The Australian Beef Industry Foundation is a Proud Supporter of the initiative.

Activities and events across the country will remind everyone, from those in our most remote areas to those in our biggest cities, of the crucial role of farming in Australia.

Agriculture has always made a significant contribution to Australia’s economy and prosperity and the Year of the Farmer will make sure every Australian learns more about this vital industry.

You can learn more about the 2012 Australian Year of the Farmer by visiting this link http://www.yearofthefarmer.com.au/

The all-party parliamentary committee is chaired by David Southwick MP, Member for Caulfield, and consists of members representing metropolitan and regional/ rural electorates.

The ABIF submission concentrated on the urgent need to enhance the perception of agriculture in Australia as a career for young people, and it argued that there is a gap in the education system for agriculture. Primarily, that students leave tertiary agricultural institutions with little or no work experience in the industry and this has negative implications for the success of agriculture as a career option.

The submission highlighted Marcus Oldham College in Geelong as the exception to the paucity of work experience for students.

ABIF further asserted that there is a need to incorporate the study of agriculture into primary and secondary curriculums to encourage school leavers to pursue agriculture as a career. By integrating agriculture into subjects at the primary and secondary levels, students will be better informed about the role of agriculture and perhaps be more inclined to consider this as a rewarding career path.

The committee was briefed on the role of ABIF, and on the programs being provided by the foundation.

Important issues promoted by the committee included canvassing how career information was disseminated to students, the effect of skill shortages on the beef industry and how best to promote agriculture and careers in agriculture.

The committee was reminded that the beef industry is not just about cattle. The sector’s industry category is ‘food’, and therefore covers a diverse and complex range of career opportunities. The many different opportunities cover everything from research and development to soils, agronomy, genetics, animal welfare and wellbeing, food science and marketing to identify a small component of the potential career opportunities.

In addition to presenting to the Victorian Parliament inquiry ABIF has also made a submission to the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee inquiry into all aspects of higher education and skills training to support future demand in agriculture and agribusiness in Australia.

The funds will be used specifically to reach greater numbers of “at risk” youth in Armidale and across regional areas. This will be done by employing current part-time youth worker trainees on full-time wages and by employing a full-time work crew supervisor.

The major strength of the initiative is that the youth worker trainees are young men who have progressed through the BackTrack programs and undertaken formal training in youth work. In 2012 they will commence a Certificate IV in Youthwork through Armidale TAFE. Their role within the BackTrack program is integral to the successful outcomes being achieved by the younger participants.

Along with the Youth worker trainees, a Work Crew supervisor, will be employed to be the driving force behind Backtrack’s emerging rural contracting outlet for its’ participants called AgLads. The AgLads work crews will be undertaking rural contract work in Armidale and the greater Armidale area.

Thirteen BackTrack participants are set to complete a Certificate II in Rural Operations in 2011 and these young men will form the base of the work crews.

Growing the capacity to generate income for the programs is essential to their long-term viability and BackTrack’s ability to reach new communities. The funding from the Thyne Reid Foundation has certainly boosted the staffing capacity to achieve these outcomes.

The funds will be auspiced by the Australian Beef Industry Foundation (ABIF), a strong supporter of BackTrack’s community work and role in providing careers in the beef industry.

ABIF is funding a scholarship, sponsored by Rural Press, to send two participants in the BackTrack program to the Rural Leadership Program at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong, Victoria.

BackTrack participants
Back L to R: Dan Perkins, Christopher Cox, Adrian Woolnough,
Middle L to R: Michael Moran, Stephanous Olsen, Nathan Bliss, Tyron Campbell, Bernie Shakeshaft (program manager) Jonathon Brown, Marcus Potter, Joel Griffiths
Front: Fred Campbell

To read more of the Cattle Council press release, please click here

Their biographies and photographs can be viewed here

When the 2011 winner hands over her crown to the next Rising Champion at Meat and Livestock Australia’s (MLA) AGM in Longreach, Queensland, on November 17, she will do so with no regrets, having pushed her educational experience to the limits.

For further information on Alison’s outstanding achievement, please click here

These additional directors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the ABIF board and will enhance its ability to deliver on the Australian Beef Industry Foundation’s mission to be recognised as the best provider of pathways to beef industry careers through scholarships and other programs.

The new directors bringing their skills and experience to the board are:

• Laura Cutajar is a meat processing graduate undertaking the grad program through the MLA and is currently working with Teys Australia at Biloela, central Queensland.
• Alison McIntosh is the Cattle Council’s inaugural Rising Beef Industry Champion and has a successful farm support business in Crookwell, NSW. Alison has visited the USA as part of the benefits of winning the award and is now participating in the Australian Rural Leadership Program.
• Renata Paliskis is a beef producer and agribusiness identity with various successful roles in the meat industry in Western Australia.
• Nick Sher from Sher Wagyu is a successful supply chain producer of Wagyu beef and owns a herd of 7,000 cattle to maintain the high standards of beef supplied by his company Beefcorp to local and international customers.
• Ben Stockwin has a passion for delivering rural industries-enriched curricula to primary and secondary school students. He is executive manager of the Primary Industries Education Foundation based in Canberra.

ABIF is particularly pleased to be able to develop a presence in WA through Renata Paliskis, and the board has developed a network in Queensland via Laura Cutajar to be able to provide education opportunities and fundraising in that important beef production state.

In addition to its international scholarships associated with Angus Australia, ABIF is developing scholarships for 18 to 30 year-olds to leadership courses at Marcus Oldham, Geelong and Lincoln College, Christchurch and is currently fundraising and negotiating sponsorships for these and other activities.

Further information about all the ABIF directors is in the About / Our People section of this website.

Industry leaders are seeking ways to answer its challenge. The Australian Beef Industry Foundation (ABIF) is actively working to inspire beef industry careers by raising funds and providing tertiary education and industry experience to equip young people in the 18 to 30 year age group with knowledge for careers across the entire beef supply chain.

ABIF fully endorses the comments made in the AFR article “Many past recipients of our overseas scholarships comment that winning this scholarship was a life-changing experience and deepened their commitment to work within the industry. They also said they built up networks of contacts with the knowledge and experience to assist their later needs as they progress through realising their passion” the deputy chairman of ABIF, Mr John Gunthorpe said.

“Research shows that 40% of careers are determined in primary school. When asked about people who work in agriculture, most primary school students could only respond with “farmers”. The Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF) is addressing this concern and is developing programmes to inform and broaden primary and secondary schools appreciation of our nation’s rural industries. Their executive manager, Ben Stockwin, recently joined the ABIF board and he will increase our understanding in this important area of work.” Mr Gunthorpe said.

Of particular concern is the shortage of agronomists, “The beef industry relies on growing good pasture, and therefore depends on agronomic advice to determine best practices. The reported shortage of agronomists has significant impact. Soil health and mineral management are important aspects of managing a beef property today. The ability for producers to acquire high quality agronomic advice is an immediate and urgent problem.”

“PIEF provides opportunities in agricultural education for primary and secondary students and ABIF dovetails with their work by providing opportunities in the tertiary sector, including work experience” Mr Gunthorpe said.

In the process of nurturing students through their move from formal education to successful career, mentoring is a clear need and ABIF is developing a team of contacts across the beef industry where students can seek support and guidance. Meat and Livestock Australia run a 3-year Graduate Programme to lift their aspirations and provide out of work projects where members can broaden their experience with activities they would not otherwise encounter.

Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) runs the “Rising Champions Award” to find those interested in agriculture who will become the leaders of tomorrow and to recognise the great work of the young in building the country’s beef supply chain.

Alison McIntosh, another recently appointed director of ABIF, is a past national winner of this CCA award.

Mr Gunthorpe concluded, “That while our work is never ending, it is restricted by our foundation’s ability to raise money for this charitable work. The Australian Beef Industry Foundation Education Fund is accredited by the ATO to be a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) fund and its board of trustees consists of highly experienced industry leaders including Professor Bob Officer and Rabobank Chairman Mr Bill Gurry AO.

Donations received into this fund are tax deductible by the donor. “We would encourage as many as possible to donate to our fund so this critically important work can continue.”

Click here to read the full article

The students were from earthquake and tsunami affected prefectures and their visit was part of the excellent work MLA has been doing under their Together with Japan initiative in assisting with recovery in these very badly affected areas that will take many years to recover.

The group was accompanied by Melanie Brock, MLA regional manager, Japan and Miho Kondo, MLA manager Japan Trade Services and included Mr Choetsu Kikuchi, a Wagyu breeder with approximately 130 cattle in Iwate prefecture. He has experienced enormous challenges since the March disaster, as the radioactive contamination totally disrupted the livelihood of the Tohoku livestock industry as well as the entire agriculture production in the region. As a Japanese farmer who has concerns about Japan’s food self sufficiency, he wanted to gain firsthand experience of Australian cattle production.

The students were: -

(Mr) Tatsuya Oosato (Tono Ryokuho High School, Iwate Prefecture) who is studying livestock production.  His school was used as one of search and rescue operation centres after March 11. He is chairman of the Agriculture Club at school, and wanted to study Australian cattle management.

(Ms) Yuko Furuki and (Ms) Mao Kudo both from Miyagi Agricultural High School, Miyagi Prefecture, where they are studying animal husbandry and dairy farming. The school was severely damaged in the earthquake and tsunami, and lost most of its heard of Holstein-Friesian cows. The students have been temporarily housed within the nearby National Agriculture Research Institute.

(Ms) Aki Kobayashi (Soma Agricultural High School, Fukushima Prefecture) is studying livestock production. The nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant forced the Soma Agricultural High school to close down and the school is yet to resume cattle farming classes.

(Ms) Nao Watanabe (Kawamata High School, Fukushima Prefecture) is from Iitate-mura, the village where the entire community was evacuated as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident and subsequent evacuation order by the Japanese government. The village was famous for its highly praised Iitate Wagyu beef, however, cattle production has completely ceased due to the nuclear contamination.

The objective of the Together with Japan programme is to provide ongoing support to Japanese cattle farmers in the Tohoku region who have been severely affected by the triple-disaster.

Many farmers in the Tohoku area lost family members and property. In addition to this, radioactive contamination (as a result of the nuclear accident in the Fukushima plant) threatens their livelihood.

The group was in Australia for five days during which they visited Daylesford, Victoria, where Brian Mobbs’ family at High Spa Angus entertained them with an Australian BBQ and a tour of the farm.

A visit the Queen Victoria Market to inspect fresh agricultural produce rounded off their tour.

They visited the Royal Melbourne Show where the students met their Australian counterparts at the School Steers & Heifers judging competition. They then travelled with some Australian Wagyu Association members to Blackmore Wagyu farm at Alexandra.

Pictured is the visiting group at High Spa Angus, Daylesford, meeting students at the Royal Melbourne Show and being introduced to the crowd at the Royal Melbourne Show.

When Terry Nolan of Nolans Meats, Gympie bid $4.60/kg for the Australian Beef Industry Foundation (ABIF) Charity Steer at the recent EKKA in Brisbane for the Brekky Creek Hotel, they weren’t just getting the finest steak; they were also helping to kick start inspiring beef industry careers. ABIF’s objective is to fill the missing gaps by supporting the 18 to 30-year olds whose interest is in agriculture.

Despite a looming world shortage of protein, the beef industry is in suffering from an exodus of young people away from agriculture to the already overcrowded cities. The charter of ABIF is to “inspire beef industry careers” via educational scholarships, to provide leadership, opportunities and a bright future for Australia’s beef industry which encompasses most forms of agriculture.

The steer was very kindly donated by the Milner family of the successful Rosedale Charolais stud from Blayney in NSW where the emphasis for many years has been on high performance polled Charolais. The steer (named “Rosedale” in honour of his breeders) was prepared expertly by the Calrossy School in Tamworth and fed by Western Animal Nutrition.

In a competitive class of 30 steers “Rosedale” came eleventh, but the greater story was his ability to raise awareness of ABIF’s mission to support and provide opportunities for young people in the beef industry.