Agriculture
10 February, 2024
Dipping into rural careers
AGRICULTURAL scholarship winners from North Central region schools have been part of a networking and careers immersion day. The students are participating the 21st Century Careers in Agriculture project through North Central LLEN, a collaboration...
AGRICULTURAL scholarship winners from North Central region schools have been part of a networking and careers immersion day.
The students are participating the 21st Century Careers in Agriculture project through North Central LLEN, a collaboration with the North Central Schools network.
They have been recognised by their schools as leaders in the academic or practical side of agriculture.
Former Wedderburn resident and Nutrien agronomist Hayden Coombes took students on a tour of the the company’s Bendigo office and merchandise centre last month.
Hayden emphasised to students that developing relationships with growers and listening was key to successful agronomy.
Nutrien then provided a careers panel which included Hayden Coombes, Teagen Welsh (Boort manager) and Candice Cordy (Kyneton manager).
Each panel member had a diverse career journey but they all concurred about the importance of being punctual, enthusiastic, asking questions and taking opportunities.
Scholarship recipient Ned Zagame from Charlton College said he learnt about the different ways young people can get into agriculture and the diversity of the industry.
“It will allow me to get into the different parts of agriculture that I really want to get into,” he said.
The day concluded with a formal ceremony where NCLLEN careers team leader Jacinta Sutton and Nutrien’s senior talent attraction business partner north-east Australia Vanessa Murphy presented students with their awards.
NCLLEN project co-ordinator Sue Gould was delighted with the enthusiasm shown by the students and how they embraced the opportunity to learn more about careers in agriculture.
“The aim of the project is building and enhancing agricultural education programs and industry partnerships in the North Central region,” she said. “This scholarship initiative in partnership with Nutrien Ag is a fantastic example of schools and industry working together to support career pathways for local students.”.
The 21st Century Careers in Agriculture program is funded through the Department of Education’s Sustainable Schools in Agriculture Fund.