By Russell Bennett
James and Will Barton, Liam Mulcahy, Chantelle Petrie, and Georgie Spencer are proud to learn. In fact, they feel privileged to be able to do so.
They want nothing more than to glean as much information and knowledge from their elders as possible in their relentless quests to become better young farmers.
Beef cattle farming and showing is an industry that’s all about rolling up the sleeves and getting to work. There’s only so much that can be read in the pages of a book, and these five brilliant young people are part of a group at Gippsland Beef Agricultural Education Inc learning the skills and tools they need to carry with them as farmers well into the future.
Based in Woolamai – but taking in participants from all over north, central, west, and south Gippsland, the Mornington Peninsula, and even as far as Colac – Gippsland Beef Agricultural Education Inc is a non-profit facilitator group committed to enhancing the opportunity for the young people to further develop their potential in all facets of agriculture – providing seminars, demonstrations, field days, training camps, and mentoring schemes.
It achieves this by utilising industry professionals committed to providing their time, skills and knowledge for the benefit of the young people and local agriculture moving forward.
It is also available should schools and breed societies wish to organise similar activities.
The program is guided by Lesley Gilchrist, who wants nothing more than to see the next generation of cattle farming in strong and capable hands.
And in the young people involved in the program, she has exactly that.
For three days every April, the Gippsland Beef Agricultural Education converges on the Woolamai Racecourse for an intensive camp.
Three of the topics traditionally covered there, and in the program, are animal structure, animal health and nutrition, and pasture.
Ever wondered how to pick the right animal, not only for showing but also to breed? Structure is where it all starts from, and these courses identify the points to look for on an animal before it’s bought. This is a must for all wanting to buy, show, or breed cattle.
Once the animals have been selected, keeping them in prime condition is essential. In animal health and nutrition seminars, breeders and finishers are made familiar with the minimum health care an animal requires, and can learn how to utilise feed to maximise growth and muscle.
“This just gives all the young people an interest in doing so many different things,” Lesley said.
“We’ve been around for about 12 years now.
“The young people needed something to do, and they needed a chance to get into agriculture. If they don’t know anybody, they can’t.”
Backed by the Victorian Farmers Federation, that’s what makes the program so vital. It’s more than a foot in the door – it’s learning the skills and information to move forward with.
James and his younger brother Will are both involved.
“For me, it just brings me back to basics,” James said.
“You go back through your basics because if you don’t know them, when you get higher up, you’re not going to be able to do it. I’ve done more and shown more than some of the other people involved, so I’ve built on my skills, but when you come back you can always fix those bad habits.”
Liam, another dedicated youngster, loves the learning aspect of the program and its camp – having industry experts devote their time to help the next generation rising through.
“I think it’s really important that the younger generations learn where their food comes from, and the amount of work that goes into creating all of that as well,” Chantelle added.
“I got into it quite young – I love the breed of cattle I’ve got now, the Braunvieh.
“It wasn’t until I was about 13 that my parents knew that I really wanted to get involved, so they got some cattle and Lesley told my dad that I should come down to the camp. I came down with someone else’s heifer and I just fell in love with it all. It just creates such a respect for the industry.”
Now, Chantelle is working on her own stud.
“It’s not a very well-known breed of cattle, so I want to get the name out there and show people that they’re worth it,” she said.
“When you’re starting out, it’s why this camp is such a great opportunity because it’s really hands-on. There’s not such a large amount of people to focus on, so they can really focus on teaching you, and you can get specific help on what you’re trying to learn.”
Will agreed.
“They get to know you personally, not just as one of the hundred-odd other kids going to the big camps,” he said.
“They get to know you individually, so what you’re doing wrong, and what you’re doing right.”
But, most importantly, the program and its camp provides participants with the farming knowledge so many of their peers simply don’t have.
“A lot of people will be sitting at home, and it’s a bit wet and cold outside, so they stay inside and rugged up,” James said.
“When I got involved here – you don’t have a choice. Cattle need feeding. If a fence gets knocked down, you have to fix it. You can’t just sit there complaining about how cold it is outside.
“There’s a job to do and you have to go and do it. It was a big eye-opener for me. On TV you see a nice cow in a nice paddock that’s always green, and it’s always sunny. “The real world doesn’t work like that. If something can go wrong, it will – that’s basically what we live by.”
Will said some of his school friends would often complain about having to get out of bed at ten past eight in the morning.
“It’s not that bad really, is it?” he said with a laugh.
“As far as they’re concerned, meat comes from the supermarket. It just magically appears in a packet, butchered, and ready on the shelf. There’s no prior preparation or hard work before that. Someone just magically whips it up and it’s on the shelf.”
James, Will, Chantelle, Liam, and Georgie take pride in their work ethic – a key ingredient of what will clearly be their future success.
“We’ve got to be mad to do what we do, but we do it and we love it,” James said.
The Gippsland Beef Agricultural Education Inc would like to thank Peter and Vanessa from the Pinnaroo Hills Simmental Stud for their support.
Koo Wee Rup Stock Feeds, Pakenham Produce and Saddlery, and a whole host of dedicated individuals have donated their time, expertise, animals, hay and various items for a fund-raising auction to ensure the Gippsland Beef Agricultural Education camp and program could go ahead.
