Students are the future of the ag industry, Claire Bibby says

Educator Claire Bibby at Murtoa has just celebrated a dozen years helping young people enter the agricultural industry, and ensuring they’re “paddock ready”.

For Murtoa educator Claire Bibby, her students are the future of the agricultural industry.

This past week marks 12 years as Longerenong College’s apprenticeship co-ordinator, where she finds great joy in ensuring her students are “paddock ready”.

Claire, 40, finished secondary school at McAuley College before studying an Advanced Diploma of Farm Business Management at Marcus Oldham College. She then studied a Bachelor of Business before working in banking for five years.

She is now a Murtoa local, firmly entrenched in the community – she is chair of Murtoa’s premier tourism weekend, the Murtoa Big Weekend; a Murtoa Show Society member; part of her local kindergarten committee; and former president of the Wimmera Agricultural Show Society.

She has four-year-old Edwina with her partner, and stepchildren Mackenzie, 22, Finley, 20, and Tilley, 15.

Longerenong College apprenticeship co-ordinator Claire Bibby. Picture: Supplied

She joined fellow parents in lobbying for a childcare centre for her region, which will open next year.

“My parents were always involved growing up so I followed suit too,” Claire said.

“For a community to succeed, you have to put your hand up from time to time.”

She originally grew up on her family’s mixed farm in Donald, with a Merino flock and wheat, barley and canola, and an irrigation property in New South Wales.

“I loved the farm. Mum always had inside jobs but we always went ‘nah, Dad’s jobs are much more exciting’,” she said.

Claire said wanted to be part of ag education after seeing the value for her two brothers’, who participated in the apprenticeship program at Longerenong College 15 years ago.

“My brothers hated school, they were farm kids,” she said.

“Without a word of a lie, it just opened up their world and changed their lives. High school became more enjoyable and they were doing what they loved, and that was farming.”

Claire aims to ensure young people are highly employable and leave the college with the ability to manage multimillion-dollar farming operations.

“You hit the ground running, you’re paddock ready,” she said.

She said there had been a record number of students coming through the full-time course and apprenticeship programs, and this academic year would soon be coming to a close.

“You get to know our apprentices, their stories, their families and their workplaces,” she said.

“There’s nothing I’m more proud of than seeing them walk across the stage with their certificate, their families are clapping and cheering and – by goodness, I’m doing the same.

“They are the future of the industry.”

Claire Bibby has been nominated for the 2024 Shine Awards, which celebrate the achievements of rural and regional women across Australia. Click here to nominate an outstanding woman you know.