Future Focused Ag Oz Young Australians building trust & confidence in Agriculture

Melissa Henry

Young Farming Champion

Boorowa NSW

Overview

• How I started in agriculture

• Advocacy through leadership

• Recommendations

My pathway into agriculture

I’m not from a farming family!

Shiowu

Showing Sheep

Richmond HS Ag Show-Team

Judging Sheep

Owning Sheep

University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury Campus

• Bachelor of Animal Science

• Bachelor of Science (Honours)

• Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Consulting

So many opportunities…

Quebec, Canada

Moholoholo, South Africa

Alberta, Canada

Christchurch, New Zealand

Advocacy through Leadership

Committees

Grain Growers Association, Sydney

Lachlan Catchment Management Authority, Boorowa

Lachlan Catchment

Management Authority Boorowa

Recommendations for promoting agriculture

1. School-based programs

• Where it starts!

2. Show & breed societies

• The fun

• The networks

• The opportunities

3. Tertiary education

• Specialisation

• Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging

4. Leading by example

• My vision: Build the capacity of urban people to undertake their own farming goals

Questions?