Opportunity for young Riverina rice growers

Published: 10th August 2012

RDA Riverina (New South Wales) sent three young people from its community to the Ricegrowers Association of Australia Annual Conference in Hay New South Wales.

RDA Riverina is a strong advocate for youth participation in the agricultural sector and sought expressions of interest from young people in the community to develop and strengthen their agricultural knowledge base at the national conference on Thursday 9 August 2012.

RDA Riverina paid the cost of the conference, accommodation and meals, and a post conference tour of the Hay area (500km radius) to observe integrated farming practices. The initiative was a partnership with the Ricegrowers Association of Australia, Australian, State and local Governments.

Interested applicants were required to submit an expression of interest with the requirements to be aged between 18 and 30, have a passion for agriculture and currently be employed in the agricultural industry and/or studying at a registered tertiary institution in an agriculture related course.

The three successful applicants were:

• Nicholas Atkinson is studying a Bachelor of Agriculture Science Honours at La Trobe University in Melbourne and works on his family farm in the holidays. Nicholas is currently doing a thesis on the water market.
• Rachel Kelly is a Policy Officer at the National Irrigators Council. Rachel also has a Degree in commerce/law.
• Antony Vagg has two agricultural science degrees and has been working on his own farm for two and a half years.

For more information about 2012 Annual Conference, visit the Ricegrowers Association of Australia website.

For more information, visit the RDA Riverina website.

Rachel Kelly, one of the young people chosen to attend the Ricegrowers Association of Australia Annual Conference in Hay NSW on Thursday 9 August 2012