THE sheep industry is this year celebrating the skills and ambitions of the next generation, with the 2015 Sheep CRC calendar featuring ‘young, smart and ready’ producers and researchers.

The calendar was mailed out around Australia before Christmas, with each month featuring a photo and quote from an up-and-coming young industry stakeholder, while the Sheep CRC website is featuring a longer story about the careers of each person featured in the calendar.

Sheep CRC chief executive James Rowe said the calendar and case studies were just the start of a new initiative focussing on the industry’s next generation, with plans being prepared to further develop a network of young sheep industry professionals, including producers, researchers and service providers.

The Sheep CRC’s calendar features Jamie Heinrich, who has returned to his family’s Ella Matta White Suffolk and Poll Merino Stud in South Australia, after three years working for Thomas Foods International.

“The Sheep CRC already supports a number of activities for young industry participants, including sponsoring more than a dozen post-graduate students conducting research focussed on improving the productivity of the industry,” Prof Rowe said.

“Over the year ahead we hope to take our engagement with young industry leaders to the next level and assist with professional development and networking among this important group.”

The Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC) is a collaboration of industry and government with the aim of increasing the productivity and profitability of the industry through the utilisation of new technologies in both the meat and wool supply chains.

The calendar’s January feature is Jamie Heinrich, who has returned to his family’s Ella Matta White Suffolk and Poll Merino Stud in South Australia, after three years working for Thomas Foods International.

In his new role he is heavily involved in data collection and management, bringing a new set of skills to the operation.

“From a sheep genetics perspective, it’s an extremely exciting time for me to come back on to the land,” Mr Heinrich said.

“With improvements being made every day to genomics and embryo transfer technology, there are certainly big opportunities going forward for young sheep producers.”

• For more information, see the ‘Young, Smart and Ready’ button under the ‘Highlights’ tab on the Sheep CRC homepage – click here to access.

Source: Sheep CRC.