Young Leaders Group for the Pork Industry
10/4/2018
The Australian Pork Young Leaders group was formed recently. The younger members of the Australian pork industry created this organisation while attending the Queensland Pig Consultancy Group’s forum. The forum consisted of 25 attendees from Victoria, NSW and Queensland. The attendees included representatives from both small and large pork industry businesses such as farmers, veterinarians and nutritionists as well as specialist pig cartage operators and genetics sales agents.
The Australian Pork Young Leaders group was formed recently. The younger members of the Australian pork industry created this organisation while attending the Queensland Pig Consultancy Group’s forum.The forum consisted of 25 attendees from Victoria, NSW and Queensland. The attendees included representatives from both small and large pork industry businesses such as farmers, veterinarians and nutritionists as well as specialist pig cartage operators and genetics sales agents.
According to Rob Martyn from the Tong Park Piggery in Warra, the group was established to ensure that there is a focus on the pork industry’s next-generation leaders. Attention in this area has been lacking, and it was necessary for there to be a new focus for the future of pork industry in Australia.
Rob noted: “We didn’t want only to focus young people working directly in the pork industry, but include other supporting industry participants such as veterinarians, sales representatives and livestock transport operators,”
Sara Willis who is from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries was asked to help in the creation of a network where young people would have an opportunity to change the future outlook of the pig industry. Sara who is also the local extension officer for the pork sector was given the task of getting a network up and running so that these young people could develop their leadership skills while discussing challenges and sharing ideas for the future of the industry.
She noted that the need for this group was high and that she is confident that the group, though just beginning, will increase in membership rapidly.
The forum was attended by many, and the discussions included debate on the prices of pigs and grain and when the next anticipated rains will be. One of the most satisfying conversations of the forum according to Sara was when they shared what each person was doing on their farm to ensure that they were operating more efficiently. It was during this discussion that it was clear to everybody was willing to participate and learn from each of their peers.
It is the aim of the group to meet again later this year. The most likely location of the next meeting will be in Toowoomba. The steering committee has been selected and includes five individuals who now have the task of preparing the next meeting, including choosing the topics that will be discussed, inviting speakers and all the associated planning to make the next meeting a success.
The attendees left the meeting confident in the knowledge that pig production is an essential rural industry that has a significant level of contribution to the economy of Queensland and Australia on the whole. We can safely say that this meeting for the Queensland Pig Consultancy’s group forum was a success, more people are aware of the way forward for the sector and the importance for there to be planning and guidance to move the pork industry forward.
