating a better world through her career in agriculture

It gives up great pleasure to introduce you to our second Hunter Local Land Services Scholarship winner Danielle Fordham. We invited Danielle to share her story with our readers.

We first met Danielle in 2011 when she was part of the team that won The Archibull Prize in 2011.(see footnote). Here she is with the Caroline Chisholm College team at Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2012 telling the stories of agriculture to visitors to the Food Farm 

McLeod’s Daughters, trips to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, High School Agriculture classrooms and  programs and a weeklong country exchange is all it took to give this girl passion for the country. Growing up in Western Sydney was a challenge as I felt more at home covered in mud, surrounded by animals, and watching the sunset over the endless dusty plains; this was the life I dreamed of.

After high school, I wasn’t keen on university, instead, I aimed to go to Ag College, but I had to take a working gap year to afford it, so I did a business traineeship in Parramatta. I knew this skill set would be invaluable in any profession. In 2016, my dream came true, I went to Tocal Agricultural College, located in the Hunter. My two years at the College were life-changing. The extraordinary experience further rooted my passion for agriculture and enabled me to thrive mentally and academically. I got to experience working in sheep, cattle, horse, poultry, cropping, and dairying, as well as learning all the essential tools to the trade.

Giving shearing a go at Tocal

This incredible experience nurtured my self-confidence, and as a result, I achieved the rare accolade of ‘Double Dux’ in the College’s two Ag courses. This paved the foundation for future university studies, but with so many options in Ag to study, I couldn’t choose. So, I spent the following three years working in the agribusiness industry, catering for a range of agribusiness services all over NSW.

This experience connected me to a vast network of industry experts. It provided me with the scope of how things work, and how things are alarmingly not working. It moved a part of me, and I felt my true calling. At Tocal, I was passionate in all agricultural areas, but it wasn’t until my experience in the agribusiness world I realised the need for industry environmental revolution.

 

There is a significant lack of environmental knowledge and respect. It was common to see reliance on outdated practices, chemical abuse, and exploitation of natural resources. I knew I had to learn more, to broaden my perspective, and jump in to be part of the solution. So, in 2021 I started a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management at the University of Newcastle.

In the Earth Science lab analysing the geological processes

On my first day I felt the instant disconnect when I told people I have an Ag background, I received a lot of questionable looks which emphasised the significant misconceptions people have about agriculture. The environmental world is in turmoil with global issues of climate change, global warming, 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, rehabilitation integration. The opportunities for agriculture to be part of the solution are endless. To foster these technologies and solutions it is vital to strengthen the connection and relationship between agriculture and science. Having this strong relationship between the two enhances the resilience and vitality of our communities and gives us the invaluable tools to overcome these challenges together. I plan to bridge the gap and promote sustainable agriculture by facilitating awareness, training, and working with practical solutions.

Conversation with a local farmer about invasive weeds and control

 

 I have felt my calling, we hold our future in our hands, and I am ready to grab it by the horns and steer us into a better world for all.

 

Footnote

Danielle was part of the Caroline Chisholm College team that won The Archibull Prize in 2011 with the extraordinary Moobix –

Caroline Chisholm College – The Red Meat industry

Caroline Chisholm College

“Moobix Cube” was designed and created by five different classes (around 100 students) from Caroline Chisholm College. Using the easily recognisable form of a “rubik’s cube” as the base, they create an effective way to showcase the many differing facets of the red meat industry. Whilst a traditional rubik’s cube rotates, this one is composed of a series of smaller cubes on either side of the main cube, which can be pulled out, turned around to a new side and then slotted back into position. Once all of the smaller cubes have been turned around to a new side and replaced, a new picture is then formed.

A total of eleven components of the beef industry as well as “how we can feed Sydney for a day” are represented on this interactive cube. Each section of the cube tells a different side of the beef and food story – from the genetics and selective breeding of cattle and sheep, to byproducts including their medical uses, to the environment (touching on both water security and ideal conditions), to facts and figures, as well as the differing personal experiences that the school has had with the red meat. All combined onto the one cow.

 

 

by Lynne Strong

Meet Lachlan White who came in the back to door to a career in agriculture

It gives up great pleasure to introduce you to our first Hunter Local Land Services Scholarship winner Lachlan White. We invited Lachlan to share his story with our readers

 

When being asked to describe my journey, I was excited as it provides an opportunity to prove that to be a farmer you don’t have to be born into it. Growing up in town with a Mum as a primary school teacher and Dad as an Electrician, I never thought I would become a farmer. As I went through my schooling, a passion grew within me as I was mesmerized by the science behind growing food and fibres by managing plant and animal systems.

I jumped at any opportunity to learn practical skills on farm during my schooling by undertaking work experience on as many farms as possible. I spent my holidays on beef, cotton, sheep and dairy farms trying to find my true passion within the industry.

When I finished school, I had a gap year. I worked full time on a beef breeding farm which ignited a true passion for cattle husbandry and pasture production.

After my Gap year I left to go and study a science and agriculture degree at The University of Sydney. The sudden onslaught of COVID provided me an opportunity to go back to working on farms whilst still studying. This opportunity saw a sudden change from beef farming into Dairy farming, milking 680 cows twice a day whilst studying in between milkings.

I have now taken the next step in my career, I have ventured into managing a beef property. I am grateful for the diversity within different farming industries but have also learnt many transferable skills along the way which has helped me out immensely.

As I reflect on the opportunities I have been provided, one thing that really stands out for me is the willingness for all the farmers whom I have learnt from to pass on their knowledge.

 

I am sharing my story to show farming is a career that welcomes people from all walks of life, not just kids whose parents were farmers.

And Lachlan has already shown us how committed he is in this recent workshop with Cynthia Mahoney

 

#CareerswithPurpose #YouthinAg #CreatingaBetterWorldTogether

by Lynne Strong

Young Farming Champions Muster March 2022

 

Headline Act

Young Farming Champions is a group of dedicated young professionals in Australian agriculture who  advocate strongly for their industry and inspire and encourage others to follow in their career footsteps.

Exemplifying this ethos is Chloe Dutschke, a driven wool champion, who has now found her career moving in a different direction.

“I have started a new role with National Farmers Federation as the Training and Career Development Officer for the Government funded program AgCAREERSTART, a gap year program developed for young people to kick start their career in farming. I now work remotely from home and in an area where my passion lies, helping young people develop their career in agriculture.”

Congratulations Chloe and we look forward to following your journey.

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In the Field

In the Field means watermelon season in northern Australia and Olivia Borden is in the thick of it in the Northern Territory. “Growing up, eating watermelon was my family’s summer treat; juice running down cheeks, huge smiles; we would run around the sprinklers on the lawn and be in childhood heaven. However, I never gave a thought to how melons were grown and if you had of told me I would become a watermelon agronomist I wouldn’t have believed you for a moment.”

“Growing watermelons is truly an art form; one I am far from mastering, but it has me hooked. Our warm days and cool nights make the melons shrink and swell, which can cause cracks. Too much water and you have a slushy. Too little water and you have a poor vine that can’t carry the nutrients. Too much nitrogen and the vine will spit off its fruit. Not enough potassium and you have a tasteless melon. To understand the plant’s nutritional requirements requires us to be on our toes. I have worked with melons for two years and still learn more every day.”

From watermelons to wine grapes and Emily May has been part of the harvest of Vintage 2022 in the Riverina.

“After a tough season thanks to the wetter than usual weather conditions, wine-grape growers across the district have commenced their harvest. I took this photo while standing on top of one of my client’s grape harvesters while they were picking some Semillon. With that the end of my first ever season working in the viticulture industry is coming to its end.”

You may think grain growers in eastern Australia were relaxing after the rain-induced late harvest but that is not the case as they now prepare to sow again in mid-late Autumn. Marlee Langfield is one of these grain growers.

“We have been carrying out controlled burns across our wheat stubble paddocks as a method of clearing the paddock so we can assess the 789,528 bog holes that scatter the landscape from the exceptionally wet harvest. These bog holes need to be repaired and smoothed out ahead of sowing (April/May) so that machinery can pass over the landscape safety with no surprises!”

Good luck Marlee.

Another industry ramping up during Autumn is the banana prawn season and Bryan Van Wyk has been busy overseeing a major refit of prawn trawlers with Austral Fisheries. Works include standard maintenance of engines, refrigeration systems, pumps and processing gear but also includes things like blasting/painting, out of water vessel surveys, fishing technology upgrades, refrigeration upgrades and traceability technology installations.

“As an operations manager, I have the unique privilege to be able to oversee most of these works. No day is the same and the opportunities for learnings are endless. My main background is marine science, and not many in my field get such high levels of exposure to these aspects of the fishing industry, so for that I am grateful.”

The season start date is set for April 1st and a large portion of domestically consumed prawns will be caught throughout northern Australia over the next two months.

 

Out of the Field

When not filling in bog holes Marlee is busy Out of the Field, sharing her leadership experiences with participants of the GrainGrowers, Grains Social Leadership program, of which she was a Round 3 participant.

“At the beginning of March, I spoke with Round 5 participants, sharing my past experiences and my journey since graduating from the program, which made for great peer to peer learning. It’s awesome to see this program continue to grow from strength to strength and see grain growers who are so passionate about the industry flex their leadership muscles.”

Also going from strength to strength is Danila Marini. Read their CSIRO blog to learn how pink hair, rollar-skating and a love of sheep combine to produce an exciting research career and see how Danila has thrived, despite challenges along the way.

As a district veterinarian for Riverina Local Land Services Dione Howard takes a keen interest in all things Archibull and Kreative Koalas, so she was thrilled to hear Barellan Central School spruiking their Koala Kenny on ABC radio recently.

“Barellan is sponsored by Riverina Local Land Services and they have set Kenny up in a shack in front of the school to share school-grown fruit and vegetables with the local community.”

What a wonderful example of our in-school programs working to change their world on a local level.

Dione has also been busy spruiking YFC and A4A.

“On 1st March I spoke on behalf at the Murrumbidgee Landcare event Catchment Keepers, at Big Springs (near Wagga). I met women living and working in the region with a passion for community and caring for the land. I spoke about my experiences as a Young Farming Champion, A4A’s school programs and my life as a LLS District Vet.”

Congratulations to Shannon Chatfield who has been accepted as a mentee into the 6-month Drought Resilience Leaders Mentoring Program run by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.

“I had my first group session last week and we had a wonderful session with Warren Davies ‘the unbreakable farmer’ where he shared his story and some tools and strategies that helped him to overcome his mental health challenges. I have been asked to identify some of my goals, what I would like to focus on in these sessions, the areas in which I would like to develop and the potential obstacles I could encounter in taking steps towards these goals.”

 

Prime Cuts

A couple more congratulations to two YFC reaching learning milestones:

Congratulations to Francesca Earp who graduated from a Masters of Global Development at James Cook University on 15th of March.

“I started the Masters in response to the effects of COVID and having to return from the field early. I have loved the course and am very excited to celebrate my graduation.”

Congratulations also to Sam Wan who was admitted to the Australian Institute of Company Directors in November last year, after being selected for the course under the WoolProducers Australia Raising the Baa program.

“The course involved virtual classrooms every Friday for five weeks, a final assessment (I have been too long away from formal study!) and a nerve-racking wait for results.”

YFC Meg Rice is sending a shoutout to fellow YFC  Lucy Collingridge and Jessica Fearnley as they head to the Sydney Royal East Show as part of the RAS Rural Achiever Program! The RAS Rural Achiever program celebrates young people in rural communities who are doing outstanding things, much like the Young Farming Champion program.


From behind the scenes magic of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, to the lifelong friends and mentoring connections, the RAS Rural Achiever program really is the gift that keeps giving!

All the best Lucy and Jess – I know you’ll have the most fabulous time!

Pictured with Meg Rice is fellow 2018 RAS Rural Achievers, Hanna Darmody, Tim Green and YFC Erika

Lifetime Highlights

YFC and PhD Candidate Veronika Vicic has won the 2022 Tom Harvey Award. The award comprises a cash prize of $2,000, and was presented at the annual Commonwealth Day Luncheon held today at Parliament House, Sydney

The award is named after the late inaugural Chairman of the Australia Youth Trust and recognises the outstanding contribution of a young Australian citizen between the age of 15 and 30 years.

#careerswithpurpose #creatingabetterworldtogether #YoungFarmingChampions

by Lynne Strong

How Danila Marini is promoting diversity, equity and inclusion conversations in agriculture

In high school, Danila Marini “never felt comfortable in my own skin”. The Young Farming Champion (YFC) tried to heavily hide their femininity at the agricultural high school they attended in South Australia, but although was called a tomboy never really wanted to be a male.

“In the early 2000s I didn’t have much exposure to the LGBTQI+ community and only knew of some terms like bisexual while the term non-binary was non-existent,” Danila said.

Now, as the newly appointed Action4Agriculture Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) Ambassador, Danila (30) is excited at the opportunity to share their story with today’s high school students.  

 

The Ambassador appointment came about after Danila participated in a workshop designed for The Archibull Prize (TAP) students of  Mary MacKillop Catholic College in Wakeley, western Sydney. The all-girls school was interested in showcasing gender diversity in agriculture and a workshop was coordinated by SDG 5 (Gender Equality) Ambassador Francesca Earp with strong female leads including Tayla Field, Dione Howard, Chloe Dutschke and Katherine Bain. Danila’s inclusion facilitated open discussions about gender fluidity and non-binary people in agriculture.

 

“There’s definitely a gender bias in many industries such as science and agriculture that swing towards the classic straight white cis male,” Danila said 

Danila who is a CSIRO experimental scientist and animal ethics co-ordinator also recognises the hurdles for women and gender diverse people, whether related to societal expectations about having a family, or professional stereotypes.

I have had someone say to me I don’t look like someone who would have a PhD,” says they and  “non-binary people present the same,” they said

 

For Francesca, 25, whose masters and PhD are focused on gender equity and the exclusionary past of feminist history and how it shapes the engagement and empowerment of non-dominant feminist groups, working with a Danila was timely and eye-opening.

 

“I hadn’t met anyone previously in the ag sector who identified as non-binary,” says Francesca. “The same is true of my work in agricultural development, which is an unfortunate reality of traditional patriarchal perspectives of agriculture that either don’t provide opportunities to non-binary practitioners or researchers or don’t make them feel welcome while fostering engagement and empowerment in the sector.

“Danila was really open in talking about how we could improve the inclusivity of the workshop sessions, talking about equity in general, rather than specifying who we were fighting to have equality for, which I’d really like to take further in my own future research.”

 Franny says everyday is an opportunity to open your eyes and see the world from some-one else’s perspective 

Danila and Francesca are welcome role models for young people with a personal interest in gender diversity and this illustrates how Action4Agriclutre empowers these young people to talk about the issues important to them, and to take everyone along on a journey of understanding.

 

“Gender equity is a very complex issue and by focusing on only the ‘female’ aspects of gender equity you not only heavily impact minority groups but women themselves,” says Danila. “I’m not afraid to speak up about my experiences and I realise people can’t change or learn if you are not willing to help.”

 

After the workshop, Danila said that being a good ally to non-binary people meant being cognisant of the fact that gender is complex. Asking for pronouns and remembering to correct mistakes are two important things.

“It’s very important to understand that non-binary is not a ‘third’ gender – it’s an encompassment of gender fluidity and not all non-binary people present the same,” says they. “Also, do not lump woman and non-binary people together for events if you are not willing to accept non-binary people that are assigned male at birth.”

 

Having role models in agriculture who promote diversity, equity and inclusion is not only important for students but for teachers, families and communities. Leah Brown, TAP teacher at Mary McKillop, says her students are passionate about highlighting gender issues and contributing to fulfilling gender goals.

“We know that real life activities and projects are great for engaging students in their learning and building relevance and connections to what they are learning with the wider community and the world.”

 Applications are now open for the 2022 Archibull Prize here 

 

by Lynne Strong

Young Farming Champions Muster January 2022

 

Can you believe 2022 is already a month old! The New Year brings us opportunities to achieve goals and to step-outside comfort zones to challenge ourselves as advocates and leaders for agriculture. But before we turn with focussed eyes to the opportunities of the new year, let us take a moment, here in January, to reflect on the year that was 2021. It was a year under the shadow of a pandemic that impacted  our Young Farming Champions (YFC) in different ways from time management issues to staff shortages but, as you will see, workshops and growing the YFC team where touchstones in a sometimes turbulent year.

 

Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders

The two-year long Cultivate program is our introduction to the world of Action4Agriculutre and Young Farming Champions. The program is designed and run to support young people involved in a broad range of agricultural careers to be skilled, confident and comfortable to share their stories.

What did 2021 look like for our Cultivate cohort?

Francesca Earp

COVID complicated study for Franny in 2021 causing her to drop one PhD (but complete two Masters degrees!) but her persistence paid off with when she secured a scholarship for another PhD at James Cook University. Whilst studying she also worked on consultancy projects so in 2021 she was, understandably, a busy person. Participation in Cultivate helped Franny manage her time and expectations:

“I am learning to not overcommit myself and to focus my schedule to activities that align with my passions and values. This is a challenge I am still working on, but the workshops throughout the YFC program (particularly Workshop One with Josh Farr that taught me about core values and how they direct you in everyday life) and the guidance of my supervisors and mentors continues to help me ensure I am filling my schedule in a realistic and appropriate way.”

Bryan Van Wyk

Bryan’s personal highlight of 2021 was purchasing his first home and his biggest challenge was addressing COVID-induced labour shortages, which saw him sourcing, training and managing a team of casual workers to unload prawns in the remote town of Karumba.

As a YFC Bryan nominates the first workshop with Josh Farr as a highlight where he was introduced to Google Calendar.

“I work in operations in a highly dynamic work environment where organisation is key to productivity. Google Calendar has been a game changer for me. Not only has it helped me keep better track and planning of day-to-day tasks, but it has allowed me to get the most out of each day, both on a personal and professional level.”

And on the YFC as a whole Bryan says:

“We are not the same group of people we were at the start of 2021. We have become more confident, more knowledgeable, experienced and more authentic. If there is one thing to be proud of it’s the support and encouragement we have given each other through various platforms. I feel I can reach out to any YFC for advice or information at any time and I hope others feel that way about me.”

Shannon Chatfield

Workshops were also high on the list of highlights for NTCA supported YFC Shannon, particularly those held by Josh Farr

“the workshop on goal setting and lifestyle design has helped me to structure my work day to be more productive and this has encouraged me to take on more community engagement activities and make more time for my professional development” and Roxi Beck – “her workshop has been valuable to me in learning how to communicate better with the general public and have more confidence to answer some tough or perhaps uncomfortable questions. Her workshop focused on the importance of shared values and how to practice the listen and ask process when having these conversations.”

Shannon’s role in the beef industry in 2021 was impacted by staff and management challenges, challenges she overcame with support from YFC mentorship:

“Having a YFC ‘buddy’ to talk to regularly and discuss challenges and ideas has helped me to develop professionally and become a better contributor to such conversations and situations.”

Dylan Male

Showing determination and commitment to a cause was a highlight of Dylan’s year as he ran his first marathon, finishing in a very respectful time of 3hr 38m. This work ethic was reflected in his approach to the Cultivate program.

“Together (as YFC), we continue to display the qualities of leadership and our shared determination to advocate for the Australian agricultural sector. My biggest YFC learning was realising the importance of forming genuine connections and relationships with other people. Without this we are unable to make the changes we set out to achieve.

“My biggest challenge has been setting long-term goals and figuring out how I can achieve them. I am overcoming this challenge by pursuing opportunities to develop my skills and knowledge, by collaborating with others and by becoming intentional in everything I do. The YFC program has been pivotal in this.”

Veronika Vicic

PhD student Veronika names the publication of her first research paper as a highlight in a year that was overshadowed by the pandemic.

“The continuation of uncertainty surrounding COVID and not being able to plan things too far in advance both at work and at home was a challenge this year. I think this was a big reminder to just keep going with the flow and not to put too much pressure on anything in life. Josh’s workshops on time management and allocating time to what was important have helped improve my work-life balance.”

Veronika finds the community and networking established through the Cultivate program to be another highlight of 2021:

“We work in different industries under the banner of agriculture and it has been really nice to reach out to others and learn from them. It just proves how diverse and rich agriculture is.”

“Taking back fun and adventures”

Steph Tabone

“Personally, the biggest highlight for me was spending quality time with family and friends, especially after not being able to see them for many months. It’s amazing how it can recharge you to keep striving towards your goals. The influence of COVID on our way of life in 2021 certainly put strain on my mental health, but with access to good resources, good strategies and a supportive network I was able to overcome it. It’s important to recognise that with those challenges came many positive opportunities to learn and try new things that I wouldn’t have otherwise experienced.”

Participation in Cultivate helped Steph work her way through the travails of 2021.

“I learnt a lot about myself through the YFC workshops, and the importance of good self-awareness and drawing upon shared values in our interactions with others. Being strong, positive advocates for our industry and providing our fellow YFC’s with support for all achievements large or small, is something I am proud of.”

“enjoying all that nature has to offer”

 

The Alumni

On graduation from the Cultivate program participants become fully fledged YFC, multiply their impact by visiting schools, have opportunities to grow their networks, forge careers and to take on leadership roles and development. They routinely reach for the sky and are amazingly successful in realising their ambitions. Let’s chat to a couple of our alumni.

Emma Ayliffe

Long-standing YFC Emma Ayliffe blazed her way through 2021. She was named Australian Young Farmer of the Year, continued to build her rapidly growing business and managed her own farm with partner Craig through rain and mice plaques.

“My biggest learning from being a YFC in 2021 was that the power of the people around you is critical for learning, briefing, opportunities and moving forward; and I am proud that despite meeting obstacles and challenges the YFC as a group pulled off amazing workshops and skill building opportunities. The workshops of 2021 have added so much value and allowed everyone to keep moving forward.”

 

Working through different strategies and techniques to run both a consultancy and her own farm was one of Emma’s biggest challenges in 2021. Being part of the YFC network helped her overcome and thrive.

Dione Howard

Another Alumni kicking big goals was Dione Howard who realised a long-held dream in 2021.

“Being named the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Rural Achiever Representative for 2020-21 was a personal lifetime highlight. I am excited to be representing NSW in the National Rural Ambassador Competition in Sydney during April 2022.”

As with many YFC, Dione found time management a challenge but also relished the opportunities to connect with esteemed leaders as part of the online YFC workshops. “It was wonderful to workshop sessions with Charlie Arnott and Roxi Beck from CFI and Kwame Christian, as well as to learn from Gaye Steel. I love to be able to continue learning as an alumnus of the program and building on my skills and knowledge.

“I continue to be amazed at the ability of the YFC program to transition to learning online, which began in 2020 but has evolved to a seamless delivery of content that fits in around everyone’s schedules, using the impressive Mighty Networks platform.”

This image is from a photo shoot for The Daily Telegraph, a story about the bumper season for cropping farmers projected at the time (July 2021). My partner Joe and I wandered through the paddocks on the property at Wallendbeen where he works. I think it sums up another year of isolation, but an excellent season for farmers and our enthusiasm for what’s to come!

Jessica Fearnley

Returning to COVID lockdown and working from home were Jess’s major challenges in 2021 but these did not stop her from securing a project lead role for a traceability project in collaboration with Woolworths.

Through her YFC workshops Jess increased her facilitation skills.

“It takes a lot of time and practice to learn how to facilitate well (and to work a room using zoom!), a skill I still need to constantly work on.”

Jess was also proud of the way the YFC evolved as a group in 2021.

“Transitioning from YVLT to the new project specific YFC Leadership committee with the Innovation Hub will be a great move going forward.”

Samantha Wan

COVID challenges continued to impact all YFC and Sam was no different but she came to realise the strength of working under pressure.

“I gained an appreciation for small things and, when struggling, was able to refocus on taking stock of what is important, reminding myself of values and re-evaluating goals and boundaries.”

These sentiments were echoed in her approach her YFC work.

“All training – the coaching on resilience, flexibility and scheduling – came together to continue to bring agriculture into classrooms and, in a time where so much was put on hold, the YFC team was still able to develop and grow; delivering our own workshops and creating content to share with the YFC network.”

 

2022 Highlights (already!)

Our Cultivate cohort and our Alumni have hit the ground running in 2022 and in less than a month have already achieved milestones.

For Cultivate member Veronika Vicic this took the form of receiving an Australia Day award from the National Council of Women of NSW in recognition of her contribution to the rural community. Veronika was presented with the award at Parliament House in Sydney on Jan 24.

“Receiving this award has re-ignited my passion to continue following a career path in agriculture and to voice how rewarding involvement in this industry is. In my academic and non-academic career I hope to continually engage in community outreach and through leadership I hope to encourage younger audiences to be aware of Australian agriculture.”

YFCs Lucy Collingridge and Jessica Fearnley has been announced as 2022 RAS RM Williams Rural Achievers.

“I applied to be a Rural Achiever as I wanted to connect and discuss agriculture with other rural achievers, members of the ag society and the general public. I love the Royal Easter show and being given the opportunity to help on sections stewarding and judging is so exciting! I used to love helping at my local show and have continued my connections with local shows around the Central Tablelands with my role as a Development Officer for NSW DPI. With the Rural Achiever award I hope to inspire the younger generation and general public to take a greater interest in where the food and fibre comes from. YFC, Lynne and Dione, have all inspired and helped me along my Rural Achiever journey and I am so lucky to have them in my network!” says Jess

 

Moving forward in 2022

We welcome Florance McGufficke to the Cultivate team as the AWI scholarship winner. Florance has hit the ground running, attending the first workshop of the year with Julia Telford who conducted DiSC personality profiling for the YFC.

“What I took away from this workshop was that it is important to understand your ‘style’ or ‘personality’ but it was more about learning how to identify other people’s styles, so that we can work collaboratively, communicate effectively and build strong relationships personally and professionally,” Florance says.

https://youtu.be/bufldNRy5Xg

 

Workshops have been identified by all YFC as major highlights of their leadership development journeys and 2022 brings a suite of new opportunities.

Josh Farr will help define what success looks like and show how to keep each other accountable and pair with new buddies;

Rebel Black will lead a discussion on the balancing of Me:We:Us to create a Dream Team

Cynthia Mahoney will conduct two workshops on Courageous Conversations, building on the Compassionate Curiosity framework the YFC learned during workshops with Kwame Christian and Kaydian Comer held in 2021

Cathy McGowan AO, will take YFC on a deep dive into how to truly live our values, understand how we want to be seen by the world and what legacy we want to leave.

 

by Lynne Strong

Hunter Local Land Services launches two emerging leaders in agriculture scholarships

 Hunter Local Land Services is pleased to announce a new partnership with Action4Agriculture that will identify and empower emerging young leaders within agriculture. Two scholarships are on offer for a Hunter local to participate in the prestigious Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders program.

“Hunter Local Land Services is excited to provide support for young Hunter farmers to participate in the Young Farming Champions program,” Hunter LLS general manager Brett Miners said. “We are continually inspired by the passion and talent of our local young farmers and this program will provide them with opportunities to build new skills and leadership capabilities. Helping to develop the next generation of emerging leaders in agriculture will assist our local communities and industries to be more resilient and adaptable for the future. We value the opportunity to engage with the next generation of farmers, partners and potential future employees.”

 

Hunter LLS believes this scholarship will:

  • Identify and develop the next generation of emerging leaders in agriculture
  • Future proof our farming systems and build natural disaster resilience in our young people
  • Provide opportunities to engage with next generation and managers,consumers and future employees
  • Bring together and support the diversity of agricultural enterprises in the Hunter including oysters, grains, beef and sheep

Young people, aged between 18 and 35, who are following an agricultural career pathway are invited to apply for the Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders program. Successful applicants will receive an incredible two-year package of support including media training, networking and mentorship opportunities to help them share why their heart is in the Hunter and in agriculture.

In the second year of the program these young leaders will have the opportunity to hone their advocacy skills by engaging with primary and secondary students with A4A’s in-school programs The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas.

Hunter LLS has been a long supporter of the in-school programs, particularly Kreative Koalas.

“One of the reasons Kreative Koalas has been so successful in the Hunter is the fact that it’s brought so many organisations together to support the schools in delivering their projects,” School Engagement Officer Jane Lloyd Jones says. “Organisations are providing students with a broad range of educational opportunities that complement one another, enhance student’s learning and assist them to see the ‘bigger picture’. Benefits of this are reflected in the amazing community projects designed and delivered by the students, our future land managers.”

 

Opportunities, such as working with Kreative Koalas, are one of the many benefits of the Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders program. Graduates then join Young Farming Champions – a national network of globally connected young thought leaders thriving in business and in life, who are inspiring community pride in Australian agriculture. Young Farming Champions include among their ranks Local Land Services veterinarian Dione Howard, Australian Young Farmer of the Year Emma Ayliffe and The Food Farm founder Tim Eyes

Meet Young Farming Champion Tim Eyes 

Expressions of interest brochure for the 2021 Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders program can be here and Expression of Interest can be submitted here

For more information contact Action4Agriculture National Director

Lynne Strong at lynnestrong@action4ag.com.au 

 

 

 

by Lynne Strong

How our partnerships enable cross-sectoral exposure for farmers and fishers .. and find us the best prawns for Christmas

When people think of agriculture thoughts normally run to paddocks of golden wheat, huge mobs of cattle or vibrant rows of lettuce; rarely do thoughts turn to fishing. Yet fishing is one of the major industries that feeds our world. It is why Action4Agriculture has formed a strong partnership with Austral Fisheries. Austral was the first seafood business in the world to be certified as Carbon Neutral and sponsor fleet operations manager Bryan van Wyk to participate in the Young Farming Champions program.

Austral CEO David Carter believes in our partnership.

“Fishing is not traditionally thought of as agriculture but we’re all in this together as food producers and by working with Action4Agriculture we have gained cross-sectoral exposure.  Breaking down those traditional barriers has been very valuable to us.”

“In a broader sense, Austral believes in nurturing our youngsters and fostering their talent. Action4Agriculture gives us opportunities for our young people to grow and we are happy to invest in these people because they give back in spades. One of the great joys of being older is that of supporting smart young folks to find their place in the world and then to find their voice.” he says.

Bryan has been a valuable member and contributor to the Young Farming Champions cohort in the past two years, and his passion for his industry has meant traditional agriculturists have had their experiences broadened. With a degree in marine biology he speaks from the heart and the head and writes eloquently of issues facing fishing, such as by-catch, and has strong admiration for those who work alongside him.

“We recently finished the 2021 northern prawn season where our fleet of 11 trawlers travelled from Northern Territory to northern QLD. All crew have returned home safely and the vessels are now tied up in Cairns ready for routine summer maintenance. The men and women that operate these vessels are some of the hardest working, mentally tough and dedicated individuals in the country. They leave their family, friends and homes behind, work through rough weather without any nights off all while being confined to their 20 odd meter floating home for four months with their colleagues. It isn’t all that bad though – they get to experience parts of the world that most would only dream of, they get to see a range of beautiful marine wildlife (often collecting data for scientists), experience the best sunsets and sunrises the world has to offer, build friendships that last a life time, live away from the day-to-day chaos and stress associated with land life and make enough money to take six months holiday per year,” he says.

https://youtu.be/3KZwqsdA2aA

Now, as Christmas approaches, Bryan’s passion can help us all to source the world’s best prawns and understand the ethical approach taken to their catch.

Let’s hear Bryan elaborate on our favourite Christmas indulgence:

“Australia has some of the best fisheries management in the world and produces sustainable, quality seafood however we import almost 70% of the seafood we consume. One of the main culprits for seafood imports is in fact prawns. You will often find imported frozen pre-cooked prawns in the freezer isles of supermarkets. Many of these products are cheap, low quality and lack certification.

“Christmas is a special time for Australians. We want to end the year on a good note and wish to celebrate the event with our close family and friends. In my opinion there is no place for low quality imported prawns on the Christmas table. My message to Australians selecting their Christmas seafood is to check for marine stewardship council (MSC) certification and country of origin labelling (both of which will be clearly displayed on the packaging). By selecting MSC products you ensure sustainability and support healthy marine environments, If operators have gone to great lengths to ensure their seafood is sustainably recognised, then they will also take pride in ensuring their products are high quality.

“When it comes to eating our Christmas prawns there are a lot of delicious alternatives beyond the commonly purchased “cooked prawn”. I always purchase raw prawns because it gives me plenty of options for Christmas (garlic, panko crumbed, chilli, bbq, skewers etc) and at the end of the day, if I want to boil them I can. In fact, not many people know this but you actually get a much fresher flavour when you boil raw prawns in saltwater at home, rather than thawing out precooked prawns. It’s simple as well. Just get a pot of saltwater boiling, add your thawed raw prawns and when all prawns are floating they’re ready for a saltwater ice bath!

“My last tip as a seafood lover and bargain hunter would be that the best bang-for-your-buck will be found in the seafood deli section in our supermarkets or fish markets – just keep a look out for MSC label.”

Cross-sectoral exposure, a Young Farming Champion dedicated to his craft and fresh, sustainably-caught Australia prawns for Christmas – does it get any better than this?

Bryan in his happy place 

#marinestewardship #sustainablefishing #youthinag

by Lynne Strong

Young Farming Champions Muster December 2021

Headline Act

Its harvest time and our Young Farming Champions are reaping the rewards. We mean this both literally and figuratively.

Across eastern Australia the headers are rolling, the chaser bins are chasing and trucks are moving along regional roads, brimming with the best grain in the world. Widespread rain has added challenges to the harvest (see this video from Marlee Langfield’s sister-in-law) but in return the country is receiving a long Christmas drink. And if you thought harvest was only commercial crops, we’ve got news for you – find out more below In The Field.

It is also harvest figuratively.  2021 has been another year of challenges and opportunities for the YFC and they have applied themselves to polishing skills such as negotiation, presentation and strategising. This hard work and dedication to their crafts will harvest rewards throughout their long careers. Over the festive period we, too, will sit down with a long Christmas drink and reflect on these learnings. We look forward to sharing them with you in our January Muster.

In the meantime, enjoy the harvest, enjoy the rain and sit down with a cuppa to see how the YFC are finishing their year.

In The Field

In a drier year wheat and canola harvests are usually wrapped up by Christmas but as the video above shows the extended rain period this year is causing plenty of interruptions, some downgrades in grain and plenty of bogged machinery. On the upside there are record crops coming off the paddocks. This is how three of our grain growers are coping:

Marlee Langfield (Cowra):

“an empty 15t header on top of sodden soils and double digit bog holes in a day have become the norm, but we now have recovery down to a fine art! We are currently harvesting canola and finding a mix of quality and an abundance of yield.”

Check out Marlee’s final AEGIC (Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre) report here for a more detailed harvest wrap.

 

James Kanaley (Griffith):

“Canola harvest has been exceptional at home. Yields have been twice the long term average and easily a record for our farm. We broke our canola record in 2020 also. Quality hasn’t been too bad but marketing canola has been more difficult as there is only one export quality grade of canola. Client’s harvests out west have been very strong, above average yields, but poor wheat qualities.”

 

Emma Ayliffe (Griffith):

“We are finally getting a roll on out here after a lot of stop/start with rain and we’re still managing to bog the odd truck or chaser bin. The rain has caused downgrades but the upside is that the yields have been amazing, well above average. At this stage we have all of the canola done, we hope to be finished all our wheat by Christmas and then will have oats and lupins to do after Christmas. To put in perspective we usually harvest mid-October to the 3rd or 4th week in November (typically about 5 weeks). We are going into week 8…with probably still 3 weeks to go at the current rate.”

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It’s not only traditional grains being harvested at this time of year. December/January is the harvest time for kangaroo grass. “It’s a busy time in the field with lots of research and seed collection taking place across Dja Dja Wurrung country in Victoria,” says Dylan Male who is completing the first year of his PhD studies investigating the development of kangaroo grass into a modern day crop. We look forward to learning more Dylan.

Also harvesting is our fishing YFC Bryan van Wyk, providing us with exceptional Australian prawns for the Christmas table:

“We have recently finished the 2021 tiger prawn season. Our fleet of 11 prawn trawlers worked their way between western Northern Territory all the way to northern QLD. All crew have returned home safely and the vessels are now tied up in Cairns ready for routine summer maintenance. Tiger prawns are considered a premium, high quality seafood and like most Australian premium seafoods, our tiger prawns are on their way to Asian markets (Japan).  We also have a magnificent supply of MSC certified golden banana prawns on display in Coles and Woolworths ready for Australia to indulge in this Christmas.”

 

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Harvest may be grabbing the headlines at the moment but our graziers are not to be out done. On December 8 Melissa Henry appeared on ABC news talking about the rise of black and coloured sheep. Look for Melissa from the 25 minute mark in this video.

And Adele Smith is being called the Wool Wizard after promoting her work with wool for the Chicks Who Ag blog.

 

Out of the Field

Once they’ve got out of their respective bogs and other harvest commitments our YFC are busy doing what they do best – sharing the good stories of Australian agriculture and leading by example. This was brightly illustrated during Ag Week from November 15. Three of our YFC – Danila Marini, Jo Newton and Emily May – presented at the Centre of Excellence Virtual Ag Week conference.  Danila spoke to school students about research and technology for animal welfare, Jo spoke about the future of dairy farming and Emily gave insights into peri-urban agriculture. Friend of the YFC, Kate McBride, also presented about farming in the Murray-Darling river system.

Still on Ag Week and Tim Eyes did things his way when he zoomed into classrooms around the country. Joining Tim on his zoom was one of his cows, peering in the window as he spoke.

Jo had been selected for the Australian Rural Leadership Program earlier this year but Covid restrictions meant the Kimberley adventure was postponed. The program continued online with the development of four hybrid hubs in Canberra, Bendigo, Hobart and Toowoomba and recently Jo got to meet some of her fellow cohort in real life in Bendigo.

“To continue discussions started in workshops over breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee breaks added additional value to sessions that left you with much to think about. I found these chats amongst the Vic Hub insightful for illuminating how we could apply the frameworks that we learnt into our day-to-day lives.”

 

Continuing on their leadership journey are Katherine Bain and Dione Howard who have been selected for the AWI Breeding Leadership course. They will join 25 participants from across Australia in a week long course at Clare in South Australia in 2022 where they will develop skills and knowledge in personal leadership as well as strategic planning and team leadership.

As well as working on his PhD Dylan has been busy cementing his leadership skills. In November he gathered virtually with 99 delegates from 44 countries for the 2021 Bayer #YouthAgSummit.

“This summit was incredible, with two days spent exploring how youth-driven innovation and collaboration will be key to driving the transformational change needed to end the fight against global hunger. But the biggest personal highlight of the summit for me was realising just how passionate, committed and innovative other young people involved in agriculture around the world truly are.”

Dylan also appears on the Bayer website promoting STEM careers where he is billed as the Food System Builder.

In December he was off to Sydney to attend a Dale Carnegie ‘How to win friends and influence people’ course. The course will help Dylan to become an influential communicator, problem solver and focused leader.

Prime Cuts

A highlight of 2021 for many YFC has been the opportunity to imagine and then develop ideas and initiatives under the tutelage of Josh Farr as part of the YVLT Innovation Hub. Dylan is one of these. He has been working on an idea to increase Muster content (you have been warned!). Also taking advantage of Josh’s insightful workshops has been Emily May (learning to take her school presentations to a new level), Franny Earp (working on a school outreach program focusing on gender diversity) and a partnership between Steph Tabone and Tayla Field (who will develop a platform for people with experience in agriculture to share their key learnings with young people).

Being part of The Innovation Hub allows YFC to take the next step in their leadership journeys.

“The iHub identifies that YFC have a desire to go above and beyond, to share everything they are learning and to create projects that are sustainable beyond themselves. One of the things I’ve noticed about everyone who has got involved is that they’ve consulted lots of people – they’ve got their boss on board, they’ve had employers offer funding – they’re really good at bringing people together. I don’t see a single project here that is an individual glory project. These are things that the YFC are using their leadership skills to set up knowing there is going to be future generations of YFC eager to apply these skills. There is a beautiful synergy between their ideas and their insights, what agriculture needs right now, and setting up future YFCs for success,” Josh says.

Lifetime Achievements

Are you kidding? The harvest is on

by Lynne Strong

Archie Action – Pymble Ladies College Embedding Agriculture in the Geography Curriculum

Case-study 3: Meet Ray Howells, Geography Teacher at Pymble Ladies’ College, who has integrated ‘Ecosystem of Expertise’ into the Stage 5 Geography Program

Geography is increasingly being used in The Archibull Prize to teach agriculture by surrounding the school with an Ecosystem of Expertise through:

  • Building long term partnerships with best practice farms the students investigate and report on
  • Working with our Young Farming Champions to get an understanding of how our food travels from paddock to plate and the diversity of people and roles that feed and clothe us, supply us with ecosystem services and renewable energy

Today we visit Pymble Ladies’ College (PLC) to see how they make the Ecosystem of Expertise work in practice.

Geography teacher Ray Howells grew up “with the smell of cow manure” in an English country village. He went onto teach and lead the geography department in an inner-city London school where some students had never visited a farm. But today at Pymble Ladies’ College, many of his pupils, although predominantly from Sydney, have rural connections.

“The sense of community at the College is really strong, one day a student was talking about her parent’s farm,” says Ray. “I thought it would be nice to foster this interest in agriculture in class, so I sent an email out to all of the past boarding families and friends who I thought might be supportive of this.”

In response to Ray’s call-out to the wider Pymble community, a flourishing relationship has developed with Blantyre Farms in Young, southwest NSW, and family business Montrose Dairy in southern VIC.  The students involved decided to explore how to address hunger and food insecurity through ‘the Archies’. Through Covid-19, the use of technology and digital resources has made learning accessible and enabled the Archibull program to continue.

Blantyre Farms is a mixed farming operation including sheep, cattle, cropping and pigs.

“I am fortunate to be a Pymble girl and my daughter is also a boarder at Pymble so when Ray put out the call for parents [in agriculture] to be involved I eagerly answered,” says Edwina Beveridge from Blantyre Farms. “Feeding the world is a noble profession and I hope a visit to our farms will challenge the student’s perceptions of sustainability and agriculture. Our farm is not what you would expect.”

Indeed, Blantyre can show students examples of cutting-edge technology. With 2000 sows on the farms this means they have about 20,000 pigs on hand at any time, but in an innovative solution the farm captures methane from the pig manure and turns it into electricity.

“This massively reduces our carbon footprint and allows us to generate carbon credits. We were the second project registered under the CFI [Carbon Farming Initiative] and the first farm. I like to say we are the first carbon farm in Australia and I am yet to be challenged on this!

“I grew up on a farm but showed no particular interest until I was 24. I hope this might show the students it doesn’t matter if you grew up on a farm or whether your enthusiasm started later, ag is a cracking career,” says Edwina.

Another ex-PLC student to answer Ray’s call was Gillian Hayman from Montrose Dairy.

“As a student I was always eager to understand how what I was learning related to the real world and I am sure there are many students who learn in this way.  The opportunity to learn the theory in the classroom with Ray and then back up the learning with Montrose and Blantyre Farms is a positive step and will no doubt lead to many other linkages for students.  I hope it will open their minds and perhaps break down some long-held perceptions about who a farmer is and how they go about their business in these modern times,” says Gillian.

“Unless young people are introduced to rural areas and farming through family connections or through their schooling they will not discover the possibilities open to them and there are so many exciting career opportunities across all aspects of agriculture. There are jobs from the research in labs and in the field to hands-on farming; from technology, greenhouse gas emissions, soil, plant and animal management, environment and biodiversity to nutrition, community development and economics.  Even if people do not choose a career in ag, it’s so important to understand food production and land management as a consumer.”

Ray echoes Gillian’s sentiments.

“We really want to make Year Nine and Ten Geography interesting and relatable. If the girls decide not to continue the subject in Stage 6 that’s fine, there are so many avenues and opportunities available to choose from. I’m confident we’ve given them a comprehensive snapshot of the big issues we face in Australia and the world, which is my objective.”

Helping students to make those decisions is Tayla Field and her network of fellow Young Farming Champions. Tayla, who works in horticulture, is assigned to PLC through The Archibull Prize.

“The students were able to provide a list of questions which was a great starting point, however I noticed a lot of these were in areas beyond horticulture so I reached out to the YFC asking for support. Marlee Langfield provided insights into agricultural yield from crops, Anika Molesworth gave her thoughts on the future of farming in Australia and Emma Ayliffe commented on the role of water in Australia’s dry climate. Other members of the YFC team came back with videos and we were able to create a range of online resources specifically for the PLC students,” says Tayla.

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Screenshots of the PLC Virtual Classroom created to support the students during COVID lockdown

Having access to the Young Farming Champions network through Tayla and having access to two operating farms means PLC is using the Ecosystem of Expertise to its highest degree, and the subject of geography has made the pathway clearer.

 

Tayla has a long history as a YFC of inspiring students to consider careers in agriculture. See case study here 

 

Ray sees this of enormous benefit to both his students and to agriculture.

“We have this very stereotypical image in the media of what agriculture is, like what you might see on ‘Farmer Wants a Wife. Opportunities like The Archibull Prize, Kreative Koalas, and other initiatives outside the classroom can help broaden this and show agriculture as a cutting-edge industry that is undergoing a new wave of technological revolution. With this paradigm shift, there are exciting opportunities to encourage, educate and upskill the next generation to work in innovative and wide-range fields of 21st Century agriculture.”

This concludes our 3 Part Series that showcases the opportunities for work integrated learning and how to embed the world of agriculture into the wider school curriculum

We talk to the Lorraine Chaffer from the Geography teachers association here 

We talk to Amy Gill from Youth of the Streets here

#ArchieAction #YouthinAction #YouthinAg