VICTORIA’S Young Agribusiness Professionals, the youth group of the Victorian Farmers Federation, is looking for dedicated young people working in agriculture to help shape the group’s policy direction for the next year.

Nominations have opened for people wanting to serve on the group’s executive for a twelve-month term.

YAPs co-ordinator Hannah Lewis said the experience would give successful applicants an opportunity to develop their policy, management and leadership skills.

“We’re looking for people who are passionate about developing policies that will help advance our agricultural industries, and are keen to help us build strong social and professional networks.

“Victoria is Australia’s largest producer of food and fibre exports, and it is vital that the YAPs group finds representatives who are able to channel their enthusiasm in a way that promotes our state as a national leader in agriculture,” Ms Lewis said.

“Youth are the future of agriculture, and it’s important that they are retained in agribusiness, educated and trained appropriately, and stay engaged in the government policies that affect them.”

The YAPs Committee forms one of the seven policy committees within the Victorian Farmers Federation that advises the Policy Council. The Committee is made up of a chair, a vice-chair and six members and currently focuses on issues affecting young primary producers and agribusiness professionals.

These issues include:

• Young farmer financial literacy and access to capital;
• Alternative farm investment models;
• Supporting on-farm resilience; and
• Climate-smart agriculture.

To be considered for a YAPs committee position you must between 18 and 35 years-old and a financial member of the VFF, either as a YAPs member or as a member of your relevant commodity.

Nomination forms are available on the VFF website and must be returned, along with your current CV, via email to [email protected].

Source: VFF.