Thomas Foods International's Southern Cross Feedlot has used the prize money it won in an Australian Lot Feeders Association award to give secondary school ag students an insight into the grainfed beef industry.
Last month the Tintinara feedlot used the $5000 cash it received as the 2022 Community Heroes Award winner for its successful Rural Pathways Program to again reach more young people.
Nearly 40 students from five South East schools attended; Meningie Area School, Bordertown High School, Allendale East Area School, Lucindale Area School and St Martin's Lutheran College at Mount Gambier.
Southern Cross Feedlot business administration manager Kelly Nankivell said their aim was to showcase the diverse career options available at the feedlot which has recently doubled its capacity to 30,000 head - making it the largest in south-eastern Australia.
"We decided to inject the money back into the program, especially targeting those students coming of age to be eligible for the Rural Pathways program, so they can be exposed to feedlotting," she said.
"A lot of kids may have some idea of agriculture on farm but very few have a good understanding of the feedlotting industry or have even visited a feedlot," she said.
The interactive program included comparing cattle that had been on feed for a different number of days and a 'guess the weight' competition on a mob of steers.
After a feed mill tour the students were given a chance to mix their own rations.
The participants then travelled to the Tintinara Football Club where former Masterchef entrant Callum Hann, who co-owns Sprout Cooking School in Adelaide, prepared a couple of beef dishes, which also served as lunch.
During the session he explained the different cuts of beef on a carcase, the best cooking methods of each cut and the importance of red meat in a balanced diet.
The students also received an overview of the new Murray Bridge abattoir.
St Martins' agriculture teacher Jason Cameron saying it was an experience his Year 11 students would long remember.
"Any agriculture business that wants to open their doors to young people is definitely worth setting aside a day to visit," he said.
"I think it is great that TFI opened their facility to students to see first hand the operations of one of the big red meat producers in Australia."
Ms Nankivell says while they may not run a similar tour next year, she is open to discussing options with the schools and Lead Agriculture Teacher Sue Pratt.
"It was great to see how interested the students were in the feedlot and with this exposure providing them with the opportunity to delve into another career pathway that they may not of even known about," she said.
Ms Nankivell said there had been strong interest throughout the year for the 2024 intake of the Rural Pathways Program, which is a stepping stone for school leavers looking for a career in agriculture.
The plan is to take on another four young people into TFI's agricultural division, three spread across the South East properties and one at the feedlot.
"The successful participants will be exposed to and gain experience across several production systems and at the end of the 12 months they will be well equipped to continue into a successful career with TFI," she said.
Applications for the 2024 Rural Pathways Program close on October 27.
- Details: kelly.nankivell@thomasfoods.com
