Victoria’s brightest and best young farmers have been celebrated at the 2021 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarship Awards.
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas presented 13 farmers with scholarships at a ceremony in Melbourne, highlighting the important role young farmers play in Victoria’s $17.8 billion agriculture industry.
The program, which has awarded 89 scholarships since 2015, supports young farmers with up to $10,000 to boost their skills and careers.
Each recipient is eligible for up to $5,000 to upskill through study and training, followed by $5,000 to invest in putting new skills into practice with on-farm equipment and technology or further professional development.
Greater Bendigo farmer Madeleine Marson was one of this year’s recipients and plans to use her scholarship to undertake further training in viticulture. She will also invest in new equipment for her family vineyard to support herbicide-free weed management under the vines.
Rupanyup cropping and sheep farmer Dougal McAllister will complete training in business management, leadership and decision making to improve profitability on his family farm.
Giving young farmers access to higher educational opportunities improves productivity and profitability of their businesses and ensures Victoria stays at the forefront of global modern farming.
The Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarship Program is part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to continue growing our strong, innovative and sustainable agriculture sector.
For more information on the program and the next round of scholarships visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/youngfarmers.
Source: Vic Government