Educating wool’s next generation
AWI is involved in a range of initiatives to encourage the younger generation into the wool industry. Reported here is a snapshot of some of the AWI-supported initiatives undertaken in the past few months.
AWI Young Sheep Producers Challenge, WA
This AWI initiative involved students from WA agricultural colleges competing at the Perth Royal Show in September. Teams of six students from each college competed, with two of each team’s students assessed on shearing, two assessed on woolhandling, and two assessed on ewe selection. The overall winner was the team from the WA College of Agriculture Cunderdin, followed by WA College of Agriculture Harvey and WA College of Agriculture Narrogin.
LEADAg Youth program, Queensland
In Queensland, AWI supported the LEADAg Youth program, developed and delivered by CHRRUP. Amongst other activities, the twelve 15-17 year olds in the two-week program experienced the steps involved in wool harvesting, wool classing and sheep handling thanks to trainers from AWI and property hosts Suz and Grant Laidler of ‘Kappa Ki’ at Longreach and David Counsell of ‘Dunblane’ at Barcaldine.
Jamestown Junior Livestock Education Day, SA
The Education Day hosted by the Jamestown Agricultural, Horticultural and Floricultural Society brought nearly 200 students from across South Australia to the Jamestown Showgrounds to gain hands-on learning about sheep and cattle production. AWI’s involvement in the event provided students with an insight into wool production and harvesting, and hopefully will encourage some into a career in the industry.
Murdoch University students farm tour, WA
Second and third year students from Murdoch University in Perth were out and about in the Great Southern region of WA. They visited studs and commercial woolgrowers to hear about their wool production systems, and learn how each is run according to management principles specific to the property.
RAMping Up Repro workshop, NSW
Ten agriculture students from Crookwell High School joined sheep and wool producers from the local region at a RAMping up Repro workshop held at Laggan on the Southern Tablelands of NSW in September. They experienced plenty of hands-on participation and learning during the workshop that was run by AWI Extension NSW.
Novice wool harvesting course, WA
Keen students learning about wool harvesting on an AWI-funded week-long course in November at Rylington Park, Boyup Brook, in south-west WA. AWI funds these practical courses in all states to attract and retain new entrants into the wool harvesting industry and create a pathway for them to obtain ongoing employment.
This article appeared in the December 2024 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
