Students from across the state had a peek into the opportunities a career in agriculture could provide this week, after attending a four-day camp hosted across regional SA.
The Food and Fibre Education SA initiative’s agricultural career camp showcased more than 50 vocation options in agriculture to 20 high-achieving students from 18 schools.
Students from SA’s regional communities, including Orroroo, Mannum, Coomandook, Eudunda and Loxton, attended, along with students from Adelaide’s metropolitan areas.
The tour stops demonstrated some of the range of job opportunities in agriculture, including the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy and Waite campuses, Australian Grain Technology, the Princess Royal Station feedlot, Dublin saleyards and Laucke Mills.
Food and Fibre Education SA manager Belinda Cay said the camp challenged the traditional views of agriculture.
“With the camp called ‘food and fibre’ it not only reflects the terminology used in the national curriculum but it also reflects that the industry is responsible for growing sustainable and nutritious food such as grains, beef, sheepmeat and horticultural produce,” she said.
“It also explores natural fibres such as wool, too.”
She said the camp demonstrated that studying agricultural science, agribusiness, engineering, science or related fields at university could be rewarding, highly-paid, exciting and diverse.
Loxton High School student Tayla Paull said the camp was an opportunity of a lifetime.
“I have lived in Loxton my whole life and I socialise with the same people,” she said.
“The camp has taken me all over SA with new people that I would never have met otherwise. I have made great friends and I have also seen food and fibre careers and businesses in action.”