SOUTH Australian first cross ewe breeder Jeremy Schutz is keen to work on breaking the city country divide after winning the 2016 Rural Ambassador Awards national final in Launceston this week.
The 24-year-old Mallee sheep producer from Pinnaroo won the award ahead of runner-up Charles Mills from New South Wales at the Federal Council of Agricultural Societies national championships at the Royal Launceston Show.
Jeremy said his aim was to promote country shows, and youth in agriculture and country areas.
“Agriculture is a wide range of things, it is not just farming – you can be a banker, a lawyer, anything.
“My view is to try to break the city-country divide, so people from the city can understand what we are doing and realise that it’s a lot of fun and that there are opportunities for anybody to be involved in agriculture,” he said.
“We are the next generation.”
Jeremy manages family farm’s 5200 arable hectares at Pinnaroo, running about 1200 Springvale blood Merino ewes that are joined to Gracelands Border Leicester rams for first cross ewe production. Some land is leased for cropping. He is also president of the Pinnaroo Agricultural Society and vice president of the South Australian Agricultural Shows Next Generation Group, which aims to bridge any gaps between country and royal shows.
Queensland studmaster wins Merino judging championship
The winner of the National Merino Sheep Championship in Launceston was Lachie Brumpton, 16, from Mitchell in Queensland. He is co-principal of the Jolly Jumbuck Poll Merino Stud.
NSW wins fleece judging
Brooke Sewell, 18, from Mudgee in New South Wales won the National Merino Fleece Championship, with Ella McCarthy, Victoria taking the reserve champion sash and Jesse Morgan from Tasmania in third place.
NSW also wins in meat sheep
The National Meat Sheep Judging Championship winner was Emma Jane Lovell, 20, from Dubbo in NSW, from Victorian Kayla Walker and Kate Worth from Queensland in third place. Emma is an administrator with the Dubbo Show.
Competitions highlight rural youth
The Federal Council of Agricultural Societies (FCAS) National Young Judges Championships and National Rural Ambassador Competition was held at Launceston this week as part of the jurisdiction membership rotation across Australia and New Zealand.
FCAS coordinates seven championships that include, Beef (judging and paraders), Dairy (judging and paraders), sheep judging (Merino and meat breeds) and Merino fleece. FCAS also has the National Rural Ambassador Competition.
Finalists participate in a regional competition and then progress to a state final before competing in the national championships or competition. Each jurisdiction sponsors their competitors and the hosting jurisdiction sponsors the national final activities.
FCAS federal president Bill Trend said the championships provide a unique opportunity for young people across Australia and NZ who have an interest in agriculture and livestock industries to expand their horizons and make a difference for rural youth.
“These competitions highlight the importance of youth in rural Australia and NZ in their involvement with all aspects of the agricultural industry.”
Mr Trend said he was pleased to see such a strong showing of young people, who have competed in the championships and competition.
“They’re our future judges and industry leaders who use networking to promote the agriculture industry,” he said.
With the current competitors, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia are hotly competing for the overall prestige of being the winner of The Keast Shield that is awarded to the jurisdiction obtaining the most points.
Young people between the ages of 15 and 30 who meet the conditions of entry and are interested in exploring these opportunities, contact the FCAS Secretary 02 9879 6777 or [email protected]
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