The inaugural SA Arid Lands Pastoral Field Day was held in Port Augusta on Thursday and Friday last week, with pastoralists and industry members turning out for a wide array of presentations across the two days.
The event, which was cancelled twice in 2020 due to COVID-19, focused on innovation, adaptation and diversification in the pastoral zone.
A total of 17 speakers presented across the event, while about 60 information stalls were also on-site, providing information about a range of pastoral-related services and products.
Two Q&A panel sessions were also held, one with panelists from the SA Pastoral Board, Livestock SA, SAAL Landscape Board and Dog Fence Board, and the other with pastoralists who have completed the Property Management Planning program.
The event concluded with the 25th annual School of the Air Wool Show, where the winning fleeces across five different categories were displayed. An auction and raffle were also held at the show, raising more than $22,000 in total, to be distributed between SOTA and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
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Proceeds from the winning fleeces, which are set to be pressed and sold in January, will also be donated to the causes.
SA Arid Lands Landscape Board general manager Jodie Gregg-Smith was delighted at the success of the inaugural event.
"I get a sense that it's been a pretty worthwhile activity," Ms Gregg-Smith said.
"So many things that were discussed across the two days started conversations and I'm really excited about how we continue to support pastoral community in its future endeavors as it applies to landscape management, with all the many partners that joined in delivering the event."
Stock Journal's CLAIRE HARRIS headed along.
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Claire Harris
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
