According to the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries women make up 31% of the Australian agriculture industry, however we’re sure the figure is a lot larger than that, with women all over the country working on farms without being on the books. So if that’s you, you’ll know there’s always something new to learn on a farm, and this program will certainly deliver.

DAY 1 - Soils & Soil Health and Life Management

We’re excited to welcome Susan Orgill, renowned soil scientist, who will lead an engaging session on soils and soil health. Susan will share practical insights into how healthy soils support productive farming systems, improve water retention and build long-term landscape resilience. This session combines science with real-world application, helping participants better understand the living system beneath our feet.

After lunch you’ll have a session with Melanie Greenhalgh, principle at Collective Wisdom Coaching and Consulting. She’ll take you through an empowering life management session, outlining crucial steps to overcome adversity, tap into your inner strength and take control of your life with both hands.

DAY 2 – Basic tools and Fencing
Most tools are easy enough to figure out, however using them properly is something you generally have to learn, tricks of the trade passed on to make your life easier, and safer. You’ll work your way through jigsaws, handsaws and a drop saw, drills, hammers and nail punches, and by the time you’ve finished you’ll never look at measuring things the same way again.

Learn the basics of fencing with Steve, gaining practical, hands-on experience in measuring, straining and tying wire safely and correctly. Under his guidance, they developed an understanding of fencing techniques, tools and safety, while building confidence in essential on-farm skills.

DAY 3 – Animal handling skills and nutrition
Moving livestock is an awful lot easier when you know how, and there’s nobody better than former Livestock Officer at the Department of Primary Industries, Greg Meaker. Greg will start the day with a demonstration of drafting, before splitting you into pairs and taking you all through a variety of skills in the yards.

Yard Practical – Sheep
You’ll learn how to count sheep, and move them between the yards. You’ll learn about drafting, catching, you’ll single out an animal and cast, fill a race while checking ID, and mouthing. Finally, you’ll be told the key benchmarks for breeding and lactation, and learn all about fat scoring.

Yard Practical – Cattle
In this live animal assessment you’ll learn about muscle and fat scoring, and you’ll move cattle through the crush before settling down for lunch.

Pasture Quality
Your afternoon session begins with a pasture walk, where four blank quads will be established and you’ll be asked to put a number on them. We’ll discuss how to assess pastures accurately, and we’ll review the key factors that influence pasture quality, and digestibility. We’ll look at pasture benchmarks, and you’ll learn how to use them to make proactive grazing decisions, before we move onto the final topic for the day.

Nutritional Shortfalls
Using a series of tables showing the various energy and protein requirements of livestock, we’ll jump into the topic of nutritional shortfall requirements. To do this we’ll use a drought feed calculator, and work through a range of practical exercise on how to calculate feed.

Preparation

Equipment
All materials and equipment are supplied, however you should bring your own drill, if you have them, so you can learn the specifics of your own tools.

Clothing
Please bring work gloves, and work clothes plus spares for each day on your car. You’ll need leather boots, or enclosed shoes, and Crookwell's weather can be unpredictable so be sure to pack warm & wet weather gear too.

Safety
If you have them, please bring safety glasses and hearing protection, along with a decent hat and sunscreen.

Food
There will be breaks for morning tea and lunch, so bring your own food along with a water bottle. We are only eight minutes into town, so it is possible to pop in and grab something to eat if you want.

Accommodation
There’s a wide variety of accommodation options nearby, please get in touch if you’d like some help with this.

Achievement & Certificate

We’re willing to bet you’ll learn more in this highly condensed agricultural training program than you have in the last year on your farm. Essential skills for the wellbeing and safety of your animals, and yourself, and knowledge that could save lives when accidents happen. All of this from accredited trainers in a variety of disciplines, and a ‘Statement of Attainment’ from the Australian Agricultural Centre at the end, along with a great group of rural women you’d never had met otherwise.

Instructors

Susan Orgill - Soils & Soil Health

Chief Scientist at Impact Ag Australia. Susan previously was a Senior Science Advisor for Select Carbon Pty Ltd, and a Leader in soils R&D for NSW DPI. Susan now shares her extensive knowledge and expertise to improve health of the country beneath our feet.

Brian Evans TAFE Trainer -  Tools
Brian worked in construction for most of his career, before bringing a lifetime’s worth of experience to TAFE where he’s now a qualified instructor, and our resident expert in all things tools.

Greg Meaker – Animal Handling
As a former Livestock Officer at the Department of Primary Industries, Greg spent years as an educator in beef cattle husbandry and management. Now he puts all that knowledge into practice, as the owner manager of two working properties in the Gunning district. His extensive experience in these two connected worlds makes him the perfect delivery partner for our animal handling programs.

Melanie Greenhalgh – Collective Wisdom Coaching – Life Management
Melanie worked in worked in the human services sector for over 27 years, before finally setting up her own coaching business, helping women achieve a better work-life balance, and providing guidance on boosting their self-confidence.