Creative Cowboys

 

Today we feature the outstanding and multi-talented Queensland farmer and artist Annabel Tully

Painting en situ Annabel Tully_low

Annabel Tully painting with her ā€œeaselā€ on her homeland ā€œBunginderryā€ in Qldā€™s Channel Country

Firstly a little background

Art4Agriculture is an independent, non-political, partnership focused, not for profit grass roots organisation. We deliver programs designed by farmers for farmers that focus on youth, careers, the community, the environment and the arts and link all of these back to agriculture

We only work with organisations who partner for the common good of agriculture.

In 2011 RIRDC provided seed funding to get our Young Farming Champions program off the ground. What a watershed moment that has proved to be for the future of food security in this country.   

RIRDC have a number of initiatives that nurture rural and regional talent and one of these is the RIRDC Rural Women’s Award

To me this award identifies outstanding rural women in each state of Australia who day-in and day-out perform with flare, dedication and success resulting in creating growth and well-being for their own businesses, their communities and organisations they belong to.

Each winner has identified an exceptional community or industry good program they wish to undertake and the award provides them with funding and a support network to bring their vision to fruition.

Just by being nominated for an award is a tremendous boost for any individual or team program. Its says ā€œWe think you are equal to or better than the very best in the countryā€

Having participated in a number of award processes I know there are many positive flow on effects.  Art4agriculture have been awarded grants and contracts and our Young Farming Champions have received opportunities of a lifetime as a result of the attention focused on successful award entries.

Art4agriculutre has now formed a partnership with Annabel Tully who shares our commitment to deliver the best outcomes for agriculture at every turn

You can see why Annabel lights our fire by reading her story here

Iā€™ve just been on the most incredible journeyā€¦ā€¦.

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No itā€™s not Nepal, Cambodia or the Greek Isles, Iā€™ve just spent the last 12 months being a part of the Rural Industries Research Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Womenā€™s Awards process in Queensland. (It does go national) I am thrilled to say I am a finalist headed for a big interview process in Brisbane next month. This journey of self-reflection has really nailed down for me exactly why I have a fire in my belly about anything rural and remote and what am I going to do with it?

So a little on my backgroundā€¦ Iā€™m a woman (for starters), a wife, a mother, a farmer, a teacher , an artist and an advocate for our bush way of life. For many years I have put my hand up for anything that had a farming or arts touch to it. But what really keeps that fire burning, is the people, without us, there is no agriculture. Sounds pretty simple, if not, stupid, I know, but when we are confronted with all the pressures of contemporary agricultureā€¦..environment, global food security, financial pressures of feeding and educating another generationā€¦ blah blah blahā€¦. the people part of agriculture is something I am not willing to forget. Let me share this journey with you if I may be so bold as to ask for a moment or 2 of your precious time???

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So my pitch for the Awards is a project I call ā€œCreative Cowboys.ā€ Come one, come all!

Iā€™m offering an opportunity for fun and laughter and a reason to connect with the person standing next to you. I plan to offer all-inclusive arts based activities for people living in farming communities ā€“ yes even those who canā€™t even draw a stick figure! The aim is to offer some respite for farmers, a no manā€™s land where we you may chat to the stranger next to you about not very much at all, and thatā€™s the whole point.

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Annabel Tully 2011 Tongalderry Channels (wet) Oil, pigment and found ochre on linen

Bushies are a resilient mob, a humble mob, a sometimes quiet and unassuming mob. We are faced with many challenges, and this is what brings the enormous rewards and our determination to stay. We problem solve, more often than not, without the assistance of others. But without the people, there is no agriculture. So I aim to offer a little respite, a shady tent at a field day or rodeo, if you like, where friends, neighbours and strangers can come together and have some fun, a little calm before the next storm. Because if you are a bushie, you know what Iā€™m talking aboutā€¦. there will be a next time, not so far in the future, when we will need to band together for survival.

Whether I am successful in my bid for the RIRDC Rural Womenā€™s Award bursary for this project is not the end of this journey. Iā€™ve already reached my destination. The process of simply applying for the awards has enabled me to realise what my skills are and how I can make a difference. I am clear about my role in this glorious life I lead in the bush. Are you?

You can read more about and/or contact Annabel here

web: www.annabeltully.com

email:  info@annabeltully.com

Cream of the Crop Competition 2011 Open for entries

The Cream of the Crop Competition invites students in NSW secondary and tertiary education institutions to create a PowerPoint or a video which can be published on the web and win $500.
The competition invites NSW secondary and tertiary students to promote the importance of agriculture to their peers, to encourage a better understanding of agriculture as well as promote agricultural careers and rural life.

This year students have two categories they can enter
1.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  The PowerPoint Category asks students to create a PowerPoint presentation about an aspect of agriculture, whether it’s their studies, their farm, a policy issue, their region’s industries or the career of someone they respect in agriculture.Ā  Previous finalists have covered topics such as the importance of buying Australian produce, sustainable farming, agriculture and technology, climate change, regional towns, the Locavore Movement and most agricultural commodities.
2.Ā Ā Ā  The Video Category is new this year. It asks students to make a short film about an occupation that links to a career in agriculture. This can be as diverse as an agronomist, an accountant, a veterinarian, an auctioneer, a stock agent, or an IT expert – the possibilities are endless, and that’s the important point to remember about agricultural careers, it’s not all mud and flies!

The finalists’ presentations are placed on the LandLearn NSW website. The winners are announced and cash prizes are presented at a function in their honour at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2012.

You don’t have to be studying agriculture to enter the Cream of the Crop competition. We encourage all NSW students to consider the importance of agriculture to their daily life and share their ideas and knowledge.

Our social mediaĀ resourcesĀ have had 70,000 hits in two years, so it’s a great way for young people to be heard.

Entries close on 1st December 2011 and entry details, as well as copies of last year’s finalists, can be found below.

The Cream of the Crop competition is sponsored by Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, LandLearn NSW and Woolworths.

PowerPoint Presentation

Prizes on offer include:

Secondary School

ā€¢Ā  JuniorĀ  School (Year 7 & 8) $500 Best Presentation
ā€¢Ā  MiddleĀ  School (Year 9 &10) $500 Best Presentation
ā€¢Ā  SeniorĀ  School (Year 11 & 12) $500 Best Presentation
Tertiary Studies
ā€¢Ā  Undergraduate and TAFE $500 Best Presentation
ā€¢Ā  Postgraduate $500 Best Presentation

Video Competition

Prizes on offer include:

Categories

ā€¢Ā Ā Ā Junior School (Years 7 & 8) $500 Best Video
ā€¢Ā Ā  Middle School Video ( Years 9 & 10) $500 Best Video
ā€¢Ā Ā  Senior School (Years 11 & 12) $500 Best Video

Note: Video competition is only open to students studying in NSW Secondary School

Video examples can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVIBODCIBMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m00rNRsPHOw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQwJ0dSMvXM

Closing Date:

The competition closes at 5pm (EST) on 1st December 2011.

Visit here to find out everything you need to know and do

http://www.art4agriculture.com.au/creamofthecrop/index.html