NOW I am in the later phases of my working life, I have been asked what is the best advice you could give a 16-year-old about to enter the farming game.
Another way of considering this question would be to ask yourself - if you were to live your life over again, what would you do again, what would you avoid and what new things would you undertake?
Firstly, a 16-year-old must be absolutely sure that farming is their right career. This decision can only be made if they have options, so making sure they experience a couple of other pursuits in earnest is essential. Seeking employment during school holidays in these other areas will help them decide.
If farming is to be their career, then I would advise them to select a couple of the very best farmers in their district, sit down with them and seek their gems of advice on how to become the very best farmer possible.
It is important that they write down all these wise thoughts, because it will be invaluable to continue to refer to this wisdom throughout their career.
While I am in favour of budding young farmers attending a farm management college, some are just not suited to this 'pressure cooker' academic approach.
Related reading: Mind your business: Set clear priorities for new employees
If this is the case, then it is essential for a plan to be mapped out on how to acquire the skills and knowledge that are required. Working for other good farmers should be in the mix.
Farmers must remain on a good learning curve throughout their entire career, regardless of their circumstance.
Right from day one it is critical that a young farmer has goals. The first goal should be to decide on who will become the first two mentors that they will bounce their ideas off.
Having good mentors is one way of improving ideas and deriving confidence with their decision-making and possibly fast-tracking their career. Nothing can beat good, sound advice, particularly when they are young.
Another early goal should be to work out how to gain increased responsibility and reward from their employment.
Some may choose to be a sought-after employee, while others will seek to be self-employed. In both cases it will be important to set targets as to where they need to be in their career at any given age.
Nothing should be left to hope or chance. They need to make it happen and that is why goals are so important.
Related reading: Mind your business - Buildings lay idle as farms change focus
The biggest challenge for most young farmers is how to build wealth as quickly as possible to enable them to live the best life possible.
Contracting, share-farming and land leasing are the usual prerequisites to purchasing their first block of land, although additional support will be required. Open dialogue with parents, grandparents or potential backers should be accompanied by a timed plan.
Most young people will eventually seek out a life partner and the partner they choose can either make or break them.
While dedication to farming goes without saying, they must make sure they develop work-life balance from an early stage.
It must also be recognised that if at some stage throughout their career they lose their zest for farming, they must have the courage to change.
No one is compelled to do anything for life. I was a farmer for the first 12 years of my career and I am so proud of myself for changing direction. The subsequent rewards have been fantastic.
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
