Working in remote parts of Australia doesn’t mean no one is watching. Quite the opposite. In Queensland’s Goondiwindi Region, a station general manager has become one of seven inaugural recipients of the AgriEmpower Scholarship. The prize is $20 000 for the winners to continue to be change-makers in the industry.
Andrew Powne of Cameron Pastoral Company has a big job on his hands with upwards of 67 000 cattle, as well as a cropping business. “Ultimately, my position is about managing people and overcoming problems. It comes down to keeping people moving,” he explains.
Being among the first cohort of AgriEmpower scholarship recipients, supported by the National Farmers Federation and Woolworths, Andrew feels a real sense of the industry wanting to invest in the next generation and giving back to the sector. Andrew will spend his money on self-development, and exposing himself to new opportunities in the broader industry.
“I think regenerative agriculture can have a bit of a fluffy spiel at times and I’m really focussed on the nuts and bolts of sustainability and how we can improve Australian agriculture moving forward.”
Andrew is looking to further his knowledge on fertility, carbon and systems improvements that will have a meaningful impact on production. “That could be recycling manure from the piggery next door, water use efficiency, and soil conservation. Whether that be planting trees or shade lines or managing erosion through contour banks,” he shares.
Without having a rural background, Andrew brings fresh eyes to the problems he sees. His parents owned a fuel station in south-west Queensland, which afforded him a regional upbringing but very little agricultural know-how. “I’ve come from a position of not knowing anything and having to pick it up along the way.” Andrew credits university, mentors, information sharing opportunities and field days with his rapid acquisition of knowledge.
Andrew’s key vision is a carbon-positive supply chain with a view to capitalise on the singular ownership of the operation. “From my boss’s point of view, they have a foot in the door at every step of the way apart from Coles and Woolies. They’re in the breeding, the production of grain for the animals. It’s a very interesting space to be able to close that loop,” he says.
“It’s probably where my focus will be. It’s incorporating manure back into the farming but also, we’re producing power by biogas through the capturing of methane from the effluent. That throws up the potential for generating your own fertiliser.”
Andrew believes agriculture has a funny way of sucking you in, when you get involved in the community. That passion has taken Andrew from roles as a chaser-bin operator, working on grain properties, even exposure at mining sites. “Generally, being in smaller communities, you’re understood by your neighbours.” Part of his mission is to also educate the broader metropolitan community about the ethics involved in running a farm. He believes there’s still a disconnect there, that could be improved.
In a career spanning about 16 years so far, with plenty of unexpected experiences, the biggest surprise for Andrew was finding a wife! “I kind of wrote myself off as not being able to find a partner at one point in time. It’s amazing what pops up within you own community.”
To start his own family and find his unique place in the world, is a dream come true. “At the end of the day, ag has looked after me and the country’s looked after me. I’m happy to be in this position.” And the industry is happy to have him too.
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