TWO WA graingrowers were among nine young grain growers who graduated from the 2016 Australian Grain Farm Leaders Program (AGFLP) at a special dinner in Albury, New South Wales, last week.
Wubin grain grower Boyd Carter and Lewis Johnstone from Williams took part in the six-month program which provides young farmers the chance to develop their leadership skills and knowledge and to pursue an on-farm project of their choice.
An initiative of GrainGrowers, the AGFLP program is now in its seventh year.
Other participants from this year included Tim Paschke and Simon Karoonda from South Australia, Cameron Parker, Tom Hewitt and Jim Wakefield from Victoria, Luke Bradley from Queensland and Michael Nichols from Tasmania.
The group showcased its chosen projects at GrainGrowers' Innovation Generation conference held in Perth in July.
As part of his project Mr Carter has established a leadership pathway by working with local farming systems group, the Liebe Group.
He is also working on establishing a core group of forward-thinking farmers to investigate information technology from other sectors, such as mining, and to share learnings with farmers to enhance the grains industry.
Mr Carter said the program had provided him with broader industry knowledge and helped refine his leadership skills.
He said the skills from the course were also having a good influence on the 12,000 hectares that he farms with father Keith.
"As well as my project, the skills I have learnt are also leading to better management on our farm in regards to our employees, which means long term my dad and I can spend time away from the farm without it having an impact," he said.
"We can then spend more time looking at ways of increasing productivity."
Mr Johnstone is investigating expansion opportunities for his business.
He is working on an 'investor ready' strategy to present to possible investors and trialled this recently on a trade trip to China.
"I am looking at alternative ways of expanding the business without having to constantly rely on banks to provide finance," he said.
"Rather than having to go into more debt to grow the business and competing with other interests outside of agriculture to purchase land, I am looking at collaborating with them.
"It works both ways - they have the capital that I need, but I have the farming knowledge."
Mr Johnstone said the program had developed his leadership and communication skills to build a better profile and promote himself and his business to others.
He is also working with a mentor through Rabobank.
"Leadership doesn't come naturally to me, but it is important to develop these skills - the course and discussions with other people in the industry highlighted how short we are on up and coming leaders in agriculture and society in general," he said.
"The farm tours were a highlight for me - it was great spending time with other farmers from different backgrounds and how they got into farming and hear their successes and trip-ups along the way," he said.
GrainGrowers industry development manager Michael Southan said the program was as much about connecting like-minded individuals as it was about project development.
"Throughout the year the group gets to know each other and it's satisfying to see those sharing ideas and experiences and connecting outside the official requirements of the program."
Mr Southan said the program was a part of the organisation's objective to build capability across the grains industry.
"GrainGrowers is committed to growing and supporting the future of grain farm leaders in the Australian grains industry."
"Our investment in this program not only contributes to the personal and professional development of young farmers and emerging leaders, the benefits extend to their enterprise, their community and to our industry as a whole."
He said the program continuously acted as a stepping-stone for further development and leadership opportunities.
"Past graduates have gone on to, for example, hold roles on the GRDC grower panels, executive positions on State farming organisations as well as to contribute to GrainGrowers National Policy Group," Mr Southan said.
p Applications are now open for the 2017 Australian Grain Farmer Leaders Program. Visit www.graingrowers.com.au
