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Amplifying the voices of young people.
Advocating for agriculture.
Inspiring the next generation.
We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.
After an incredible 11-year journey that has seen the Action4Agriculture team train and empower over 200 young agriculturalists to become trusted voices and confident communicators, the Young Farming Champions program is embarking on an extended hiatus.
Over the past two decades, Action4Agriculture has nurtured the leaders of tomorrow in agriculture and environmental stewardship, fostering meaningful dialogues and shining a light on the vital intersection of agriculture and the environment.
The accomplishments of our Young Farming Champions have been nothing short of remarkable. We've witnessed countless individuals embark on impactful careers in these essential sectors, and their contributions have been a source of immense pride and satisfaction for us.
It has been both a genuine pleasure and privilege for our team to work alongside each and every one of them. The Young Farming Champions' dedication and achievements have made a lasting impact, helping shape the future of agriculture and environmental sustainability.
As Action4Agriculture closes this chapter, we know our legacy will be the seeds of change we've sown will continue to flourish and grow, echoing through generations to come.
While we may be taking an extended hiatus, the spirit of the Young Farming Champions lives on in. We look forward to seeing the incredible impact they will continue to make as they carry the torch of agricultural excellence and environmental stewardship into the future.
Together, we've sown the seeds of change, and the harvest is just beginning.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Lynne Strong
Founder
The Young Farming Champions (YFC) program is a flagship initiative of Action4Agriculture, dedicated to empowering young ambassadors and influencers in the Australian agriculture sector. Our mission is to foster a new generation of leaders equipped to drive forward one of the most vital industries in Australia and globally.
Agriculture in Australia feeds 70 million people worldwide, thriving under extreme environmental conditions. To sustain and enhance this achievement, it's crucial to attract and nurture talented, innovative young minds.
At YFC, we identify and nurture emerging talents through strategic partnerships, enhancing their capabilities in problem-solving, creativity, communication, and teamwork. Our comprehensive approach supports young professionals across diverse agricultural fields.
Our "Cultivate - Growing Young Leaders" program offers two years of intensive training, mentoring, and networking. Participants are prepared to become confident communicators, trusted voices, and public faces for our school programs, promoting agriculture as a dynamic and innovative career choice.
The YFC are vibrant youth ambassadors working to shift perceptions and promote positive images of farming. They engage in impactful initiatives like The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas - Design a Bright Future Challenge, effectively communicating agriculture’s value to wider audiences, especially among students and their families and friends.
Since 2009, over 300 young leaders have transformed into advocates for sustainable and innovative agricultural practices. Our alumni contribute significantly to developing efficient, climate-resilient farming systems and are instrumental in teaching the next generation through our school programs.
Become part of a movement where ambition and agriculture converge to create a sustainable future. Join the Young Farming Champions to contribute to a thriving, innovative, and inclusive agricultural sector.
Dr Jo Newton is a research geneticist working with the dairy industry who selflessly inspires others to pursue careers in agriculture, and who transcends agriculture to be recognised as a leader in the wider community. In 2018 Jo won the First National Real Estate Leadership Award at the Victorian Young Achievers Awards. This wide acclaim was consolidated when she was then named in the Australian Financial Review’s 2018 Women of Influence. Jo is a Young Farming Champion committed to the cause; she regularly mentors and inspires young agriculturists and is Chair of the Youth Voices Leadership Team.
Founder of Climate Wise Agriculture and 2015 Australian Young Farmer of the Year Anika Molesworth is a formidable environmental and agricultural advocate. Her family brought a property near Broken Hill at the beginning of the Millennium Drought and Anika used passion and experience born out of this adversity to guide her future career. In 2018 she was recognised as the Green Globe Awards Young Sustainability Champion and in 2019 proved agriculture can proudly take its place on the red carpet when she featured in the Instyle Audi Women of Style Awards celebration. Today Anika is a well-respected and sought after speaker, is part of the Homeward Bound leadership program and is partnerships manager for the Youth Voices Leadership Team. She is committed to ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future for farming across the globe.
Dan Fox could have been an astrophysicist but chose to take his brilliant mind back to the family cropping property in the Marrar district of southern NSW, where he is now on the forefront of regenerative agriculture. On farm Dan has introduced practices intended to reduce fertiliser and herbicide use, increase ground cover and grain yield and address soil salinity concerns. In effect he is creating a practical blueprint for sustainable land use. Dan was recognised for his achievements when he won the award for Excellence in Innovation at the 2018 Kondinin/ABC Rural Australian Farmer of the Year Awards.
As a first-generation Chinese-Australian from the western suburbs of Sydney with a true zeal for wool, Sam Wan is in a unique position to breach the urban-rural divide. Forever grateful for her introduction to agriculture at high school, Sam now gives generously of her time to encourage the next generation of agriculturists. Sam works as a wool broker in Melbourne, attends international wool conferences and industry events and can be seen energetically talking about the wonder of wool whenever she has an audience. Sam’s dedication to wool was recognised in 2018 when she was awarded the Elders Employee of the Year.
Emma Ayliffe is the Co-Founder and Director of Summit Ag Agricultural Consulting. Her expertise includes on-farm production/retail agronomy, creating her own business and now employing herself and 4 other staff as well as running a 1700-acre farm. Emma believes in the importance of agricultural sustainability and the role that young people play in the industry. At just 28- years-old, Emma is an alumna of our Young Farming Champions program. Acting-Chair of the Youth Voices Leadership Team and was runner up in 2018 Adama Young Agronomist of the Year awards.. An experienced speaker, she has taken the stage in 2018 at the PIEFA Conference, the Australia Cotton Conference and will speak at the Australian Summer Grains Conference in 2019.
We believe the key to success for a bright future for everyone in this country is forging partnerships to work together to identify, prepare and support our emerging leaders. To achieve this we collaborate with a diverse group of people shaking it up in government, research bodies, funding bodies, organisations, the community and schools. With extensive support through main stream media we are sharing our stories both locally and globally. As an example of the media we are attracting read some of our stories in Leading Agriculture Magazine.