Next Gen Ag Roadshow
28-29 April 2010
ROADSHOW A GREAT SUCESS
The future of agriculture appears to be in good hands after a group of 25 young people involved in agriculture recently toured the region.
Starting off in Wedderburn on Sunday 28 March the group visited Calivil, Yarrawalla, Kerang, Dingwill, BaelBael, Tresco, Swan Hill, Wycheproof and the Birchip district before returning to Wedderburn on Tuesday 30 March.
The Next Gen Ag Roadshow, an initiative of Community Leadership Loddon Murray Inc. And funded by the Australian Government, incorporated a wide range of innovative speakers, site visits and workshops aimed at improving their knowledge, skills and networking capacity.
“Ultimately we wanted to encourage these young people to consider becoming more involved in their relevant industries as well as the broader community,” explained Kerry Anderson, the project manager. “From the feedback we received, it appears to have succeeded on all accounts and, personally, it was one of the most satisfying projects I have worked on. The enthusiasm of these young people was incredible.”
Participants ranged in ages from 18 to 30 years and came from eleven local government areas in regional Victoria. Industries ranged from sheep, beef, dairy, and goats to intensive cropping and broad acre farming. Related industries such as irrigation, livestock and grain sales, and agribusiness finance were also represented within the group adding effectively to the mix.
Guided by the knowledgeable Nigel McGuckian throughout the three days, the group was privileged to start their tour with a keynote address on leadership by the President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, Andrew Broad.
Forums over the three days tackled the subjects of Climate Change, Farm Gate Opportunities and The Future of Agriculture, with panel speakers providing a scientific, industry and community perspective. There was plenty of diversity in the views provided through a wide range of industry speakers including Steve Lottkowitz, Gaethan Cutri, Ellen White, Lou Chirnside, Colin Gitsham, Ginny Forrest, Cameron Warne, Marilyn Lanyon, Ben Jones, Caroline Welsh and Rob Sonogan. Peter Walsh, State Member for Swan Hill, and Alexandra Gartmann, CEO of the Birchip Cropping Group, provided valuable context as the forum chairs.
A variety of workshops assisted the group to better understand personality traits and their responsibilities as leaders, communicate with confidence, prioritise their time commitments, and to undertake change management. The conversation continued on road as the participants willingly sharing their ideas and discussed future opportunities.
Site visits included the Clymo dairy, Kia-ora Piggery, the Boyd family’s beef feedlot and saltbush plantation, and the Free family’s mixed enterprise of stone fruit, vegetables and vines.
On the final day of the Roadshow the Birchip Cropping Group took the group around their current flexible farming system site and visited a wildlife pond at a nearby property. Graeme Harris from the Buloke Shire also shared stories of how farmers and businesses have reinvented themselves in tough times.
The event concluded with a panel discussion on Leadership Opportunities led by Cr. Reid Mather and Prue Addlem, chair of the VFF Young Agribusiness Professionals. Appreciation was expressed to the many people who opened up their farm gates and spoke candidly to the group along the way sharing both the highs and the lows of their personal journeys.
“Everyone we heard from was really passionate about what they do,” commented a participant.
A fellow participant said that the most valuable thing they were taking away from the event was the confidence to “step up and start saying yes to roles in the community.”
“It’s about giving everything a go,” commented another
RIGHT: 25 young people recently toured
the region as part of The Next Gen Ag
Roadshow.
BELOW RIGHT: The group toured a
variety of industries including Clymo’s
Dairy Farm at Calivil.
BELOW: Victorian Farmers Federation
President, Andrew Broad, being thanked
by Aaron Sanderson on behalf of the
participants in the Next Gen Ag
Roadshow for being a speaker.
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