SOILS researcher Wes Lefroy is the new president of AgConnectWA, the young farmers' arm of WAFarmers.
The 25-year-old has a science degree in agricultural economics with honours and was a finalist in the Platinum Producers Group for this year's Zanda McDonald award recognising leadership in agriculture across Australia and New Zealand.
Raised on a mixed cropping and sheep property east of Moora, Mr Lefroy works across the Wheatbelt as technical manager for Precision SoilTech, including managing research projects and field trials.
He was elected unopposed at AgConnectWA's first annual general meeting held at the Innovation Generation conference in Scarborough last week.
He takes over from Kallum Blake who has served two terms as president with AgConnect while it was a WAFarmers committee.
Under a constitutional change the group has become a stand-alone entity associated with WAFarmers.
Mr Lefroy was previously AgConnectWA secretary.
WAFarmers executive officer Maddison McNeil, 22, Kellerberrin, was elected vice president and Bailiwick Legal solicitor Mari Takla, 27, Perth, was elected secretary.
Eight nominations were received for the five general committee member positions with Lachlan Hunter and Callum Wesley returned and Hayley Goad, Henry Gratte and Georgia Reid elected for the first time.
Mr Lefroy acknowledged the dedication of former president Mr Blake and former vice president Katie Pole, saying their drive and determination to expand upon existing opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector over the past few years had developed AgConnectWA into a highly respected organisation.
"I'm really keen to build on what they've done and ramp this up to achieve big things on the next 12 months," Mr Lefroy said.
The annual meeting was told membership of AgConnectWA was approaching 500 and its finances were in "fantastic" shape.