Investment into our future

It's fantastic to see Agfest returning to its regular spot on the event calendar. We're sure that you, like us, are excited to get out and explore this year's event, which will be the 41st year that Rural Youth has organised what is now Tasmania's largest single agricultural event, held at Quercus Park.

This achievement is being held during the same week as Youth Week Tasmania (YWT), which is the largest single celebration of young Tasmanians. The week gives young people between the ages of 12-25 a special platform to showcase their talents and share their views and ideas, making it a critical opportunity for the agricultural sector and our younger community.

This event is an excellent example of collaboration between industry, sponsors, and community stakeholders, ensuring that Rural Youth can support the personal development of its members through social, education, and cultural activities, as a self-funded organisation.

We take our hats to and congratulate Rural Youth staff, and the organising committee led by Brady Robins, Rural Youth President, and Caine Evans, the Agfest Chairman for this fantastic event. The TFGA would also call out the contribution of Josh Mison, who recently retired as President for his contribution towards steering the event through the unprecedented times we have recently experienced and re-establishing Agfest as Tasmania's premier agricultural event in 2023.

The TFGA believes that Rural Youth will continue to be the proving ground for the next generation of Tasmania's agricultural leaders, and we, as the state's leading advocacy peak body, are committed to assisting where we can to ensuring a career pathway for the sector, with the next generation of leaders continuing to emerge from Rural Youth.

Our sector aims to reach the State Government's target $10 billion in farm gate production by 2050, and we can only achieve this goal through a commitment to our youth and providing them with the opportunities to grow. Tasmanian farmers now contribute $3.5 billion in economic activity, so reaching this goal will not be without its challenges for the next generation. However, with the right support, it should be a target within our reach.

We believe that by taking a sustainable approach, the farming sector will continue to be a reliable workhorse for the Tasmanian economy well into the future. This is the time and opportunity to write our story of growth and success, but we can only achieve this by backing the next generation and providing them with the tools to succeed.

If we want to leave the next generation of farmers in a positive position to reach the goals we have set, then we must invest in them and give them the opportunities to succeed. By doing so, we can ensure that they deliver on our expectations.

.