QMSSA focus on youth

Ms Huskisson, who is the principal of the Wattle Downs stud at The Gums, is the first woman to head the QMSSA in the 80-year history of the organisation and was voted in at the QMSSA annual general meeting in Toowoomba earlier this month.

She said getting more young people involved in the association, and the industry at large, was the key to the survival of the QMSSA.

"The younger generations can bring new skills to our organisation, particularly in areas such as technology, that some of the older members don't have," she said. "Our survival depends on getting the young ones involved and injecting some vitality and energy back into the industry."

Ms Huskisson said the QMSSA would continue to work closely with groups such as agricultural colleges to ensure younger generations were well represented in the industry.

She said it was pleasing to see 28-year-old Candice Roberts, who hails from the Victoria Downs stud at Morven, take on the role of QMSSA secretary.

"Candice is currently working on developing our website which will feature up-to-date information about upcoming ram sales and industry events," she said.

"There will be lots of good information on the site for people to tap into and I think it will be a great resource for our members."

Ms Huskisson said the QMSSA faced ongoing challenges to attract new members.

"We currently have 32 studs registered but that has fallen from 73 registered studs," she said.

"That has come about not so much because of a downturn in wool prices but because of the impact of wild dogs.

"There are plenty of people who would like to go back into our industry that can't because of wild dogs."

The new QMSSA executive is now busy planning the 2014 State Sheep Show which will be held in Barcaldine to coincide with Barcaldine's centenary show.

"It also coincides with the 100th year of ownership of Barcaldine Downs for Clark and Tait so we are planning plenty of celebrations around that," Ms Huskisson said.