Taking Agriculture Beyond the Classroom: DemoDAIRY Pathways to Ag Tour
Twenty of our Years 10–12 Agriculture students recently embarked on an exciting five-day Agricultural Study Tour, travelling through regional Victoria and southern New South Wales to explore modern agriculture, agricultural technology, research, university pathways and a diverse range of farming enterprises.
The tour provided students with an opportunity to see first-hand how the knowledge and skills they develop in the classroom are applied across the agricultural industry.
The experience was generously subsidised by the DemoDAIRY Foundation, whose support helped make this valuable learning opportunity possible for our students.
Day 1 – Colac to Dookie: Machinery and Crop Research
The tour began in Colac, with students travelling to Ballarat for a visit Brandt John Deere machinery dealership.
The visit provided students with an insight into the machinery, technology and equipment that underpin modern agricultural enterprises, as well as the range of careers and skills required within the agricultural machinery industry.
From Ballarat, the group travelled to Dookie, where students took part in a crop trial tour with Professor James Hunt from the University of Melbourne.
The crop trials provided students with an opportunity to see agricultural research in action and explore how research can help farmers improve productivity, resilience and sustainability.
Students then settled into their dormitory student accommodation in Dookie before enjoying a BBQ dinner together.
Day 2 – Dookie: Technology, Dairy and Livestock
Day two provided students with an opportunity to explore some of the innovation occurring within modern livestock industries.
Students toured a robotic dairy, gaining an insight into how automation and technology are changing the way dairy farms operate. The experience demonstrated the increasingly important role technology plays in animal management, efficiency and modern dairy production.
The group then visited Gavin and Linda Thorne with Noel Thomas who run a European Breeds cattle feedlot, where students learned more about beef production and the management of cattle within a commercial farming enterprise. Gavin and Linda provide 30-35 cattle per week to a butcher who requires them to specifically feed their beef to meet their market specifications
After a full day of agricultural experiences, students returned to Dookie for an evening together, enjoying pizza for dinner They also met some resident students who explained their chosen pathway and encouraged the CSC students to aim for a university pathway.
Day 3 – Dookie to Wagga Wagga: Exploring Future Pathways
On Sunday, the group travelled to Wagga Wagga to attend the Charles Sturt University Open Day.
This was an important opportunity for our senior Agriculture students to explore potential pathways beyond secondary school and learn more about the opportunities available through further study.
Across four sessions, students explored a range of facilities and areas including:
- Virtual farming and agricultural technology
- Veterinary facilities
- Equine facilities
- Student accommodation
- University and campus facilities
- Future study and career pathways
The day encouraged students to consider how their Agriculture studies at Colac Secondary College could connect to further education and future careers.
The group stayed in Wagga Wagga and enjoyed dinner together at the Farmers Hotel.
Day 4 – Wagga Wagga to Echuca: From Farm to Food
The agricultural learning continued on Monday when the group travelled to Echuca, stopping in Corowa for lunch, for a visit to Merridale Angus and Dairy, where Brodie Collins, fifth generation farmer, let the students explore the dairy, showed the group what a $17,000 heifer looks like and why they breed the best Augus beef in Northern Victoria.
This visit highlighted the diversity of agricultural production and provided students with another opportunity to compare different farming systems and operations.
Students then settled into their accommodation in Echuca before enjoying a takeaway dinner.
Day 5 – Echuca to Colac: Finishing on the Farm
The final day of the tour saw students travel from Echuca to Calivil for a visit to Dehne Vinnicombe Farm. Dehne was very generous with his time and knowledge, explaining to the students to why he built the $5 Million barn and the activities it takes to run the dairy farm. Students were able to compare the feed types used to make the ration required for the dairy cow’s production and explore the various components of the operation.
After five busy days, students returned to CSC, though the trip home proved difficult as we dodged flood waters, having experienced an incredible variety of agricultural enterprises, research, technology and education pathways.
Learning That Goes Beyond the Classroom
The DemoDAIRY Pathways to Ag Study Tour demonstrated just how broad and diverse the agricultural industry is.
Over five days, students experienced everything from crop research and robotic dairy technology to cattle production, agricultural machinery, university study and commercial farming enterprises.
Most importantly, students were able to connect what they learn in their Agriculture classes with real-world experiences. They had the opportunity to ask questions, speak with people working in the industry, observe modern agricultural practices and consider the many different pathways available to them in the future.
Agriculture is an industry that continues to evolve, with technology, research, innovation and sustainability playing an increasingly important role. Experiences such as this help our students understand these changes and consider how they might contribute to the future of Australian agriculture.
Thank You to the DemoDAIRY Foundation
Colac Secondary College would like to sincerely thank the Foundation for generously subsidising this Agricultural Study Tour.
The Foundation’s support provides valuable opportunities for secondary students to experience agriculture beyond the classroom, develop their understanding of the industry and explore future career pathways.
Without this support, opportunities such as this would be much more difficult to provide.
We would also like to thank all of the farms, businesses, university staff, industry representatives and organisations who welcomed our students throughout the tour and generously shared their knowledge and expertise.
Finally, we congratulate our Years 10–12 Agriculture students on the way they represented Colac Secondary College throughout the five-day tour. Their enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to engage with each experience made the tour a memorable and valuable learning opportunity.
We look forward to seeing where their agricultural journeys take them next.
