A former construction project manager is Victoria’s representative in this year’s LambEx Young Guns Competition.
John Gardner, South Mokanger, Cavendish, completed a Bachelor of Construction Management and Economics at the University of South Australia, before working for a residential construction company.
He then moved to Sydney and worked as an Assistant Project Manager for a Development company called Central Element.
But he has recently moved back to the family farm, taking over as manager and running 11,500 self-replacing composite breeding ewes on 1440 hectares.
The property also has 220 hectares under crops.
Mr Gardner completed a Diploma in Agriculture last year and is currently completing a Leadership course through Australian Rural Leadership and Sheep Producers Australia.
He is one of nine up and coming lamb industry advocates from across Australia, named as a competition finalist.
All will fly to Perth to attend a Professional Development Workshop and LambEx 2018 on August 5-7, with the three category winners, who will each receive a $1000 prize.
LambEx 2018 chairwoman Bindi Murray said she was excited by the strong field of entries and the nine finalists who had been selected.
“It’s important to help support and provide opportunities for young people in agriculture,” Ms Murray said.
“We need to ensure more young people become involved in the sheep and lamb industry to build on the current buoyancy and help secure its ongoing success.”
NAB South Australia and Western Australia head of agribusiness South Australia Matt O’Dea said it was important to celebrate emerging leaders in the agriculture industry.
“We have great confidence in the future of the sheep and lamb industry with the calibre of young people that the LambEx Young Guns Competition continues to attract.”
Australian White Suffolk Association Board Member Andrew Heinrich said the Young Guns concept was a great opportunity for youth.
“It provides a wonderful example to help young people from within the industry to grow and develop more confidence and experience, as well as improve their networking skills,” he said.
“This is the third time that the competition has run, and the third time that the association has been involved in sponsoring it.
“It has been really wonderful to be involved in the process and see the growth of previous finalists”
The LambEx 2018 Young Guns Competition is held thanks to sponsors the Australian White Suffolk Association and the National Australia Bank.
The competition aims to reward and encourage young and upcoming producers, industry professionals and scientists to consider a future or ongoing career in the Australian lamb industry.