Hands-on stockmanship training

With the support of AWI, the Hay Inc Rural Education Program in the Hay district of NSW continues to help young people gain hands-on agricultural skills, wool harvesting training and experience.

The 15 young participants and volunteer trainers at T.A. Field Estates’ ‘Wyvern Station’ at Carrathool which hosted three days of training.

With the support of AWI, the Hay Inc Rural Education Program in the Hay district of NSW continues to help young people gain hands-on agricultural skills, wool harvesting training and experience.

The 15 young participants in the 2022 Hay Inc Rural Education Program came together in June for their third and final training week, which was followed by their graduation at the Hay Merino Sheep Show at which they were presented with their certificates by AWI Director, Michelle Humphries.

The Hay Inc Rural Education Program was launched in 2014 with support from AWI in response to concerns about the decline in the traditional jackaroo/jillaroo system in the western Riverina district of NSW and the associated lack of stockmanship and other essential rural skills being handed down to the younger generation.

Shearing and wool shed management training was run by AWI shearer trainers Brian Sullivan and Mike Pora at Paraway Pastoral’s ‘Steam Plains’ property near Conargo.

“Through the Hay Inc program, young people are now being given the opportunity to learn the practical agricultural skills needed for them to get jobs on rural properties. It focuses on wool and livestock production and takes place in a practical setting in partnership with local woolgrowers,” said Hay Inc program manager Sandra Ireson.

“The program is delivered by trainers who have many years of experience on extensive rural properties, covering topics based around the production calendar for sheep, wool production and cattle.”

Peter McCrabb at his property ‘North Bundy’ assisting with the live lamb assessment training – which was presented by Geoff Duddy of Sheep Solutions along with assistance also from Chris Bowman and AWI’s Stuart Hodgson.

“The 2022 cohort of the program were a great group, very keen to learn as much as they could from the wealth of knowledge that all the trainers delivered over the 15-day program.”
Richard Cannon, Hay Inc Chairperson

Applications for the 2023 training program are now open. Employers can send their employees on the program or other interested young people can apply directly. Applicants can be from anywhere and do not have to be from the Hay district. Scholarships for graduates of the program are also available.

Practical hands-on training

The Hay Inc program is a three-week course, in three blocks of five days’ training, this year in February, March and June.

Topics covered include sheep handling and yard work, shearing and wool shed management, sheep health and nutrition, lamb marking, Merino sheep classing, sheep pregnancy scanning and lamb postmortems. Other topics included working dog training, livestock water maintenance, fence construction and maintenance, farm health and safety, quad bike and motorbike operation and maintenance, natural resource management and plant identification.

2022 program graduates Lachie Nolan and Jaime Balzke at the Hay Merino Sheep Show. Jaime was the winner of the Don McNeil Memorial Youth Merino Sheep Judging. When Jaime started the Hay Inc program in February she was working as a vet nurse in Lithgow, but from her Hay Inc training she has now secured a job as a livestock jillaroo at Egelabra Merino Stud at Warren. PHOTO: Mads Porter Photography

AWI has supported the Hay Inc program each year since its inception and will be supporting the 2023 program. The application form for those aged 18 to 25 years is available on the Hay Inc website.

“Our funding in programs like this aims to help improve the engagement of young people interested in the wool industry, thereby developing and retaining the skills the wool industry needs to be innovative in response to new challenges,” said AWI CEO John Roberts.

More information: www.hayinc.com.au