Agronomy is the career of choice for footy player Luke Fitzgerald

Playing footy for a country club in Victoria has helped to provide an agricultural career pathway for Luke Fitzgerald. This is his story.

A young footy player from Marong is making a move from the field to the paddock after deciding to pursue agriculture as his career path.

Luke Fitzgerald, 19, is currently studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga and has his sights set on becoming an agronomist.

He didn’t grow up on a farm but was inspired by his footy coach when playing under 16s for the Marong Panthers Football Club.

“A few years ago, my footy coach was an agronomist, and I did some work experience,” Luke said.

“I’ve always had an interest in crops, looking out the window of the ute and seeing how things are growing,” he said.

Luke’s coach at the time was Nutrien agronomist Greg Toomey of Elmore.

“This connection gave me an interest in agriculture, and it was my entry into agriculture,” Luke said.

CSU student Luke Fitzgerald pictured during work experience. Picture: Zoe Phillips

He said connecting with people in agriculture was important, especially for young people who haven’t grown up on a property.

Luke said that his career as an agronomist was interesting and appealing to him.

“I enjoy being outside; I like fishing and the outdoors in general,” he said.

Luke recently completed two weeks of work placement at a livestock and cropping property at Raywood and said the crops in that area were looking good.

During his work experience, he was able to inspect faba beans, canola, wheat, and grazing canola and grazing oats.

“It was really interesting to put what I am learning in the classroom into practice in the paddock,” he said.

He said south of Wagga Wagga, near the border region, some crops were struggling, but it was a different story around Bendigo and central Victoria.

Luke is currently in his first year of studying, and he has three more years to go.

“I’m absolutely loving it, and I take a keen interest in all of the plant and livestock subjects; I’m having a ball,” he said.