Students explore ag careers at Food & Fibre event
400 students from various schools across regional Victoria had a unique opportunity to delve into the vast array of careers in agriculture at the Food & Fibre Careers Event held last week at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus.
The event featured interactive workshops spanning a wide range of topics, from robotics and dairy farming to hydroponics and beekeeping. These sessions were led by industry experts, educators, and leading scientists, giving many students their first up-close experience with agricultural industries.
Rob Hall, the education coordinator of land at GOTAFE, emphasised the importance of such exposure, stating it was “absolutely vital” for students to be introduced to agricultural industries and highlighting pathways for pursuing higher education in agriculture.
David Bolton, Melbourne Royal Show beef cattle committee chair and workshop leader on cattle, urged students to consider the plethora of opportunities in agriculture beyond school. He said, “Agriculture is the spine of Australia,” adding, “The options in the beef industry are just phenomenal, there are unlimited job opportunities if that’s what you want to do. From scholarships to internships and sponsorships, young people can take advantage of many opportunities if they are interested in this kind of work.”
This year marked the ninth Food & Fibre Careers Event. Nathan Davies, a student and farm hand at Dookie campus, guided students through their impressive array of tractors and the cutting-edge AI technology emerging in the industry. Reflecting on his own experience visiting the agricultural campus in high school, Nathan noted it played a significant role in his career choice. “It was either agriculture or construction for me,” he shared.
Regardless of whether these students choose a similar path, the knowledge they gained was invaluable. One of the highlights included a demonstration by Patty McCarthy and Tom Kelly from SCAA Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc., where students witnessed the process of shearing a sheep and transforming the wool into garments for retail.
For those intrigued by smaller creatures, Tim Ford, a teacher and owner of Boundary Bees, led a popular beekeeping tutorial. Tim, who manages 200 hives with his son, has long encouraged young people to explore beekeeping, noting its minimal equipment and space requirements. He also educated students about the harmful Varroa mite and underscored the crucial role of bees in our food and fibre production industries.
