The next generation of agricultural industry leaders at Marcus Oldham College is set to bring passion, new skills and a range of initiatives to farming enterprises across the country.
At a seminar with Fairfax Media journalists last week, it was clear farming’s new generation is well equipped for the future with time spent at Marcus Oldham set to provide focus on a range of career ideas.
With some of the students expecting to return to family farms – many to work in conjunction with parents and siblings, students are fully cognisant of the need to bring new ideas and skills to the table to ensure the ongoing health and business viability of farms.
And of ideas, there are plenty - all manner of exciting agricultural avenues lay ready to navigate.
Careers in the ag sector for this new generation will emerge from training, from peer networks established at the College and from experiences in workplaces.
All understood the need to develop communication and marketing skills regardless of their chosen career path.
Students noted the role of communications in telling the ag industry story, but also to sustain new enterprise ideas or breathe life into existing ones.
Tasmanian student and sheep farmer, Will Fergusson said it was important for his generation to help bridge the gap between the agriculture industry and the general public to better share the industry's position on issues.
But how does the agriculture better communicate the industry opportunities?
What role can social media play in providing a narrative on industry issues such as mulesing or live trade, but also in telling the agriculture story in a meaningful, engaging way?
New South Wales student and beef farmer, Nikki Gilder reckoned marketing communications skills would play a major role in her dream career of brokering hi-quality branded beef into the Chinese market.
With experiences in China set to shape her future, Ms Gilder said “there are opportunities in China to market the integrity of branded Australian beef,” she said.
“The consumption of red meat is rising and there is a market for branded chilled or frozen beef compared with the issues with live exports,” Ms Gilder said.
Communications was also bound to play a role in Victorian Kari Moffat’s career who has hands-on experience in the live export trade, and was anticipating heading to Brazil to work.
Roma beef cattle farming student, Sally Conway is keen to explore the marketing opportunities for branded beef from her family farm.
Beaufort, Victoria, sheep grazier, Kathryn Bain is fully cognisant of the virtues of communication.
She has already paired her interest in data with the opportunity to write a report in conjunction with industry data analysts, Mercado and had it published in Stock & Land.