YOUNG, dedicated and passionate. These are three words that perfectly describe the newly elected chair of the Young Agribusiness Professionals (YAPs).
Amy Fay, 27, grew up on a mixed broadacre farm in Willaura, Western Victoria and is now program development manager at Dairy Australia.
Amy studied Agricultural Science at Melbourne University and has spent the last few years working in research management and sustainable agriculture policy in Canberra. She is now studying her Masters in Agriculture Science.
“I’m really excited to expand my role in YAPs and look forward to working with our new executive committee and executive officer. The new committee has a really solid skill set and some fresh faces to bring new ideas to the table,” Ms Fay said.
During the next twelve months the group was keen to connect with more young people in Victoria and to build on the success of our previous Chair and committee, she said.
"We will be expanding the type and number of networking events and professional development opportunities that we run."
Members are encouraged to tell the committee and Ms Fay how they want YAPs to operate and what activities they want to get involved in.
The Victorian Farmers Federation thanked outgoing chair, Chris Walsh for playing a pivotal role in leading YAPs through the Generation F campaign and in ensuring funding was secured for a Food and Fibre Careers Officer.
The YAPs committee forms one of the seven committees within the VFF that advise the Policy Council. The committee is made up of one chair and eight members, who are aged between 18 and 35 years.
The YAPs committee members are:
- Ashlee Hammond, Agricultural Science honours student at La Trobe University;
- Claire Bibby, cropping and grazing apprenticeship coordinator at Longerenong College;
- Darryl Stretton, Bayer CropScience horticulture product manager;
- Dee Commins, NAB Agribusiness analyst;
- Jessica Skilbeck, RASV agriculture development officer;
- Katherine Snell, associate veterinarian for the Gippsland Veterinary Hospital;
- William Ryan, DEPI project fire fighter and agriculture student;
- Shara Leddy, chair of the Colac Young Dairy Development Program.
