WHETHER it be a tour of renowned farm machinery manufacturer Goldacres or a visit to one of the most unusual origins of authentic Japanese-style noodles, Hakubuku Noodles, young people heading to this year's Innovation Generation (IG) event, to be held next week in Ballarat, have a wide array of chances to learn.
Innovation Generation, hosted by grains representative body Grain Growers, is billed as the flagship event for people in Aussie agriculture under 35.
Along with the tours, the Grain Growers team have attracted a strong array of speakers for the conference, including winter Olympic gold medallist Steve Bradbury and National Farmers Federation (NFF) chief executive Tony Mahar.
Hot topics for discussion include sustainability in agriculture, maximum residue limits and social leadership.
Organisers for the event say it is selling out fast, with over 170 registrations from all states and territories, barring the NT, so far.
But the event is more than just the presentations and site tours, fascinating though they may be.
The networking and chances to meet passionate people from the ag sector from across the country is also a highlight for many, and there is a strong social program put together, including dinners on both nights, one at Ballarat icon Forge Pizzeria.
The site tours are also regarded as one of the must attend aspects of the conference.
At its Mitchell Park, north of Ballarat City, premises, Goldacres makes a wide range of spray equipment and is sure to keep the machinery and tech junkies interested.
Those interested in the journey from paddock to bottle will be keen to visit House of Malt, a small batch Malthouse catering to the craft brewing and whisky industries.
House of Malt runs a small malthouse (500kg batches), with separate steeping, germination, and kilning vessels, filling a gap in the market for those interested in smaller parcels of malt.
Hakubaku Noodles is a household name in Japan, but set up a facility in the unlikely location of Victoria's chilly Central Highlands in order to have access to premium organic Australia wheat, ideally suited for Japanese noodles.
While organic wheat is only produced on a small scale in Australia, central Victoria is one of the major production zones, making Ballarat a good spot for a factory.