“I believe that agriculture and business go hand in hand, and believe that this degree will set solid foundations for a successful career in agriculture.”

My name is Andrew Gray and I am studying a Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Business at the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales.

Growing up on a property in the small town of Echunga, in the Adelaide Hills South Australia, I have always had a keen interest for agriculture. This pursuit for a career in agriculture has created valuable guidance and an ability to be involved in many agricultural programs aimed at young people who have an interest for the land.

Two years ago, I began studying at the University of New England in the Northern Tablelands of NSW, located within the regional city of Armidale. While this was a huge move for me geographically, it has broadened my experiences and knowledge of the vast array of agricultural systems we have here in Australia. I believe that agriculture and business go hand in hand, and believe that this degree will set solid foundations for a successful career in agriculture.

My primary interest area lies within agricultural management and especially the intensive production systems that are constantly adapting to new technologies and ways to enhance production, such as the dairy industry. I hope to use this scholarship to explore my interest area in new agricultural technologies are how these can help combat global issues such as global warming and food security.

I am really excited to meet current scholars and the extensive network of AgriFutures Horizon Alumni who are making big waves in Australian agriculture in a diverse range of agricultural industries. I am also excited by the personal and professional development workshops which AgriFutures facilitates and the opportunity to discuss the big issues in agriculture and importantly the role which Australia will play in global food security and sustainability.

“I hope to take advantages of all the opportunities the Horizon Scholarship provides to prepare myself for a career in Agriculture as I grow closer to the end of my degree.”

My name is Angie Molyneaux and I am studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.

My family lived in the centre of Sydney before moving west to a small property outside Griffith NSW when I was eight. Growing up in a very diverse agricultural region caused me to have develop a keen interest in agriculture from a very young age.

I am interested in broadacre agronomy as well as farm business management and consulting. After I finish my degree I would love to complete a Masters in Agricultural Business Management and then move into a career as an Agronomist to assist in improving Australia’s sustainable practices. I hope to take advantages of all the opportunities the Horizon Scholarship provides to prepare myself for a career in Agriculture as I grow closer to the end of my degree.

I am really looking forward to meeting other students who are involved in the program, learning more about the challenges and trends across the agricultural sector and gaining new skills that will enable me to succeed in my career. I am also really looking forward to the person and professional development opportunities and placements that the scholarship provides.

“From the small acre peanut farmer in Vietnam, to cow-calf ranches in Wyoming, to the high-end marketing of merino wool fashion in London, these overseas experiences have provided me with the knowledge of the increasingly complex supply chains in agriculture.”

My name is Anna Horton and I am studying a Bachelor of Agriculture and Resource Economics at the University of New England.

My interest in agriculture started from a young age having grown up on a sheep property. Our farm, located on the southern Monaro, runs a self-replacing merino flock, with prime lambs also entering the mix. I’ve always enjoyed helping out on the farm and the rural lifestyle that comes with it.

As a continuing Horizon Scholar, I am keen to further enhance my global agricultural outlook. Through the financial support and work placement opportunities that Horizon offers I was able to undertake a number of overseas travel experiences. These included a UNE Agribusiness tour to China and Vietnam, work placement with The Woolmark Company in London and a university exchange program in Wyoming, USA.

From the small acre peanut farmer in Vietnam, to cow-calf ranches in Wyoming, to the high-end marketing of merino wool fashion in London, these overseas experiences have provided me with the knowledge of the increasingly complex supply chains in agriculture. Now with a greater focus on market analytics I look forward to building on this foundation through further work placement opportunities.

I’m excited to meet like-minded people who are involved in the program, learn more about the challenges and trends across the agricultural sector and how I can make a positive impact on the future of Australian agriculture.

“I am passionate about agricultural education and the positive outcomes it has for students and their larger community.”

My name is Courtney Bailey and I am studying a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours at the University of Southern Queensland.

I previously completed a Bachelor of Agribusiness and spent a few years in the international trade market before moving to Agricultural education, where I am currently teaching high school Agriculture at a school in Brisbane.

I am passionate about agricultural education and the positive outcomes it has for students and their larger community. I am also interested in positive mental, social and physical impacts of Agricultural education.

I’m excited to meet like-minded people who are involved in the program, learn more about the challenges and trends across the agricultural sector and how I can make a positive impact on the future of Australian agriculture.

I feel so grateful to be welcomed into the program. Not only will it open doors and connect me with industry professionals, but it will allow me to gain valuable experience in the final two years of my degree. I’m also looking forward to meeting other students involved in the program, learning more about the challenges and trends across the agricultural sector and the practical experiences like placements that the program will allow me to have.

“I have realised I am most excited about the potential of people and the future of the Agricultural industry as powered by such a diverse range of individuals from all walks of life in our globalised community.”

My name is Elizabeth Argue and I am studying a double degree in Agriculture and Business, majoring in Marketing at the University of New England.

I grew up on our family beef cattle property on the Mid North Coast of NSW and have since gained more experience working on a cattle property in Central Queensland and in saleyards. I am motivated to broaden my horizons and have a love for travelling to learn more about the world around us and how other cultures live. I am also the Secretary for the UNE Farming Futures committee and am a student ambassador for UNE’s marketing division. From my travels and time in the Armidale university community, I have realised I am most excited about the potential of people and the future of the Agricultural industry as powered by such a diverse range of individuals from all walks of life in our globalised community.

I am only at the start of my journey and there is so much to learn, but my vision includes developing industry transparency, increasing education around agriculture and effectively communicating to consumers what goes on behind the scenes to deliver quality products from paddock to plate. I would love to contribute to developing the sustainability of the industry through these means, in addition to promoting younger generations and especially women into the industry to keep it flourishing long into the future.

I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to meet and network with like-minded passionate individuals and to learn more ways we can work together to develop and contribute to the future of the Australian agricultural industry.

“I have a passion for the Northern Beef Industry and I hope to move into a career where I am actively improving and developing grazing systems and centre pivots once I have graduated.”

My name is Emma Moss and I am studying a Bachelor of Sustainable Agriculture and Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Queensland.

I grew up on my family farm in Pittsworth, Queensland however my interest for livestock grew from the opportunity to travel to the other side of Australia to work on Nerima Station in the Kimberley, Western Australia. I am now working and studying out of Broome.

I have a passion for the Northern Beef Industry and I hope to move into a career where I am actively improving and developing grazing systems and centre pivots once I have graduated. After working on the centre pivots at Pardoo I saw the challenges faced in developing pivots on marginal country, a trend that is slowly starting in northern Western Australia, so the link between soil, plant and animal nutrition is what I want to focus on.

In September 2016 I also started an Instagram page to promote Australian agriculture which has opened many leadership and learning opportunities. It is called “Life On A Station” and now has over 18.8k followers. My Instagram has led to an ABC Invisible Farmer blog, Rural Weekly and other newspaper articles, a Graziher magazine story, the opportunity to be on many panels and a Landline feature in early 2018.

I am lucky enough to have been a Horizon scholar for the first 2 years of my degree and I have loved being a part of a wonderful program. The scholarship has really opened up so many doors that I wouldn’t have otherwise even been able to look through. The networking opportunities have also led me to create many useful international contacts as well as go on some interesting work placements in very remote parts of northern Australia.

“I grew up on a cropping property near Walla Walla, NSW and have always been interested in using technology to improve our farming systems.”

My name is Gilbert Rayner and I am studying a Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering with Honours at the University of New South Wales.

I grew up on a cropping property near Walla Walla, NSW and have always been interested in using technology to improve our farming systems. I had a gap year in 2017 working on farms in the Wimmera and in the USA which helped broaden my perspective, and am now studying in Sydney. I enjoy the outdoors, playing guitar, and getting home to help out on the farm whenever possible.

I am interested in developing and using precision agriculture sensors for broadacre cropping, improving weed control and application processes, and hope to pursue a career in engineering development after completing my degree.

I’m excited to meet other scholars involved in the program, learn more about the challenges and trends across the agricultural sector, improve my professional skills and network with like-minded people. I’m also really looking forward to the placement opportunities the scholarship provides.

It’s very exciting to have been accepted into the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship, not only will it open doors and connect me with industry professionals, but I can be a part of a program that is working to improve the Australian agriculture industry.

“I feel it is very important to take the time to step onto farms and talk to producers to see what’s actually needed- not just developing solutions to problems I think they might have.”

My name is Indiana Rhind and I am studying a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours at the University of Southern Queensland.

I didn’t come from a farming background, rather my interest in agriculture came from doing cattle showing in high school and visiting my family friends small hobby farm. I also had a passion for maths, science, and figuring out how and why things worked (ever since I can remember I had been helping my dad take apart old radios and other electronics, or helping him repair his truck). This lead to others encouraging me to pick Engineering as a career, which sounded amazing to me. When it came time to choose my degree and major, I decided to combine my two passions and study Agricultural Engineering!

All innovation in the agricultural sector is fascinating to me, so it’s hard to just pick one area. If I had to, I would most likely choose aquaculture, as I initially had a love of aquaponics which has spread to a fascination with the sector in general. Overall, I’m really interested in any innovation that is beneficial for the environment, whilst also being affordable, practical and beneficial for producers and hope to go down the research/development path upon completing my degree.

I’m most excited about networking with others in the industry and completing my work placements. I hope to go on to become a researcher upon the completion of my degree, so I feel that networking would be a very important part in achieving my career goals. More so, I’m excited about the work placement so I can learn more about the industry that I will, hopefully, one day be completing research and development for! I feel it is very important to take the time to step onto farms and talk to producers to see what’s actually needed- not just developing solutions to problems I think they might have.

“As I am a returning scholar, I have already had the opportunity to view many different areas of the poultry industry through the program thanks so my sponsor, Australian Eggs.”

My name is James Peacock and I am studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours at the University of Queensland.

I grew up on the Gold Coast in Queensland and developed my passion for agriculture through my mum’s career in environmental science. I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue a future career in agriculture but only realised my passion for the science aspects in high school where I became fascinated with the topics of productivity and sustainability.

As I am a returning scholar, I have already had the opportunity to view many different areas of the poultry industry through the program thanks so my sponsor Australian Eggs. In 2018, I did work experience on two egg farms in Tasmania and recently assisted in conducting a small research project with consulting company ‘Integrity Ag & Environment’ in Highfields, QLD.

The last two years on the program have allowed me to meet a variety of current industry professionals and create long-term friendships with fellow scholars that will become future leaders in Agriculture. I believe this, along with industry experience, has been one of the most valuable takeaways from my time in the program so far. I am very excited to be included as a part of the horizon program for a second time. I really appreciate all of the opportunities that I have been provided with so far at annual workshops, conferences and industry placements.

“I have an interest in the analysis of processes and improvements, including research into new opportunities, methods and technologies to run the operation efficiently.”

My name is Julia Payne and I am studying a Bachelor of Business and Agribusiness at La Trobe University in Mildura.

Since a young age I have been passionate about the agriculture industry, as a whole, and teaching people, particularly children, about where their food has come from. I believe that in order for people to appreciate and understand the food and fibre supply chain and the immense work involved in getting the end product to customers, they must first learn what is involved in the supply chain.

I was born in Renmark, South Australia and spent the first five years of my life living in a very small rural community in Lake Cullulleraine on a vineyard, about 55km West of Mildura, Victoria. From here, my family moved from farm to farm and we managed a large citrus and table grape property, a large corporate walnut plantation and a cherry orchard, which is where I learnt many of my farming skills.

I am interested in Agribusiness and the running of agricultural and horticultural operations. I have an interest in the analysis of processes and improvements, including research into new opportunities, methods and technologies to run the operation efficiently, while keeping up with the pace of growth in this industry.

I am so excited to meet the amazing people that will be on this journey with me. If I have learnt anything from my past leadership and community programs that I have been involved in, the one thing that made all of these experiences so amazing was the people. The connections that I will make throughout this program and the experiences I will gain will also give me the opportunity to widen my network to continue working on my project of teaching people about where their food has come from.

“What predominantly excites me about the Horizon experience is the opportunity to meet and become familiarised with specialists in the fields I am interested in.”

My name is Liam Donaldson and I am studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Queensland.

I grew up working on my family’s mixed grazing/broad acre farm in the North-West New South Wales, a drought affected area. Throughout my life but particularly my gap year, I have worked on gated and channel cotton farms, broad acre farming, in wineries and on mixed grazing operations. Most of my experience has surrounding the development of what one was once conceived as ‘average’ lands, being highly sodic; shallow duplex and nutrient poor soils using specific pasture systems to increase their value, nutrition and yield.

I am interested in perennial based subtropical grazing systems, and the overarching notion of being able to harness the maximum amount of fodder at high proteins given the least amount of input costs and resources, particularly in this current climate. I am also interested in grains and seed research and broad acre farming, and I would love to start a career as an Agricultural Consultant after I complete my studies, as I am interested in working with farmers and agricultural corporations and bodies to maximise production which is fundamental in our ever-growing world population to ensure food security.

What predominantly excites me about the Horizon experience is the opportunity to meet and become familiarised with specialists in the fields I am interested in. In doing so this could potentially create pathways into fields of research that not only interest, but excite me. I am also enthusiastic towards the opportunity to be around other similarly passionate agricultural students, to learn what fascinates them about the sector and what knowledge and ideas they can pass on.

“I’m excited to be involved in agricultural technology, innovation and research in both Northern Australia and international development due to the large capacity for meaningful impact.”

My name is Rebekah Ash and I am studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours at the University of Queensland.

Coming from North Queensland originally, I’ve always had a soft spot for the area returning regularly, despite moving to South East Queensland at a young age. Growing up I was exposed to the agricultural industry and travelled to developing areas of the world with my Dad. As a result, I was always interested in food security and Australia’s role in providing this. However, it wasn’t until my later years in senior school that I decided on a career in agriculture. I knew that for me, I needed to enter a field that deviated away from a desk or office job and could give a variety of applied outdoor work in combination with being in the office. In saying that, I recognised wanting to pursue a career where I had the chance to be involved in something constantly evolving; a field that’s changing, stimulating and innovative.

I have a passion for agriculture with keen interests in contributing to its role of feeding the world with a long-term mindset. More specifically, I’m excited to be involved in agricultural technology, innovation and research in both Northern Australia and international development due to the large capacity for meaningful impact.

Being accepted into such a high calibre program is beyond exciting and gives me determination and hope about what young agricultural enthusiasts can bring to the industry with the right leverage and assistance such as that provided as part of the Horizon Scholarship program. The program also has the potential to further unlock so many gates through networking, internships and collaborative development.

“A really exciting part of all this is being sponsored by Australian Wool Innovation and I am really excited to meet people from this industry to gain real industry experience.”

My name is Samarah Thrift and I am studying a Bachelor of Rural Science at the University of New England.

I have grown up on farms and within the farming industry my whole life, mainly in areas around Tamworth in NSW. I have been involved with Merino sheep this entire time and that is where my passion for animal genetics has blossomed. Whilst my family and I have never owned a farm of our own (I have always lived one through my dad’s work) that has not stopped my family from running our own small merino enterprise.

I have a passion for Animal genetics and nutrition, specifically within the sheep industry. I would love to have a career in either of these areas after I graduate, and would also love to have my own farm and merino stud.

I am so excited to be involved with Agrifutures Horizon Scholarship, and I am most looking forward to meeting new students from many different areas, degrees and walks of life. I am also very excited for the many networking opportunities I will be have the chance to be involved with and to be able to learn so many new things from lots of new and interesting people.

A really exciting part of all this is being sponsored by Australian Wool Innovation and I am really excited to meet people from this industry to gain real industry experience, that will really assist me in setting myself up in my career.

“After I complete my degree I hope to play a role in the agricultural sector and its future direction as we look to combat diseases, climate change and increase yields in crops through science.”

My name is William Hyem and I am studying a Bachelor of Science at the Australian National University.

I was born in Gunnedah and have lived on our family farm at the edge of the Liverpool plains all my life. Our family farm primarily produces beef cattle in conjunction with a cropping enterprise. Being the 5th generation on our family farm it is a deeply ingrained rural lifestyle and upbringing that has fostered my love for agriculture, in particular the science behind it.

My area of interest is plant science, plant genetics and more broadly anything to do with agricultural science. After I complete my degree I hope to play a role in the agricultural sector and its future direction as we look to combat diseases, climate change and increase yields in crops through science.

For someone looking to get involved in the agricultural industry, to be accepted into the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship is an invaluable opportunity to develop skills, be exposed to companies at the forefront of agriculture and be inspired by what agriculture has to offer into the future.

On my Horizon Scholarship journey, I am most looking forward to networking with industry leaders to understand the future direction of Australian agriculture and learn what initiatives and opportunities are underway to keep Australia at the leading edge of agriculture.

I am particularly excited about being sponsored by Grains Research and Development Corporation and the opportunities that this will afford me in understanding how plant science can be applied to the grain industry.