A group of young wool enthusiasts from across Australia were given tools and knowledge to become their industry and local community's next leaders.
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Last week the 22 participants of biennial course, Breeding Leadership 2024, converged on Clare for the week-long program which covered topics such as people management, strategic planning, corporate governance as well as communication and delegation.
It also included on-farm tours and visits to Michell Wool at Salisbury, Anlaby Station near Kapunda and the University of Adelaide to view the latest bioharvesting research.
On the final night an industry dinner was hosted by Australian Wool Innovation chief executive officer John Roberts.
The course which was started by the SA Stud Merino Breeders Association has been a national event since 2006 with more than 200 young people taking part in that time. AWI has been funding it since 2012.
AWI national extension manager Emily King had high praise for the participants which included veterinarians, wool brokers, owner managers and farm managers who were largely 25 to 35 years old.
"It was wonderful to meet the group from all walks of life from across the country and see their enthusiasm and positivity," she said.
"I am really looking forward to following their careers and seeing the impact they have on the industry."
Ms King said it was crucial at every opportunity they encouraged young people to consider leadership positions and exposed them to experienced people who could give them useful tips or become mentors.
"We have always got to have a good stock of young people coming through and we need courses such as this to bring in older people in front of these young people before we lose that knowledge," she said.
She said one of the major changes to the program was the enhancement of the personality typing session arming the cohort with the ability to understand different individuals behaviour based on their personality type and how this affects the dynamics of groups.
The six SA participants were Allie Brinkworth, Meningie; James Goss, Brinkworth; Liam Sander, Hamilton, Tim Shepherd, Balaklava; Chloe Smart, Stirling North and Grace Teate, Wandearah.
Ms Teate who has just started as a livestock trainee with Nutrien Ag Solutions Jamestown says it was "everything she had hoped for and more".
"I have had it on my radar to do for four or five years but I have never been living close enough or in a job that was flexible enough to do it until now," she said.
Ms Teate says she really enjoyed the course content from financial and business planning sessions as well as visiting two Merino studs which had different approaches to breeding, Mulloorie stud, Brinkworth and Leahcim at Snowtown.
Her biggest highlight though was meeting young people who are equally passionate about the wool industry.
"I have always been excited about the sheep, ag and wool industry but in the past it has been very hard to find many others so to be in a room full of them was amazing," she said.
"I am really keen to join a few committees and work my way up."
The next Breeding Leadership course will be held in February 2026.
