LOCAL students have embraced the opportunity to immerse themselves in an agricultural careers\u00a0 program at Longerenong College, delivered by Ararat Rotary Club in conjunction with other western district Rotary Clubs.<\/p>\n
Louise Cooper and Nathan Start from Marian College and Brydy Atkinson of Lake Bolac College were among the participants.<\/p>\n
The three-day residential program, known as Defying the Drift, is designed to empower young people to identify and explore agriculture and agribusiness career opportunities, build communication skills and develop career networks.<\/p>\n
Local Rotary Clubs sponsor and deliver the Defying the Drift program in their efforts to promote agricultural and agri-based careers to potential students.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t like to see kids drifting off to the cities when there are plenty of opportunities in agriculture and ag related industries in our regions\u201d said Peter Oddie, Ararat Rotary Club member and organiser.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefying the Drift is aimed at year 10 and 11 students and promotes the benefits of high paying professional, entrepreneurial and trade careers in agriculture that young people need to know about in order to choose their educational pathways,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 2021 program went exceptionally well with 28 participants enjoying the course,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s workshops and farm visits included Rethus broadacre and export hay farm at Noradjuha, Western Ag Horsham, Glenera Pastoral mixed cropping and livestock, Australian Flower Farm at Laharum and Grampians Olive Company.<\/p>\n
Louise Cooper from Barton Station at Moyston said she had loved the experience to participate in Defying the Drift.<\/p>\n
\u201cI especially enjoyed listening to Tim Rethus from Rethus broad acre farming talk about all of the technology used in cropping and how he uses all of his relationships with people in the agriculture industry to help build his business. I am looking forward to speaking to the Rotary club in the new year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Brydy Atkinson of Lake Bolac praised the program for giving her more ideas about the options available in agricultural careers.<\/p>\n
Brydy is part way through a Certificate 2 in Agriculture as part of her VET (vocational education and training) school studies.\u00a0 She plans to enrol at RIST (Rural Industries Skill Training centre) at Hamilton in 2022 to complete the certificate and continue to obtain further qualifications, whilst studying her VCE.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best things about the Defying the Drift program were meeting new people, getting outside and hands-on visits to real farms. I would encourage others to do it,\u201d Brydy said.<\/p>\n
Following the course there is a presentation by each participant at their local Rotary Club which is a great chance to meet community leaders and describe their experience. In the new year, Ararat Rotary will invite the students to a meeting to complete this evaluation.<\/p>\n
Since its inception in 2010 Defying the Drift has helped young people discover pathways through further education and work experience to great careers in agriculture.<\/p>\n
A Certificate of Participation is awarded to each student who completes the program.<\/p>\n
For more information look up www.defyingthedrift.org<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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