Editor’s letter: ConnectEd puts rural students on the agenda

MORE needs to be done to excite young people — particularly rural youth — about the huge opportunities in food and fibre, writes CAMILLE SMITH.

Positive stories: Callan Daley urges the agriculture industry to “throw off the work shirts” at the 2019 EvokeAg conference in Melbourne.

A SWAGGERING 20-year-old snaps the audience to attention at an agtech conference in Melbourne.

Dressed in a statesman hat, boots and work shirt, rural tourism entrepreneur Callan Daley struts on stage in front of a crowd of producers and agribusiness professionals.

Then, the young man from a Queensland farm strips off his Akubra and RB Sellars, uncovering a crisp white collar and tie.

Callan says Australia’s ag industry needs to replicate this big reveal act by “throwing off the work shirts” if it expects to be a major player in feeding nine billion people by 2050.

“Why was I never encouraged in school to pursue a career in agriculture simply because I had slightly higher grades?” Callan asks, putting an uncomfortable topic front and centre.

“Why could I not be a professional grass-fed beef producer specialising in animal welfare, soil management practices and chemical management? Why is that not a thing?”

The truth is, many Australian schools, TAFEs and universities understand Callan’s progressive beef producer is, indeed, a thing and believe the nation needs more of them.

UNIQUE AGRICULTURE EDUCATION AT KINROSS WOLAROI SCHOOL

AUSSIE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS EXPLAIN THEIR PASSION FOR AGRICULTURE

DOOKIE EVENT ENGAGES SECONDARY STUDENTS IN AG SCIENCE

Educators are working to cast off the misconceptions about agriculture and redefine its support industries, which include finance, digital technology, food development, marketing, genetics, plant science, health and engineering, to name a few.

However, Callan is right. More needs to be done. Teachers and industry must collaborate to excite young people — particularly rural youth — about the huge opportunities in food and fibre.

WESTERN DISTRICT STUDENT AWARDED SALT CREEK SCHOLARSHIP

MLC BOARDER FROM COOTAMUNDRA FOLLOWS PASSION FOR TEACHING AG

FREE TUTORING SERVICE FOR REGIONAL VCE STUDENTS

ConnectEd showcases programs, teachers and organisations making strides towards that goal. Read about schools integrating agriculture into lesson plans across subjects. Discover how cropping business Lawson Grains, banking giant ANZ and artisan bushfoods brand Saltbush Kitchen are ramping up involvement in education. Graduates are also making waves with revolutionary packaging and an online tutoring service for rural VCE students.

And meet the next generation of rural leaders, and their teachers, who want to see change in classrooms and paddocks of the future.

READ MORE CONNECTED