Jo Newton, PhD candidate, UNE – pics for Art4Ag project

In 2019 Picture You in Agriculture (PYIA) has joined with the University of New England (UNE) to provide the Young Farming Champions (YFC) program to five undergraduate university students.

Many Young Farming Champions have undertaken their studies at UNE with alumni including research geneticist Dr Jo Newton, Local Land Service Officers Lucy Collingridge and Jasmine Whitten, animal welfare researcher Dr Danila Marini, cadet lawyer Meg Rice, agronomist Casey Onus, beef marketing executive Kirsty McCormack and sales managers Kylie Schuller and Diana George.

The Young Farming Champions program has equipped these early-career professionals with skills to share their agricultural journeys and, in doing so, enhance their career ambitions and take their place amongst the leaders of Australian agriculture.

So why does a partnership between PYiA and tertiary institutions make such good sense?

From the student’s perspective:

• Connects them with early career professionals and emerging leaders and opens their eyes to the plethora of jobs available in the agricultural sector,
• Builds networking opportunities,
• Installs and builds student confidence,
• Provides exposure to industry partners,
• Allows students to stand out from the crowd
• Provides targeted holistic leadership development opportunities
• Join a movement of like-minded people who can amplify each others voices

From the tertiary institution’s perspective:

• Increases feelings of engagement and belonging in the university community,
• Grows communication, collaboration and leadership skills,
• Improves progression, retention and aspirations of promising students,
• Showcases support for current students
• Exposure on national and international stages as a supporter of emerging leaders

From an employer perspective:

• Identification of the best and brightest young agricultural minds,
• Improved attitudes and curiosity for a broad spectrum of careers in agriculture,
• Increased ambitions for young talent to see leadership roles & pathways for development within the agriculture industry,
• Opportunities to collaborate with research institutions, industry & young leaders striving to make positive change.

By partnering with tertiary institutions PYiA draws Young Farming Champions directly from a pool of keen agriculturists; students who have agriculture at their heart and who are willing to put their hands up to develop skills outside of their curriculum. Students accepted into the new YFC program partnership will undergo professional development to become the voice and next-generation leaders of Australian agriculture.

Watch this space for the announcement of our 2019 UNE Young Farming Champions

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