Fourth-year agriculture science student Annie Yu has gone from the rice fields of Indonesia to the open, often dry, rolling and wide-open country around Birchip as part of her studies.
The Melbourne University undergraduate has a passion for food security and sustainability. She is hoping her studies are taking her in the direction where she can apply science practically to agriculture.
Having made a seamless transition to the Birchip Cropping Group team as part of her latest placement, Ms Yu said she never ceases to be amazed by the sheer scope of the industry.
“My first work experience placement was a study I completed in Indonesia with a non-government organisation to learn more about food security,” she said.
“Being in the rice fields, talking with farmers, it cemented for me that I want to be working on the ground, with those who grow our food.”
And the change between the two countries is extreme. Birchip has an annual rainfall of 320mm – per year.
Indonesia averages 218mm – per month. That’s a staggering 2.6m a year.
But it was the Indonesia experience which has led Ms Yu to BCG.
“I realised I didn’t want to be working separately from farmers, so BCG was a natural choice for my second placement,” she said.
“Being farmer driven, I’m immersing myself in work at BCG that is meaningful to producers.
“I’m interacting with them regularly while out in the field, working alongside them with sowing trials and undertaking assessments.”
Ms You is being hosted by BCG founding members Ian and Anne McClelland, which has enhanced her opportunities to gain a holistic understanding of how science is applied on-farm.
“Having grown up in Melbourne, with no ties to agriculture in my family, I really value this time, working at the grassroots level, developing a connection to the research and the bigger picture,” she added.
BCG is also hosting two Birchip P-12 School students, year 11 agricultural student Clarice Bennett and Year 10 Torey Atkinson.
The students have been working alongside Ms Yu as well as senior research manager Dr Yolanda Plowman and operations manager Genevieve Clarke.
They have been weighing and packing seed for trials and undertaking emergence assessments for safflower and canola times of sowing.
The students will also see how BCG trials are sown and learn the importance of research such as BCG’s long and short coleoptile work at Kinnabulla.
Dr Plowman says BCG values its role in providing agricultural work experience for both secondary and university students.
“We feel privileged so many students choose to do their work experience at BCG,” she said.
“We value the importance of this role in not only providing positive, hands-on experiences but also promoting the opportunities available in the agriculture industry and the impact the industry has on the broader community.
“Genevieve has been generously giving her time and sharing her expertise, ensuring the students gain a well-rounded picture of working in agriculture.
Birchip P-12 assistant principal and VCE Coordinator Russell Christie said: “through work experience students such as Clarice and Torey obtain exposure to workplaces, enhance employment skills and are made aware of a wide array of career choices”.
“Our students also obtain confidence in themselves and realise the importance of studying hard at school to increase post-school options.”
