MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 19 June 2009
Young Farmer Fell
Young farmers wanting to pursue new skills or undertake innovative projects are encouraged to apply for the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia’s Peter Olsen Fellowship for Young Farmers.
Applications are now open for the $8000 fellowship, which provides young people aged 18 to 35 involved in farming with the chance to enhance and develop their on-farm skills.
Agricultural Bureau SA State President, Mark Dennis says the Fellowship is about supporting the state’s next generation of farmers to develop their skills, pursue new ways of farming and boost their industry knowledge.
“We’re looking for innovative and passionate young people who are committed to improving primary production in this state and want to put their skills to good use,” he said.
“At the Bureau we believe it is important that we support our future leaders, and this Fellowship aims to ensure our young generation has the opportunity to learn, develop and up-skill.”
People who are already studying or plan to do so in the future can apply for the Fellowship, or the grant can also be used for courses, study tours or running special projects.
Past winners have used the funding towards advancing a beekeeping business, upgrading production at a boutique winery, investigating precision agriculture and studying artificial insemination.
Last year’s winner, 24-year-old Brook Seal from Kimba used the Peter Olsen Fellowship to trial more than 500 sheep covers on his family’s farming property.
“The award was a real privilege, it’s allowed me to pursue my interests in sheep and wool production and investigate whether sheep covers are a feasible option to help boost wool quality,’ Brook said.
“There’s no way I would have been able to carryout the trials without the Fellowship.”
The Fellowship, sponsored also by PIRSA, is named in memory of Eyre Peninsula farming identity and Agricultural Bureau member Peter Olsen. Mr Olsen and his wife Wendy were among eight people killed when a Whyalla Airlines plane crashed into Spencer Gulf in 2000.
Applications close on 14 September with the winner to be announced at the Spirit of Excellence Awards in Agriculture on 13 October.
Copies of the guidelines and applications forms are available from the Agriculture Bureau SA’s website www.agbureau.com.au or by phoning 1800 652 258 or 8226 0351.
