The most important thing is being willing to learn. If you want to learn and you are prepared to work hard and get stuck in, you can make it as a farmer. There are times you are very busy but then you reap the rewards. It’s blinkin’ awesome! It’s a great lifestyle for people who love being outdoors and active. It’s important you enjoy working with animals too and you do need quite a bit of patience.

Maths is probably the most useful, because you need to measure out feed or fertiliser quantities, but it’s pretty straight forward so you can pick it up as you go.

It’s wicked at the moment because there is free trades training through the Government. I am doing Level 3 courses through the Primary ITO, including Livestock Husbandry and Effluent Management Planning. Other courses at that level are Pastoral Livestock Production (Feeding), tractor or quad bike operation micro-credentials. For Dairy Farming, there are also apprenticeships and Level 2 courses such as Agriculture Skills, and you could go on to complete a Diploma in Agribusiness Management Level 5. You could also go on to learn other aspects of the business, like sales or agribusiness.

It’s been a massive year! My first week on the job my boss said, “here’s the keys to the tractor… give me a call if you break something!” I’ve never been that practical with my hands but now I can fix machinery and troubleshoot on the farm. So you learn those hands-on practical skills, how to interact with animals and so much more.

Don’t be too fussed about the job you’re doing because wherever you are, you will be learning. So long as you’re working with a good team of people and a good boss, that’s the most important thing. People go through many career changes, so you are never stuck doing something forever. Just give something a go! Make a list of ideas and think about what you would most like to do. Don’t be afraid of getting it wrong – you can always change your mind and do something else.

Give it a go! There are many opportunities and lots of people looking for workers so you will never struggle to find a job. It’s not all sunshine – some days are rainy and messy, and it’s always hard work – but then there are the fantastic days, and every day is satisfying. Just get amongst it! The best thing I did was get involved with the Young Farmers Club because it’s good to spend time with other people in the industry. You can encourage each other to grow and learn. Sometimes it can get tough, so it’s good to have a community to support you.

It’s certainly been a big adjustment for me in terms of work-life balance. You have to get used to the routine of early mornings and not being home every weekend. It’s important to have a conversation with your boss in terms of expectations, so you know when your days off are. Getting regular breaks throughout the day is important too. It’s important to keep the lines of communication open with your boss, and talk to them if you have any struggles or concerns.

When I was deciding what to do with my career, I caught up with my manager at the university and told her I had been offered a job in farming. She said I should think about what I wanted to wake up for every day, and there was no harm in giving it a go. There’s no job you can do where you won’t be learning something – lots of skills can transfer across a wide range of careers… people skills, time management, technical skills… they’re all relevant.

Eventually I’d like to buy my own herd and get into sharemilking. I’d like to own a farm one day. In the meantime, I am still learning every day, so I am happy where I am at.