HIGH school agricultural studies opened new doors for Lisa McLerie and she wants to use them to do research on improving meat quality and bring more of her contemporaries into the animal science workforce.
The 20-year-old didn't have the traditional farming upbringing, but found she loved agriculture during her studies at Kelmscott Senior High School in Perth.
"I didn't grow up around the industry, but I always had an interest in horses," she said.
"Kelmscott Senior High School had a agriculture course which really sparked my interest.
"We learnt how to show cattle, learnt a lot about cattle and studied artificial insemination in Years 11 and 12."
Lisa is in her third and final year at Murdoch University where she is undertaking a double major in animal science and animal health.
She plans to continue her studies and has also taken a role encouraging more undergraduates to complete the animal science course.
"I want to do an honours project to help contribute to industry through research," she said.
"I am really interested in meat science, meat quality and how stress can affect meat quality - I think it is really important.
"I really want to do more research to improve the factors on how to get the best meat quality every time and get it right.
"I want to research and look in-depth at those factors and pursue that."
Lisa said studying animal production at school opened her eyes to career opportunities in agriculture.
"I think they need to offer more agricultural subjects in schools, because no one knows how much effort goes into preparing food, especially meat," she said.
"It makes it harder for young people if there is limited education about the possibilities.
"Young people don't know there are exciting jobs out there."
Lisa believes industry demand is growing for young people, as the global demand for food increases.
"There is going to be a huge demand in agriculture and we are going to need a range of people with a range of skills," she said.
"Food production is a huge part of society, it just doesn't get the recognition it deserves and that comes down to education.
"I think people are becoming more aware, but sometimes it's not the correct information.
"I'd like to see the general public get more aware, have agricultural studies implemented in schools, so people have an idea of how it works."
Lisa is helping retain and attract young people in animal science courses, which are often seen as pathways into veterinary or medical careers.
"It is hard to retain students in animal science for the full degree,'' she said.
"In my first year, there were about 300 students and there are only 40 left in our last year, and from that pool a lot of people still want to continue on into vet or human medicine."
As a way of combating the issue and trying to attract and retain animal science students, Lisa and a group of her peers formed the Murdoch Animal Science Student Association.
"We run events and tour facilities, such as local feedlots and abattoirs, have social events and host guest speakers,'' she said.
"We run these events to get students involved and let them know animal science is a really cool career, has a lot of opportunities and that vet science isn't the only option.
"I am always asked what opportunities are available for animal science grads, but to be honest the opportunities are endless.
"You can be anything from a feed nutritionists, designing feed rations, work in the meat industry, meat grading, judging carcases, looking at soils, a researcher, meat science specialists at processing and abattoir facilities and so much more.
"It is hard to pin point one job description, because you could do anything."
Lisa is embarking on a new challenge, taking on about 130 university students in the annual meat judging competition at Wagga Wagga, in NSW.
Lisa and nine other Murdoch students have teamed up and will compete in the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association competition in July.
"I was really interested in joining the Murdoch team because I want to learn more skills and meet new people in the industry," she said.
"We do more than six hours a week, have lectures and visit processors in WA to practise our judging skills, so it's like doing a full university unit.
"We have been to a few other abattoirs, watched the whole process and judged a few carcases for practice, which was an amazing experience.
"Sometimes I wonder how other people would react being in that environment, but I love the learning about the industry."
Lisa said she was looking forward to meeting producers and farmers and visiting some abattoirs in NSW.
"It's great that the industry has sponsored us and made this opportunity possible for us young undergraduates to have these experiences and expose us to the industry," she said.
"That's what I love about agriculture, everyone, no matter what level of expertise, is so welcoming and willing to give advice.
"Everyone wants to help young people.
"It is just a shame that more young people, who don't have a farming background like me, don't have the knowledge that there are opportunities like this available."
