Ideas of beef production on Western Australia’s most remote cattle stations are often wrought with rugged terrain and wild animal husbandry but a group of Queensland scholars are set to learn otherwise.
Thanks to MLA, Allflex, the Australian Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA), the Droughtmaster society and the Fitzroy Crossing bull sale committee, a scholarship will send a group to Western Australia for hands on experience in all aspects of the WA beef industry.
Peter Dingle, Redline Brangus, Eidsvold, sits on the Fitzroy Crossing bull sale committee and said the initiative resulted from a need to celebrate the sale’s tenth anniversary.
“Western Australians have been sending scholarship winners to Queensland for years to experience our beef industry so we thought we needed to do something similar to broaden our kids’ horizons,” Mr Dingle said.
“We’re really trying to get these young people to see how WA runs its big properties and show them there are some very good operations and they do things very well.
“They struggle to get stockmen in WA because people are scared of going there and that’s the mindset we’re aiming to change.”
Scholars will visit progressive and prominent Kimberley stations and spend time with Landmark agents for marketing experience.
There will also be the opportunity to meet with a vet in Broome for a discussion on export protocols or a day pregnancy testing if possible.
The scholarship is limited to men and women aged between 18 and 25 and is guaranteed to be hotly contested.
Hopeful winners do not need an agricultural background but must complete an application form to show their knowledge of and passion for the beef industry and a will to learn more.
Insurance, flights, shirts and accommodation are paid for and winners will only have to cover out of pocket expenses.
The trip will run from August 14 to 31 2016. Applications are available through the Droughtmaster society and ABBA. Applications close May 31.
