Farmers in this country are less than 1% of the population and number 10 on Reader’s Digest most trusted professions list.
Above us are ambulance officers, doctors, nurses , pharmacists and fireman. Why is this you ask?. The answer is easy. If you are an ambulance officer, a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist or a fireman there would be a time in most people’s lives when they would be reminded just how important their profession is.
With food in abundance in this country there is little opportunity to remind the community just how important our farmers are.
I recently had the pleasure of sharing the podium with Michael Trant at the Agconnect conference in WA two weeks ago. Michael Trant for those of you who don’t know him is the very passionate sheep farmer behind the #Hadagutful campaign
The conference was attended by WA’s most passionate young people in agriculture. Young, enthusiastic, dynamic people determined to carve out a future for themselves and their peers in agriculture in this country and bursting at the seams to be heard.
Advocacy was a hot topic and number 1 on their list of big ticket issues that must be addressed if we are going to have the dynamic, innovative, exciting and profitable agrifood sector we all crave.
As is the norm with young people there was quite a lot of admiration in the room for the French farmers model. A model we all know that involves quite a lot of militant tactics.
It was Michael Trant’s response that I believe most resonated with the audience. Michael recently had a one on one meeting with Federal Agriculture Minister Senator Joe Ludwig to discuss and hopefully find a solution to that wicked problem Live Export. A meeting which at the time was recorded as quite hostile in the media.
Michael told the people in the room that he listened very closely to what Joe Ludwig had to say and he gave these wonderful young people in the room the same sage advice.
“We can do things that will piss people off like dump wheat on the docks at Freemantle or I can let rams loose in Kings Park or we can come up with campaigns that actually resonate and generate empathy and understanding with the 18 million people on the Eastern seaboard.
I agree and so should all farmers but farmers telling their story and having two way conversations with the most important people and the white elephant in the room otherwise know as consumers and voters is not something farmers in general have the skill sets or expertise for. In the past we have let anti animal livestock lobbyists tell our story and that has been a disaster of momentous proportions and it is one of the key reasons why agriculture is currently on its knees in this country.
So how do fix this. We can do it. I know because I have found the successful model and I am going to share it with you over the next 12 months. Like any idea its not the concept but the people who make it work and for agriculture it will be our young people. They are out there. I have a whole cohort of them in Art4Agriculture’s Young Farming Champions program. Our Young Farming Champions are now working side by side with our Young Eco Champions to tell agriculture’s story in a way that DOES resonate with the 18 million people on the Eastern seaboard.
Like most farmers (and like me) not all these young people were born these skills sets and expertise. They need to be identified, engaged and nurtured and supported every step of the way. It is imperative we invest in them I know this because this is my journey to where I am today and I relive it though them by sharing my learnings, positive and negative, by introducing them to the wonderful people who support and nurture me.
I am using Art4Agriculture as the vehicle to introduce them to the people who can supply them with the necessary skills sets to deliver on behalf of industry. I introduce them to supportive industries, the key influencers, to the doers and most importantly I introduce them to the most important people in the room, the people who give agriculture its social license to operate and they are the people who buy our goods and services and the people who vote
What does it take to have young people who can talk like this, who can inspire other young people to follow in their footsteps. What does it take for our young people to be the change that agriculture so needs to have?.
I have the formula and the results speak for themselves?. Listen to the video. Follow their journey
THE 2012 YOUNG FARMING CHAMPIONS
BEEF
Sponsored by Meat and Livestock Australia Target 100 program
Stephanie Fowler
Wagga Wagga, NSW
Steph grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales in a small coastal suburb, Green Point. A decision to study agriculture in high school created a passion for showing cattle and in 2012 she started a PhD in Meat and Livestock Science, with a project that is looking at the potential of Raman Spectroscopy in predicting meat quality.
“When I was growing up I never dreamed that I would end up joining an incredibly rewarding, innovative and exciting industry that would take me across the country and around the world.”
Read Steph’s Blog post HERE
View her video HERE
Bronwyn Roberts
Emerald, QLD
Bronwyn is a Grazing Land Management Officer with the Fitzroy Basin Association. Her family has a long association with the cattle industry in Queensland and her parents currently run a 5500 acre cattle property near Capella.
“I believe consumers have lost touch of how and where their food and fibre is produced. In these current times where agriculture is competing with other industry for land use, labour, funding and services, it is important that we have a strong network of consumers who support the industry and accept our social license as the trusted and sustainable option.”
Read Bronwyn’s Blog post HERE
View her video HERE
Kylie Stretton
Charters Towers, QLD
Kylie Stretton and her husband have a livestock business in Northern Queensland, where they also run Brahman cattle. Kylie is the co-creator of “Ask An Aussie Farmer” a social media hub for people to engage with farmers and learn about food and fibre production.
“The industry has advanced from the images of “Farmer Joe” in the dusty paddock to images of young men and women from diverse backgrounds working in a variety of professions. Images now range from a hands-on job in the dusty red centre to an office job in inner city Sydney. So many opportunities, so many choices.”
Read Kylie’s Blog post HERE
View her video HERE
COTTON
Sponsored by Cotton Australia
Tamsin Quirk
Moree, NSW
Tamsin grew up in Moree but is not from a farm. An enthusiastic teacher at high school who encouraged the students to better understand the natural world sparked Tamsin’s interest in agriculture. She is now studying agricultural science at the University of New England.
“Growing up in Moree has shown me is how important it is to have young people in the industry with a fiery passion and a desire to educate those who aren’t fully aware of the valuable role our farmers play in feeding and clothing not only Australians but many other people around the world.”
Read Tamsin’s Blog post HERE
View her video HERE
Richard Quigley
Trangie, NSW
Richie is a fifth-generation farmer at Trangie in central-western NSW. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Sydney and in the long term, intends to return to the family farm, a 6000-hectare mixed-cropping, cotton and livestock operation.
“It’s fantastic to help people understand how their food and fibre is produced and to represent the agricultural industry. Most of the students I talked to are from the city so they haven’t been exposed to agriculture on the kind of scale we work on.”
Read Richie’s Blog post HERE
View his video HERE
DAIRY
Sponsored by Pauls
Jessica Monteith
Berry, NSW
Jess was introduced to the dairy industry by a childhood friend whose parents owned a dairy farm. She is currently undertaking a Traineeship in Financial services through Horizon Credit Union while completing full time study for a double degree in Agricultural Science and Agribusiness Finance through Charles Sturt University.
“I am hoping to follow a career path in finance related to and working one-on-one with our farmers to develop their industries and operations to work to full capacity as well as continuing to work with the next generation. The fact that I don’t come from a farming background helps show that exciting agriculture related careers and opportunities are available to everyone.”
Read Jess’ blog post HERE
View her video HERE
Tom Pearce
Bega, NSW
Tom is a fourth generation dairy farmer from Bega and is actively involved in a range of industry activities including Holstein Australia Youth Committee and the National All Dairy Breeds Youth Camp.
“The fact is there is a fair majority of the population that doesn’t realise how their food gets from paddock to plate. If we want agricultural production to double over the next 30 years to feed the predicted 9 Billion people we have a big task ahead of us. This will require farmers and communities working cooperatively for mutual benefit.”
Read Tom’s blog post HERE
View his video HERE
WOOL
Sponsored by Australian Wool Innovation
Lauren Crothers
Dirranbandi, QLD
Lauren is passionate about the wool industry and spent her gap year on a remote sheep station in Western NSW increasing her hands-on knowledge. Lauren is now studying a Bachelor of Agribusiness at the University of Queensland.
“Every family needs a farmer. No matter who you are, your gender, your background or where you live you can become involved in this amazing industry.”
Read Lauren’s blog post HERE
View her video HERE
Stephanie Grills
Armidale, NSW
Steph Grills’ family has been farming in the New England Tablelands since 1881 and the original family farm remains in the family to this day. Steph is combining a career on the farm with her four sisters with a Bachelor of Livestock Science at the University of New England.
“I believe the future for Australian agriculture will be very bright. I am excited to be part of an innovative industry that is leading the world in technology and adapting it on a practical level. I’m very proud to say that Agriculture has been passed down over nine known generations and spans over three centuries just in my family. My hope is that this continues, and that the future generations can be just as proud as I am that they grow world-class food and fibre. I also hope by sharing my story I can inspire other young people to follow me into an agricultural career.”
Read Steph’s Blog post HERE
View her video HERE
Samantha Townsend
Lyndhurst, NSW
Sammi is passionate about encouraging young people to explore careers in agriculture and has a website and blogwww.youthinagtionaustralia.com where she showcases the diversity of opportunities. In 2012 Sammi commenced studying Agricultural Business Management at Charles Sturt University in Orange.
“I have found that being an Art4Ag YFC has helped my University this year. This was my first year at University and my first time out there and finding my feet. Taking on this role helped give me a lot of confidence and it has also broadened my own knowledge about my own industry. It is amazing how many things you take for granted until you have to tell someone about them! I was elected President of the Ag Club at Uni in the middle of the year and it is a role I thought I never would have had the confidence to take on. With the opportunities I have been given this year through Art4Ag, I have a new-found confidence to have a go at tackling anything.”
Read Sammi’s Blog post HERE
View her video HERE
Listen to their videos on YouTube
YFC ON YOUTUBE
(Click headings to watch on YouTube)
2012 COTTON YOUNG FARMING CHAMPIONS
Richie Quigley
Richie Quigley Interview students from De La Salle College
James Ruse Agricultural High School talks Richie Quigley at MCLEMOI Gallery
Laura Bunting Winmalee High School Student talks about Richie Quigley
Tamsin Quirk
YFC Tamsin Quirk and Lady Moo Moo telling the story of jeans
2012 WOOL YOUNG FARMING CHAMPIONS
Sammi Townsend
YFC Sammi Townsend talks Wool at the Ekka
Teacher Steve Shilling talks about Sammi Townsend Visit to Camden Haven High School
Lauren Crothers
Lauren talks to professional shearer Hayden at the Ekka
Stephanie Grills
YFC Steph Grills talks Herefords at the Ekka
YFC Stephanie Grills talks to students from Macarthur Anglican College
YFC Stephanie Grills talks to discovery ranger Kathy Thomas about Potoroos
YFC Steph Grills talks to discovery ranger Kathy Thomas about monitoring Potoroos
2012 BEEF YOUNG FARMING CHAMPIONS
Bronwyn Roberts
YFC Bronwyn Roberts talks beef at the Ekka
YFC Bronwyn Roberts talks to teacher Simone Neville at Archibull Prize Awards
YFC Bronwyn Roberts talks to Bush Revegetator Chris Post
Stephanie Fowler
Stephanie Fowler talks meat and muscle at the Ekka
YFC Steph Fowler talks to students from Shoalhaven High School at the Archibull Prize Awards
Stephanie Fowler talks to Dean Turner from The Crossing
YFC Steph Fowler interviews students from Muirfield High School about the Paddock to Plate story
Steph Fowler finds out why the Girl Guides Exhibit at the Ekka
Kylie Stretton
YFC Kylie Stretton talks Brahman Beef at The EKKA
Kylie Stretton talks to students from Hills Adventist College
Teacher Trisha Lee talks about Kylie Stretton visiting St Michaels Catholic School
DAIRY YOUNG FARMING CHAMPIONS
Tom Pearce
Tom Pearce talking Breeds of Dairy Cattle at the Ekka
Tom Pearce at the Ekka – Cattle Show Clipping
Tom Pearce at the Ekka – Cattle Showing
Jess Monteith
YFC Jess Monteith reporting from Clover Hill Dairies
Tara Sciberras talks about Jess Monteith
I have thousands of examples like these and write a blogs that share their story viewed by over 100,000 people in 24 countries.
These are currently our government, industry and community partners who have faith in them and invest in them. Is your industry body there
Who else wants to be on the winning side? We don’t have an eight figure budget and we don’t need one. We can give farmers the best return on investment in the shortest turnaround time our industry bodies can only dream about. If you share the vision you can show your support by lobbying your industry body to join the Art4Agriculture team and they can contact me at lynnestrong@art4agriculture.com.au. Its that easy
