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Background The 2011 Young Farming Champions program is a pilot program funded by Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation which brings agricultural producers and the next generation of Australian consumers together to explore and understand the challenge of producing food and fibre sustainably. Young Farming Champions will be trained to become local faces of sustainable primary production. Urban audiences, consumers and students will get to know them, enhancing their knowledge of sustainable food and fibre production and natural resource management (NRM). Primary and Secondary students in twenty one pilot schools in the Sydney metropolitan area, together with their assigned farming champion, will study a local primary production/sustainability issue of relevance to them through the 'Archibull Prize' competition. A series of web-based curriculum linked resources and farm case studies will be created to augment their learning. The legacy of this pilot project will be the first group of trained industry advocates (farmer champions) that represent a number of different rural industries. We will also evaluate the change in knowledge and attitudes (to agriculture) of a large number of urban students. The young farming champions trained by this program will also play an active role as mentors in the national roll out of the Archibull Prize in 2012. This will allow them to develop invaluable confidence and leadership skills. Meet the 2011 Young Farming Champions Alison McIntosh
Alison was the NSW Runner up in the NSW 2010 RIRDC Rural Women's awards, she is a Councillor to the RAS of NSW, and currently holds the title of NAB Agribusiness Cattle Council Rising Champion. She stars in their prize winning video which can be seen here Alison created the Love my Angus presentation for her school visits Follow Alison on twitter here @almcintosh1
Heidi Cheney Heidi has a rural and animal processing background and has worked within the Agricultural industry for over 12 years. Heidi also holds a Bachelor of Management and a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Sydney, Orange. Heidi has focused her entire career on developing the capacity and capability of our Agricultural industry.She is currently employed at Grain Growers as the Capacity Building and Leadership Manager. During her time at Grain Growers she has established a capacity building strategic plan and which has led to the development and delivery of several new initiatives including: The Innovation Generation Conference, the Australian Future Grain Leaders Program and the Australian University Crops Competition. Previous to working at Grain Growers Heidi was employed at Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) where she managed the Red Meat Industry Professional Development Program aimed at encouraging young engineering and science professionals into the red meat processing industry.Whilst on maternity leave Heidi is working part time for her family business 'York Foods'. 
Heidi holds a number of volunteer positions including that of Vice Chairman for the Royal Agriculture Society of NSW Youth Committee Heidi is passionate about all sports. She enjoys snowboarding and has competed throughout Europe and Japan during her time on the Australian Canoe Polo team. She also travels extensively and plans on taking the kids on many more camping adventures throughout Australia. She is currently working on her vision for a network of young mums who come together to enjoy extremes sports whilst juggling the role of motherhood. She has called this program “Mummy Madness” Heidi plans to continue developing her passion for assisting youth in Australia and furthering the younger generation’s involvement in Australian agriculture. She is a logical practical thinker and has the capacity to deliver creative programs that deliver long term benefits for all stakeholders. Heidi is ardent about farming as farmers hold the life blood of the nation in their hands. Heidi was selected to participate in the Woolworths Agribusiness Scholarship program in 2011 Follow Heidi on twitter @YorkFoods
Melissa Henry Melissa has been involved in agriculture for 11 years – starting in Year 9 at school. Melissa owns her own Corriedale Sheep stud "Quebon Livestock". 
Melissa is from the Hawkesbury region where she studied a Bachelor of Animal Science (Hons) at theUniversityofWestern Sydney(Hawkesbury) and was heavily involved with the Hawkesbury Show committee and the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Competition. Melissa is currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Consulting at UNE. In November 2010, Melissa started working with the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in the Boorowa office. As Catchment Officer for Boorowa, Melissa will be working with local landholders in establishing on-farm natural resource management (NRM) projects, as well as working with community groups surrounds urban NRM initiatives. Prior to joining theCMA, Melissa worked for the Grain Growers Association in Sydney as a membership and capacity building coordinator. Melissa believes moving to Boorowa is a positive move, to live and work in rural NSW and establishing her small Corriedale flock in the area. Melissa also a strong interest in the management of wildlife and biodiversity, having undertaken a wildlife management course inSouth Africa. Melissa has also travelled toQuebec,Canada where she worked on dairy farms and also travelled to Alberta,Canada on a beef cattle study tour. If there was one thing Melissa could change or do for the farming sector, that would be to build the capacity of urban people to undertake their own farming goals – no matter how small or large. Melissa created a PowerPoint and a Video presentation for her school visits Melissa presented at the 2011 Future Focused AgOZ conference. Her presentation can be found here Melissa was the mentor for St Michael's Catholic Primary School who won the PowerPoint category for primary schools. The presentation can be found here Visit Melissa's website www.queboncolouredsheep.com or follow her on Twitter @baalissa rather than
Anne Farr Anne grew up in Milton NSW and has been involved with Agricultural and the Show movement from a very young age, where she was a regular competitor in the South Coast Showjumping arena. 
Anne spent several years working as an Agronomist / Commodity Trader in the Central West, and also as a partner in a large scale Sheep and Cropping enterprise, while maintaining her lifelong involvement with the show society movement. Anne held the position of President of the Barmedman Show Society for the period of 2004 –2006. In 2005 Anne was chosen as a Coca-Cola Regional Scholarship winner and represented the Australian Council of Agricultural Societies (ACAS) at the 22nd Commonwealth Agricultural Conference at Calgary Stampede in 2006 as part of the Next Generation group. 2006 also saw Anne honored with accepting a Councilor position with the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society (RNCAS) and is now serving her second three year term. Since returning to the South Coast Anne has taken on a position with the South East Livestock Health and Pest Authority in Bega, while maintaining her own enterprise as a Commodity Trader and in 2011 has commenced a Bachelor of Laws (Agriculture) with the University of New England. Anne currently enjoys an involvement with the Cobargo Show Society as a volunteer, an exhibitor and a sponsor and while no longer competitive, enjoys her equestrian pursuits on a daily basis. Anne's philosophy regarding regional communities and show societies is that you only get out what you put in!
Hollie Baillieu Hollie grew up in Exeter, Southern Highlands, south of Sydney on a small farm producing sheep, cattle and meat rabbits. She attended Oxley College where she was a Prefect and was awarded several Captaincies, as well as her Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh. Hollie is currently in her final year of an Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.
Hollie would like to see Agriculture integrated into the National School Curriculum. This will reduce the disconnect between rural and urban Australia and increase understanding of modern farming practices and greater respect for the role farmers. Hollie is concerned about the lack of access to quality services in regional communities such as health facilities, choice of education, supermarkets, building services, public infrastructure and internet access.
Hollie is Chair of the NSW Farmers Young Farmer Council Hollie stars in the Australian Year of the Farmer video here Hollie’s presentation on cotton for her school visits can be found here
Stephanie Tarlinton 
Since 2008 she has have travelled to New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Ghana, and China primarily to study the different agricultural systems in these nations. In later 2011 she will travel to Argentina, Singapore and India all on study tours focused on gaining an understanding of agricultural production and what it contributes to their daily life. Stephanie enjoys the challenge of travelling to developing nations while gaining a greater respect and appreciation for the opportunities she has had available to her. In 2009 she started university and is now currently studying her third year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Charles Sturt University in Orange, NSW. She undertook this degree with the aim of completing a post graduate degree. Growing up in the dairy industry has inspired her to continue in this sector although in the business area, for example working to develop a company's export sector. She wishes to play a role in building the global name of Australian dairy products and increasing the value of the domestic industry. Some of Stephanie's many accolades include; 2011 Runner Up Showgirl at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Charles Sturt University Dean's Award for Academic Excellence 2011, RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship for 2011 and Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Rural Achiever 2007. Stephanie was selected to participate in the Woolworths Agribusiness Scholarship program in 2011. See the video Stephanie created for her school visits here
Naomi Marks Naomi grew up on a 200 cow dairy farm on the Mid North Coast where she also runs her own herd of Jersey stud cattle. She is a member of the local show society and is publicity officer of the Beautizone Jersey Cattle Club. 
Naomi has a passion for preparing and showing jersey cattle and has attended shows in three states of Australia, also competing in youth shows with numerous successes. She completed her HSC in 2009 and is currently in her second year at the University of New England, studying a Bachelor of Agribusiness, majoring in marketing. She is involved in many agricultural organisations such as SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise), Future Generation Farmers and the UNE Rural Science Undergraduate Society. In 2009, I was awarded the Bellingen Shire Junior Citizen of the year, and was runner up in the International Rotary Public Speaking competition. In 2011 Naomi was awarded an Investing in Youth Studentship Program scholarship Find the video Naomi created for her in school visits here Naomi was Model Farms High School Mentor in 2011. Model Farms took out a major award in the PowerPoint section. See their PowperPoint here The selection of young farming champions is by invitation only and based on recommendations from the industry. Expressions of interest for 2012 are open now
Emma Visser 
Emma is super star in so many ways and spends every spare minute she has spreading the word far and wide that agriculture is a great career choice for a young person. Emma also co-wrote the award winning Jet and Emma Farming Management Education Series which has had over 50,000 hits on the web and features on LandlearnNSW here She finishes up her year as a Young Farming Champion with a win in the prestigious Heywire competition Emma’s Heywire video shows not only her passion for agriculture but also her love for animals. It captures her life when moving from the city to the country, and her love for life on the farm where every day brings many new experiences. See Emma’s winning video here
Erin Lake 
Erin studied environmental science at University of Wollongong. Erin feels that strong and empowered communities are the key to successful natural resource management. She knows science and facts only tell half the story and best practice natural resource management relies on both science and people skills. Her honours thesis focused on relationships between people and the natural environment. She graduated with a Double Degree in Science-Arts with honours in 2009. Erin is currently Project Officer for the Confidence to Grow initiative. She is a qualified bush regenerator and has worked on many projects, including dairy farms and reserves in the Illawarra in a range of environments such as wetlands, rainforests and heath lands. Erin is a regular member of Landcare and is a member of three active working groups undertaking restoration of coastal ecosystems. Erin is also the bush regeneration project manager for the Tangalla Community Stream and Rainforest land care group. Erin has passion for biodiversity like no other and she takes every opportunity to share her passion with the world. See recent story on Erin here See the video Erin created for her school visits here
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