Dairy industry backs leaders

DAIRY farmers looking to improve themselves, their farm businesses and their industry should consider the current round of Farm Business Management Program scholarships.
The Gardiner Dairy Foundation has partnered with the three Victorian Regional Development Programs to offer 10 scholarships designed to improve business acumen, risk management and leadership.
Three scholarships are being offered for the Rabobank Executive Development Program (one in each RDP), six scholarships will be awarded for the University of Queensland Business Owner Manager Program (two in each RDP) and one scholarship – worth $59,000 – will be awarded for the prestigious Australian Rural Leadership Program.
Gardiner Dairy Foundation chief executive Mary Harney said the foundation was committed to investing in Victorian dairy farmers.
“We are committed to investing in emerging leaders and practices to help develop a long term future for the dairy industry,” she said.
GippsDairy chairman Graeme Nicoll encouraged all Gippsland farmers to look at the benefits of participating in the program.
“The Gardiner Dairy Foundation and the RDP’s have worked hard to develop a program that will have a major impact, not just on the scholarship recipients, but on the broader industry,” he said.
“We are looking for farmers who want to develop their own skills, but who can also help spread that knowledge throughout the region.”
Poowong North dairy farmer Allison Potter, who was last year’s recipient of the Rabobank Executive Development Program scholarship, urged Gippsland farmers to grasp the opportunity provided by the Farm Business Management Program.
“The course gives you a set of tools to get the most out of your business, particularly around setting meaningful, measurable goals,” she said.
“The standard of speakers is very high, it’s well organised and not a moment is wasted. Interacting with the other farmers has also given me the sense that nothing is impossible. The sky’s the limit!
“The course runs at calving time but it is worth putting things in place so that you can get away.”
Applications are now open and close on March 25, 2016.
For further information including application and eligibility guidelines, contact the Gardiner Foundation on 03 8621 291, email [email protected] or go to the webpage at www.gardinerfoundation.com.au

Doors open: Poowong North dairy farmer Allison Potter was inspired by her Rabobank Executive Development Program scholarship, funded by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation in 2015. 

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Mar 16 2016. Filed under Rural News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry