SA LIMOUSIN breeder Jason Schulz received the prestigious 2015 Rabobank Young Beef Ambassador Award at the Qld Country Life and Rabobank Beef Industry Awards Dinner at Beef 2015 on Monday night at Rockhampton, Qld.
The award is an initiative supported by Beef Australia aimed at recognising young, forward-thinking and high-achieving beef producers, providing a scholarship to participate in the prestigious Rabobank Farm Managers Program.
A third-generation beef producer, Mr Schulz said he felt honoured and humbled to accept the award at the national beef industry exposition surrounded by many leaders in the sector.
"It's an exciting time for the Australian beef industry and I would like to arm myself with the skills and knowledge to make the most of the opportunities that come our way – the opportunity to undertake the Rabobank Farm Managers Program as part of this award will invaluable to me," he said.
"Despite my relative youth, I have been managing our farm for 15 years and it has been dry and challenging on many fronts – the current strong beef prices are new territory for me and it's reassuring to see our hard work pay off and see the industry in good shape."
Mr Schulz took on the role when he was still in Year 12 at high school when his father passed away suddenly.
He and his wife Penny successfully established Raven Limousin and Limflex stud in 2008 and run 150 cows and 800 Merino breeding ewes on their 840-hectare farm at Field, near Meningie, along with Mr Schulz's mother Joanne.
He is chairman of Limousin SA and a Limousin Australia board member and a former state chairperson of Angus Youth.
"The success of our farm business is not just about doing day-to-day tasks,'' he said. "We also have a three-year old son, Heston, who already tells people that he is a farmer, so it's in my interest to do all I can to make the right decisions for the future viability of our business," he said.
"Being the Rabobank Young Beef Ambassador will definitely be a step in the right direction."