ELLEN Grinter, 25, knows she made the right choice when she pursued a career in agriculture despite being discouraged from doing so at high school.
"No matter what happens there will always be a need for farmers because the world's population needs to be fed and clothed," Ms Grinter said.
Her decision to become an agronomist means Ms Grinter gets to work with different farmers every day, visit their unique operations and collaborate to improve their soils and increase productivity – work she finds incredibly rewarding.
"Agronomy is a fast-moving, exciting field; we're constantly learning," Ms Grinter said.
She has been working as a trainee agronomist at Shepparton-based Advanced Ag with a "fabulous crew of people" for 10 months.
The company works with farmers of different commodity groups throughout the Goulburn Valley, including both dryland and irrigated broadacre croppers and dairy farmers.
"Every farm is different and some of them operate at such high level and are immaculate," Ms Grinter said.
"It's rewarding to see the crops come to finish – last year was quite a good year for a lot of our customers."
Ms Grinter grew up on a family farm at Kaarimba, between Shepparton and Nathalia in the state's north.
Cropping is the main activity on the farm, where the family – including dad Col, mum Gail and brother Stuart, 28 – grow wheat, barley and canola on the 1000 hectares they own and do some share farming.
They also run 350 first-cross ewes.
Even though she grew up in the area, being an agronomist has exposed Ms Grinter to a wide variety of new farming operations, including farms that grow summer crops such as maize.
"It is mind-bloggling how quickly it grows," she said.
As well as allowing her to help hard-working, straight-talking farmers, working in agriculture lets Ms Grinter be part of a tight-knit rural community.
She is a passionate member of the Nathalia branch of Victorian Young Farmers and the Nathalia Agricultural Society (which puts on a traditional country-style show each year that celebrates agriculture and its contribution to the community).
These groups have introduced Ms Grinter to great circles of people who share her passion for agriculture, and they provide educational and social events.
"In Young Farmers we learn from each other and everyone is equal," she said.
"They'll be my friends for life."
People say "home is where the heart is", and despite having lived in cities and even overseas since finishing high school, Ms Grinter was always keen to return to Kaarimba.
She did a double degree comprising a Bachelor of Arts (English) and a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) at La Trobe University, Bundoora, and during the four-year course soil science was her best subject.
In her second year of university she went on an exchange to Sweden for six months, where she found farming systems were very different to those in Australia.
Ms Grinter then undertook a one-year graduate program at Landmark in Bendigo before returning to work on the family farm and later getting a job at Advanced Ag.
She encourages any young person with an interest in agriculture to pursue their dreams and say "no" to ag naysayers.
"Go for it," she says.
"There will always be a need for farmers and all the associated advisers."
Her goal is to be a respected agronomist and trusted friend to local farmers, and one day she'd like to have her own farm.
Informed by her work and involvement in agricultural groups, Ms Grinter said the dairy industry did a good job of encouraging young people to join and offering career pathways which other commodity groups could employ.
"Succession planning is the other key area needed to get more young people in ag."