IN ONE whirlwind year, Queensland grazier Sam Becker's understanding of the beef industry has broadened through experiences he might never have encountered on the farm.
Mr Becker was the 2014 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion, an award run by Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) to nurture future advocates for the beef industry.
The award took Mr Becker to Texas for the Five Nations Beef Alliance meeting, gained him a seat on AgForce as a youth director, and gave him access to many of the industry's senior figures.
In August, Mr Becker will hand over his Rising Champion award to the 2015 winner. Nominations for the 2015 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion award, the fifth in the series, are being collected by CCA until June 7.
Sam Becker reckons all young beef industry players should enter the award.
"I have a much better understanding of the complexity of the industry," he said. "There were issues that I wasn't aware of, and I learned how and why they fit into the bigger picture."
While travelling overseas he spent several days sitting next to then CCA president Andrew Ogilvie. "He gave me a lot of good points to consider, and has acted as a sort of mentor."
Back home at the Becker family's Jarrah Cattle Comp-any at Banana, Queensland, the experience has also led to some shifts in thinking - including moving the commercial herd towards Pasture Certified Assurance Scheme (PCAS) accreditation to take advantage of the premiums the scheme has been reliably delivering.
The Rising Champion award will go to the person that demonstrates the greatest leadership potential, and be announced at a Gala Dinner on August 19 at the National Press Club.
The award is supported by NAB Agribusiness, McDonald's Australia, Fairfax Media and state farming organisations.
Nominations close on June 7.
Visit www.cattlecouncil.com.au
