If you haven’t already done so……don’t miss out……..register now for the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association’s major Conference, Dinner and Field Trip in Launceston in July.
The theme of the 2014 Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association’s biennial conference is Taking Responsibility: farmers and those in our agribusinesses taking it upon themselves to determine their future.
The conference will be held on 3-4 July 2014 at the Country Club Tasmania, Launceston.
The conference theme derives from the strategy we have set ourselves as an industry, not just the TFGA, to optimise our position in the Tasmanian economy through to the year 2025 and beyond, but using 2025 as a milestone date.
We have adopted what we call a Team Agriculture approach (TeamAg). It is unashamedly ‘all for one and one for all’. By thinking, planning and working as a team, we can achieve our potential and our visions.
Farming, like no other enterprise, is a legacy business. We have to pass on to the generations that follow us land that they can continue to use and develop in perpetuity. That requires sustainable management.
We all adhere to the belief that we have to pass on our land and enterprise in a better state than when it came into our hands. That is the end game of us taking responsibility, acting responsibly.
Presenting a positive image of Tasmanian agriculture means we must first understand both our audience and our selling points. Through such measures as focus groups, we can appreciate what the public perception of agriculture is. We might assume that the farmer is everybody’s hero, but it ain’t necessarily so. Without public understanding of what we do and how we do it, we cannot expect public support when we need it. We are taking responsibility for that.
Attracting people, especially young, qualified people, into the business of agriculture is challenging. Perhaps there is still a view that it involves hard, back-breaking work whereas, as we all know, farming is now highly mechanised, extensively computerised and as much a white collar profession as a blue collar trade. Therefore, the task is to promote a career in Tasmanian agriculture as a valuable and wise choice, and an interesting and multi-faceted career that offers the best of both worlds.
That, in turn, involves us taking responsibility for the path of agricultural education. We must engage with education institutions and educators to influence what people are taught.
Farmers have never been reluctant advocates for change, but the art of advocacy itself is changing. Communication is instant, access to information is immediate. That places legislators under greater pressure than ever before. We are not the only ones banging on their door. One of the implications of that is the importance of the agricultural sector speaking to governments with one voice; it makes life a lot easier all round.
Another fabulous component to our Conference is Poken! What is Poken you say? It’s an electronic brief case for collecting and sharing information. Every delegate will have an online profile and a little gadget called a Poken. You can use your Poken to exchange business cards with others and to collect information on presenters and paperless brochures from our trade stands. Further information will be emailed to all delegates very soon or take a look at our website for more info! It was an absolute success for the 2013 Policy Forum and we are extremely proud to be bringing this innovative piece of technology back to our major 2014 Conference.
The conference will be followed by our Major Dinner! We are thrilled to announce Ben Price as the ‘live’ entertainment for this year’s dinner! Known as Australia’s Best Impersonator, comedian Ben Price has his audiences rolling in the aisles with his spot on impersonations of personalities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Borat, Homer Simpson or Dr Phil.. There will also be a field trip the following day – and we will be making a visit at Van Dieman Brewery!
Click here for more information regarding the event and to register (also find registration brochure attached).
We are extremely proud to put this event together for you and we hope to see you there!!
Download Registration Brochure:
2014_Conference_Registration_Brochure.pdf
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis
