Britney Kicking off a Career in Cotton
5/3/2018
Britney Schofield is the latest recipient of the Emerald Agricultural College cotton scholarship. The high schooler is just 16 years old and could not be any happier with her win. She won the award at the end of 11th grade. Britney recalls how she was raised in a town and wasn’t sure of how she could become involved in the agricultural industry. She always had interest in cotton and in machinery used for farming. It was this interest that led her to apply for the scholarship from Emerald Agricultural College.
Britney Schofield is the latest recipient of the Emerald Agricultural College cotton scholarship. The high schooler is just 16 years old and could not be any happier with her win. She won the award at the end of 11th grade.Britney recalls how she was raised in a town and wasn’t sure of how she could become involved in the agricultural industry. She always had interest in cotton and also in machinery used for farming. It was this interest that led her to apply for the scholarship from Emerald Agricultural College.
“Because I didn’t have the opportunity to live out on the property or do any of that sort of stuff, I thought I’d try to get into this industry,” she said.
She grew up in the Emerald region and had seen a lot of cotton along the roadside when she was younger and notes she always wanted to learn more about cotton farming.
The scholarship is sponsored by the Irrigators Association and The Central Highlands Cotton Growers. The awards are open to students who will be starting their first year of college. Britney notes how receiving the scholarship came as a big surprise to her; a very pleasing experience.
“I was a bit shocked about it; it’s not usual for me to get a scholarship or anything like that,” she said.
She will be working through the PACE program to complete year 12 along with the Emerald State High School.
She expressed that her interest was in machinery and that she would love getting into tractors and machinery and to learn how to plant crops. Nigel Burnett a local grower and representative of the Cotton Australia board said the link between the local growers and the College is crucial for this scholarship.
The Cotton Australia board has employed students from the College for over a decade now after they leave college. They also note that these workers tend to stay with them for two to three years before moving on in their careers. They find that the link with the College is an excellent way for them to find staff that is a good fit for their goals. He notes that the scholarship is an ideal opportunity for more students such as Britney who did not have the chance to grow up on a farm but are still interested in working in agriculture.
Mr Burnett was quoted saying “Scholarships are important, they provide a pathway through to our industry for people that may not have access to the cotton industry,”
“It’s excellent… it’s a positive that the kids in town see AG and cotton as an opportunity as a career for them.”
Britney Schofield is in a better position to make her dreams of attending EAG College a reality. Thanks to the scholarship she can get into what she wants even without a history of farming.
