Youth in Ag:GRAZE dinner, 2024. Image by Manifeasto Photography

Youth in Ag: GRAZE, 2024

On Friday 5 April, Riverine Plains hosted the 2024 Youth in Ag: GRAZE event

The night saw 90 young people involved in agriculture come together for a fantastic evening at The Sebel, Yarrawonga. Guests enjoyed a delicious two-course meal and Lake Mulwala views, while getting the chance to connect and network with new people from across the region.

Funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and support from Riverine Plains Program Partners Elders and Corteva Agriscience, enabled Riverine Plains to host two incredible speakers, Nikki Davey and Callan Daley.

Nikki, the co-founder of Grown Not Flown and 2023 AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award National winner, shared her journey from corporate project manager to tech founder. Nikki farms in Victoria and founded a digital platform and app to connect micro and small-scale farmers with consumers, globally. This app now has expanded to include other producers in 37 countries, with the aim of supporting local – no matter where in the world local is to you.

Callan, a Future Young Leader at EvokeAG in 2019, grew up on a cattle station near Longreach in central Queensland. His strong passion for agriculture saw him become the Business Development Lead for an AgTech start-up, MEQ Probe, and a member of Beef Australia Next Gen for Beef Week 2024. Callan is also dedicated to sharing stories of the land and is a 2015 ABC Heywire winner and 2019 Heywire Mentor. He shared his goal to improve the language used within and around agriculture, to increase in the pride we have in our vibrant and versatile industry.

Both Nikki and Callan inspired the audience with hope for the future of the industry, driving home how one person can make a big impact if they are driven and passionate.

Once the formalities were finished, live band The White Tree saw guests hit the dancefloor or continue their conversations by the lake.

Riverine Plains are thrilled that the success of this event continues to grow and are excited to continue to support young people in the industry.