TFGA has today announced that Lauchie Cole will represent Tasmania in the 2011-12 Cattle Council of Australia Rising Beef Industry Champions Initiative. Lauchie is part of the management team at the family owned Angus and Murray Grey Stud called ‘Woodbourn’ based in Cressy.

Young people involved in the Tasmanian beef industry between the ages of 21 and 35 years had the opportunity to apply.

TFGA coordinated the state’s selection and interview process with a panel comprising of industry representatives and NAB Agribusiness executives interviewing each candidate.

Lauchie is passionate about the cattle industry at a commercial and stud stock level. He has a strong understanding of the issues that lie within the cattle industry and have a particular interest in improving the markets of Tasmanian beef both locally and nationally. He believes farming organisations need to present as vibrant and innovative. Young people need to see things progress; and the more they can see effort is rewarded with outcomes, the more young people will get involved

Paul Saward, Tasmanian CCA Councillor, was part of the interview panel. In making the announcement, he said “The caliber of entrants was extremely high. It is comforting to know that we have a group of rising leaders in our state showing genuine passion for the future of our industry. This Initiative fosters leadership potential at the State and National levels and we look forward to our involvement again this year.”

Selection was based on demonstrated level of industry awareness, comprehension of beef industry issues, leadership capacity and suitability to represent Tasmania at Longreach in Queensland as well as potentially representing Australia at an international beef community event, if successful in Longreach.

Cattle Council received almost 50 applications from young beef industry enthusiasts from across Australia to be part of this initiative aimed at identifying, empowering and supporting rising leaders in the Australian beef industry. Six finalists will be selected to go in the running for the national title of 2012 NAB Agribusiness Rising Beef Industry Champion and will represent Australia at an international Livestock Conference in Denver, Colorado, USA in early 2012.

Khan Horne, GM NAB Agribusiness, said NAB was proud to once again be associated with the Cattle Council initiative which recognises up and coming talent in the beef industry.

“This is a fantastic initiative that we at NAB are proud to be supporting. It’s important that we are identifying leaders among our growing network of young beef producers that can promote the industry into the future.”

All six state finalists will travel to Longreach QLD in November, to present to the Cattle Council their solutions for a challenge facing the Australian beef industry. They will experience the national beef policy debating forum at the Cattle Council meeting, and will develop leadership and public speaking skills through tailored workshops. The 2012 NAB Agribusiness Rising Beef Industry Champion will be announced at the Gala Dinner on 16 November, 2011.

This initiative is made possible through Cattle Council’s initiative partner, NAB Agribusiness and is supported by Rural Press Limited. This project is also supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under Australia’s Farming Future.
Jan Davis http://www.tfga.com.au/