australian-future-farmers

Spring Newsletter

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 03:19:10 GMT

Growing Connections. Creating Opportunities. Shaping the Future of Agriculture.

Thanking our platinum sponsors

What’s been happening at AFFE?

It’s been a busy few months for Australian Future Farmers Exchange , and we are incredibly excited about where AFFE is heading!

From getting young people out on farms and into real agricultural experiences, to connecting them with farmers, industry and career opportunities, our goal remains simple — to help young people discover just how exciting a future in Australian Agriculture can be.

We believe you don’t need to grow up on a farm, have years of agricultural experience or know exactly what career you want. Sometimes all it takes is an opportunity to get out there, have a go, meet the right people and see what’s possible.

And that’s what AFFE is all about.

Coming up.........

We have been working behind the scenes on some AFFE merchandise and planning for tour in 2027.

If you are a teacher and interested in having a chat about our tours and to get your hands on some merch, Russ and Amanda are heading to the Agriculture Teacher Professional Development Conference at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga on the 13-14th October 2026.

Its always a great time at Charles Sturt Uni, with so many passionate and amazing educators coming together with the shared goal to inspire young people in the field of agriculture.

We’d love to meet you there.

Next exciting news is.....

AFFE 2027 Ag Immersion Tour — APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

Want to spend a week immersed in Australian Agriculture?

Our 2027 AFFE Ag Immersion Tour to Queensland is now open for applications!

We’re planning another exciting, hands-on, agriculture-packed week, 20th - 26th June 2027 , giving young people the opportunity to experience agriculture from the paddock right through to the wider industry.

You’ll meet farmers and industry professionals, hang out with other like minded young people, get hands-on, see different agricultural enterprises and discover career opportunities you may never have even considered.

And remember — you don't have to be an agricultural expert!

All we’re looking for is an interest in agriculture, a willingness to have a go and a desire to learn.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, what interests you and why you’d like to come along.

You never know where one week could take you!

If this sound like something that interests you, head to our website and and click on the 'How to apply' button.

We can’t wait to read your applications, learn more about you and see the amazing young people who will become part of the AFFE family in 2027.

The Future for AFFE

Amanda and Russ have also been working on another exciting step for AFFE.

We are looking at ways to help young agriculture enthusiasts turn their passion for agriculture into lifelong careers — connecting young people with opportunities, industry and the people who can help them take that next step.

As many of us know it is often very daunting to find your first job after you leave school, particularly if you feel you may not have the required skills, know the right people or have the passion but not sure where to start. This is the problem we have been working on at AFFE, to connect young people with the passion, drive and vision to work in the Ag sector with the farmers who are looking for the next generation to pass on their skills and knowledge.

So if you are a young person who needs help to find your first job in agriculture, or a farmer, industry leader who would really like to take on a young person please flick us an email or phone call, we would love to chat more.

So stay tuned for the future… there’s plenty more to come!

The Future of Australian Agriculture starts with people.

At AFFE, we believe the future of agriculture isn’t just about technology, machinery, crops, livestock or innovation.

It’s about people.

It’s about giving young Australians the opportunity to discover agriculture, meet the people behind it and find their place within an industry that has so much to offer.

Amanda and Russ are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported AFFE, opened their gates, shared their knowledge, sponsored our programs, encouraged a young person to have a go or simply followed along with what we’re doing.

Thank you.

Russell and Amanda

June 2026 Newsletter

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:23:17 GMT

Wrap up of our recent adventure in North East Vic.

What an incredible journey it has been for Australian Future Farmers Exchange (AFFE) as we continue our mission of connecting young people with the opportunities, innovation and career pathways that exist across Australian agriculture.

Our recent North East Victoria Agricultural Immersion Tour was another outstanding experience, giving our participants the opportunity to step inside some of Australia’s most diverse and innovative agricultural enterprises. Young people travelled from Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, bringing together a passionate group of future agricultural leaders who shared one common goal — discovering where a career in agriculture could take them.

Throughout the tour, participants were immersed in a wide range of agricultural industries and gained a genuine understanding of the skills, technology, passion and people behind modern farming.

The journey showcased the incredible diversity of Australian agriculture, including:

• Livestock production — experiencing sheep sales, sheep drafting, animal health practices including vaccination and drenching, and learning firsthand from producers about managing high-performing livestock enterprises.

• Aquaculture — exploring salmon and trout farming and discovering the innovation required to produce premium Australian seafood.

• Horticulture and food production — visiting a boutique mushroom farm, an alpine apple orchard, the Pepo Pumpkin Seed Farm and factory, and seeing the journey from paddock to product.

• Dairy and egg production — gaining insight into the scale, technology and dedication behind Australia’s world-class dairy industry and free-range egg production systems.

• Pork production — visiting JBS Pork and learning about modern intensive livestock production, animal welfare, technology and career opportunities.

• Genetics and reproduction — visiting Global Reproduction Solutions and discovering the advanced embryo transfer services supporting cattle breeders and improving future herd genetics.

• Agribusiness and supply chains — spending time with Yenda Producers Co-operative and learning how agricultural businesses support farmers and communities.

Every visit provided something different, but the message was consistent — Australian agriculture is growing, innovating and looking for passionate young people to become the next generation of leaders.

One of the most valuable parts of every AFFE experience is the connection between participants, industry professionals and each other. Through networking conversations, shared experiences and building friendships, our young people leave with a much clearer understanding of the pathways available to them and the confidence to pursue opportunities within agriculture.

Since returning home, AFFE has continued to support our participants through our growing alumni network. We are working alongside our young people to help connect them with work experience opportunities, training pathways and industry contacts that can assist them as they begin building their agricultural careers.

We are also excited to be developing AFFE merchandise to help share our message further and raise awareness of the important role AFFE plays in creating pathways into Australian agriculture.

None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity, support and commitment of our sponsors, industry partners and host businesses. Your willingness to open your gates, share your knowledge and invest in young people is helping shape the future of Australian agriculture.

From all of us at AFFE — thank you for believing in our vision and supporting the next generation of Australian farmers, innovators and agricultural leaders.

And the exciting news… we are already working on our 2027 AFFE program and cannot wait to share what is ahead!

Stay tuned — the future of agriculture is bright, and it starts with our young people.

Australian Future Farmers Exchange
Connecting young people with agriculture, opportunity and the future.