NEW AgForce president Georgie Somerset says building trust in agriculture and supporting people to stay on the land for the long term will be key priorities for Queensland’s peak broadacre farm body.
Mrs Somerset officially became the general president of AgForce today as part of the organisation’s annual general meeting in Brisbane.
The new AgForce board has a number of new faces including Cattle president Will Wilson, Grains president Brendan Taylor, South-East Queensland regional director Tracy Finnegan and South West regional director Chris Evans.
Board members continuing in their roles include Sheep and Wool president Alan Rae, North Queensland regional director Dominic Burden, Central Queensland regional director John Baker, Southern Inland Queensland regional director Robyn Bryant and independent director Christine Hayward.
I’m very conscious that the new board I lead over the next two years stands on the shoulders of those who have come before us.
- Georgie Somerset, AgForce president
Mrs Somerset, who runs a family cattle property at Durong with her husband Robert, steps up to general president after serving in various roles for AgForce since its inception, including vice-president/deputy chair and South-East Queensland regional director over the past four years.
“I know how important it is to have an organisation that stands up strongly for farmers and advocates on their behalf,” Mrs Somerset said.
“As the new AgForce general president, I’m very conscious that the new board I lead over the next two years stands on the shoulders of those who have come before us, and that we can’t do it all on our own.
“It’s so powerful to have the support and input of grass roots producers coming up with solutions they think will work for them both at the local and whole of industry level.”
Mrs Somerset takes over from Mitchell cattle and grains producer Grant Maudsley, who chose not to re-nominate as president after serving in the position over the past four years.