Primary Industries Showcase Event - 2007

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Over 60 students from across the southern Riverina were treated to a special Primary Industries focus day in Deniliquin last Thursday organised by Youth Career Services with support from NSW BVET.

The students, who travelled from Balranald, Tooleybuc, Barham, Finley and Deniliquin high and central schools to the Murray Valley Field Station on Todd’s Road were given very positive messages about the future of farming and agriculturally related professional career areas.

Morning sessions for students involved a rotation through 6 activities: crutching sheep, using GPS navigation and auto steer equipment, riding on ATV vehicles, completing rural career video session, observing channel and water flow experiments and sampling freshly milled rice varieties.

Students were provided with career information from University of Melbourne Dookie campus, Riverina Institute of TAFE Deniliquin campus, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sunrice and Murray Irrigation. Staff members from each of these organisations spoke to students; provided written career information and answered student questions.

Students had elected an area of personal career interest to complete during the afternoon session: Beef cattle students visited Brian Willis’ property to assist with stock work; dairy students travelled to Parrish’s farm to look at dairy infrastructure and cattle, NSW Forests Larry Carey guided students through Deniliquin State Forest; Rodwell’s Jason Andrews conducted a tour of the Deniliquin Livestock Selling Centre; Greg Soding and Anthony Pearn from Tasker’s Garage  and Colin Bull, industry mentor, gave “hand’s on” demonstrations of New Holland tractors and equipment.

The day concluded with students meeting Jon Gatacre, a progressive young farmer who has recently been involved with “The Farmer Wants a Wife” program which will commence on national television this week. Jon encouraged students to gain as much experience in their chosen field as possible and to maintain their currency with improvements in technology relating to agriculture.

All students had a great day and left with “showbags” of information and goodies for their trips home and future career research.