Angie AsimusIf you cast your eyes around many Australian properties and stations, something seems to be increasingly missing. Young people. The role of Jackaroo or Jillaroo was often a coming-of-age opportunity for the next generation of farmers.
Determined to bring them back, is a group of bushies in the NSW Riverina. Those former jackaroos have since forged successful careers for themselves and want the next generation to have the same opportunity.
Hay Inc. is a community-led rural education program opening doors – or to be more specific farm-gates – to kids. To learn more, one of their alumni, Logan Wright has shared his story.
From aspiration to action: Logan Wright’s story
Logan is based in Holbrook, NSW at Fairview Station and works as a station hand. His days are spent mustering, preparing for spreading, spraying or drenching.
“There are a lot of physical aspects to my job,” he says. The station is mostly a prime lamb production business, joining about 12 000 ewes annually.
Agriculture was in his blood with his mum being in the Department of Primary Industries, and his dad being a livestock agent. The challenge for Logan, was learning the skills required to perform jobs on a farm.
“Learning how to handle livestock properly, learning new techniques on how to do things properly,” he shares.
To give him the edge he needed to land his dream job, his employer at the time introduced him to Hay Inc.
“They are a great organisation, very hands-on, and all their volunteers are local farmers.”
Logan impressed his teachers so much, that he was awarded The Matthew Vick Scholarship, which is dedicated to a young local man who lost his life. The prize allowed Logan to further his skills by putting the money into more training. Topics covered include farm safety and practical skills. The connections he made along the way, he still feels he can call on, when needed.
“I’ve got lifelong friends from the program, which especially being in the farming industry, it’s quite hard to meet new friends.”
Logan says dealing with major weather events like floods and drought, are a constant challenge.
“It’s definitely a responsibility keeping the livestock healthy,” he says. He’s become a master of fixing things on the go.
“It can be quite stressful, but if you love it, you’re never going to work a day in your life.”
Logan says, even after the training, he has some mates who still think all he does is chase sheep around! His long-term goal is to chase enough sheep around, to eventually become a farm manager.
And for anyone else looking at a similar path?
“I reckon farmers are screaming for workers. There are limited numbers of young farmers coming into the industry but there’s plenty of work and a bright future to have.”
At just 20 years of age, Logan is well on the way to forging his own bright future.
Hear more stories like this by subscribing to the Telling Our Story podcast on iTunes (or wherever you listen to podcasts) and follow podcast host Angie Asimus on Instagram for more updates.
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