The Future Farmers Network (FFN) and ABIF are pleased to announce Kirstie Fossett, from Queensland, as the recipient of the 2012 FFN & ABIF Marcus Oldham Scholarship. FFN annually hosts the Young Beef Producers Forum in Roma, Queensland, and in 2011 held a successful auction to raise funds towards providing one recipient the opportunity to complete the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program.
The prestigious leadership program is assists young people by enhancing their personal development and leadership abilities to equip them in taking leadership roles in the agricultural sector. For young people involved in agriculture the course also provides excellent opportunities to network with other future leaders. Kirstie will attend the 2012 Program in June along with four other successful ABIF Marcus Oldham Scholars.
Kirstie is from Barmoya, Queensland and is the Central Queensland Territory Manager for Elanco Animal Health. She is currently Chair of the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland’s (RNA) Future Directions Committee and was educated at Bond University completing degrees in both commerce and sports management and from the University of Queensland a Bachelor of Applied Science (Rural and Regional Management/Animal Production). Kirstie grew up in a rural community where her parents ran a commercial beef enterprise. She is the youngest and the first female chairperson of the RNA Future Directions Committee, as well as the Chief Instructor at the Caves Pony Club and a member of the Regional Instructors Panel in Central Queensland. Her ambition is to gain leadership roles within the community and beef industry.
“The success of the agricultural industry is vitally important to me, not only because I primarily work in the beef industry, but also because of my family’s dependence on the industry, being beef producers,” Kirstie said upon accepting the scholarship.
“I am also very mindful that our industry requires effective youth advocates to increase the momentum and enthusiasm our predecessors have created and I believe that by attending the Rural Leadership Program offered by Marcus Oldham I will be able to develop the skills required for me to fulfil this role.”
The 2012 Marcus Oldham Leadership Program will run from 24th to 29th June, and is an intensive five-day workshop conducted on the college campus at Geelong. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the College running this important program. The course dinner will be the venue for the presentation of the 2012 Merial Howard Yelland Award that recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution to Australia’s beef industry supply chain.
Pictured: FFN and ABIF Marcus Oldham Leadership Program Scholar Kirstie Fossett.
