CARLY MARRIOT caught up with three young agriculture students to find out how they are navigating a future in farming.
People may be forgiven for thinking Jocelyn Martin, an agronomist at Nutrien Kerang, is a local lass who was raised nearby talking crops and chemicals.
But Jocelyn, a self-confessed ‘horse girl’ from the Mornington Peninsula, surprised everyone when she took up a Bachelor of Agriculture and landed at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus near Shepparton.
“You know when you’re 17 and you tell your parents, ‘Don’t worry guys I know what I’m doing’, well that’s what happened,” Jocelyn said.
Six years after completing her degree and pursuing farm work and adventure in the Mallee and the Western Australian outback, Jocelyn completed the Nutrien graduate program. At 24 she is now a full-time agronomist.
“I initially went into a Bachelor of Ag because it was a pathway to Vet Science, but it turns out I am far more interested in plants than animals, so it all worked out well in the end,” Jocelyn said.
While it is less common for people from non-farming backgrounds to pursue studies and careers in agriculture, it is reassuring that the industry has some attraction.
“When I first got to university, I fell in love with the people in the industry, I couldn’t believe how willing they were to help you out if you were willing to have a crack,” Jocelyn said.
Jocelyn’s network of agricultural contacts has gone from strength to strength with the Dookie alumni and now the support of the Nutrien community.
“The two-year graduate program includes a rotation period, where I spent four months in three locations — Horsham, Hamilton and Echuca,” she said.
“Then in the second year you can choose from several different branches with the potential to stay on long term.
“I chose Kerang because of the diverse mix of businesses in that patch — broadacre, irrigation, dairy.”
With her home a whole state away, Jocelyn has carved out a life for herself in the north of Victoria, playing netball for the Cohuna Kangers.
“It’s hard to make friends in a small community, the best thing you can do is to join the local netball club, regardless of your skill level,” she said.
If Jocelyn pursued an out-of-left-field career into agriculture, then by comparison, Meg Brooks stayed the family course.
When Country News spoke to Meg she had just completed her final exam at Longerenong Agricultural College in the Victorian Wimmera.
Meg, a farm girl through and through, is the fourth generation of Brooks to farm on the family property east of Barooga in southern NSW.
“I cannot see myself outside the industry. There are so many opportunities in agriculture, you just have to take them,” Meg said.
With an Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness, Diploma of Agronomy and a Certificate IV in Agriculture under her belt, Meg is going ahead in leaps and bounds — securing a job with Elders in Wycheproof, starting in 2023.
“I can’t wait to get home and get into harvest, once that’s done, I’ll be starting with Elders,” she said.
Meg’s passion for the industry is undoubtedly a result of both nature and nurture as she was raised the eldest of four children on a mixed cropping and livestock property.
Meg’s parents always involved the children in the running of the farm and now have four ag enthusiasts as a result.
Meg completed Year 12 in 2020 and at 20 is now graduating from Longerenong with a lot more than a qualification.
“The people you meet at ag college, you’ll cross paths in the future,” she said.
“You never know where your career will take you, but you’ll always have that safety net of Longy contacts.”
Meg believes pursing university studies has given her confidence and provided a stepping stone for her career.
“My favourite subject was Managing Agribusiness Risk, and the learnings I gained from that will feed straight into my role next year,” she said.
“I’ve learnt such a variety of subjects that I am now better equipped as an employee.”
Like Jocelyn, Meg was presented with several career options and decided on Wycheproof Elders because it offered her exposure to agronomy, livestock and merchandise.
It appears the key attraction of the agricultural industry is the diversity on offer — whether that is location, enterprise or expertise.
As Meg joins the workforce, another younger industry participant, Tom Oliver, is starting out on his own journey.
Tom wanted to drop out of school in Year 10.
When Country News spoke to Tom, he had just finished Year 12 VCAL with a Certificate III in Agriculture, and was the outgoing Cobram Secondary College school captain.
The trick? A school-based apprenticeship that allowed him to work on the farm which meant he enjoyed his time at school more.
“My apprenticeship taught me what path I wanted to go down. I love farming, it’s the best thing ever,” Tom said.
“My boss John Bruce always explains why he does things on the farm, he helps me understand the purpose.”
Tom was raised on a dairy farm at Yarroweyah and believes he caught the farm bug early.
The family pivoted from dairy to sheep and cropping and now works in the fertiliser industry.
“I would always go with Dad, in the truck, the tractor — I wanted to be part of it.” Tom said.
Now as an 18-year-old embarking on a tertiary education at Longerenong Agricultural College, it’s Tom’s turn to steer.
“I want to go into farm management, so I think it will certainly help to have a qualification of some sort,” he said.
“I am looking forward to learning new things and living amongst other people who are keen on ag.”
Although young, Tom understands how small towns work and is already investigating the Horsham & District Football Club options.