A PROPERTY plan focusing on the niche market for foetal blood took out the Wallaroi Perpetual Shield in the Local Land Services Schools Property Planning Competition, announced at AgQuip last Wednesday.
The competition gives high school agriculture students first-hand experience in investigating the real-life challenges faced by local farmers.
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School year 11 students Charlie Shadwell and Josh Liepens, with teacher Laura Tolley, had the champion plan for the North West regions, and won the grand champion award for North West and Northern Tablelands with their business plan based on Michael and Maree Nott’s Boggabri property “Delwood”.
“In their plan they talked about ways to improve the beef enterprise, by increasing numbers, using stock rotation more effectively, and by tapping into niche markets, including the foetal blood market,” Miss Tolley said.
Runners-up in the North West region were students from Calrossy Anglican School.
O’Connor Catholic College students Brody Hoffman, Charlotte Wade, Mitchell Jones and Lachlan Patricks, with support from teacher Janet Price, were the Northern Tablelands regional champions, receiving the Leanne Savage Perpetual Shield. Their plan for “Waratah”, Guyra, focused on maintaining the Speckle Park stud herd while adding new enterprises.
“They had two major enterprises, the beef production, and a trout farm, being right on top of the range, with the idea that the trout would provide income when prices for beef fell,” Mrs Price said.
“They also added tree lines to provide shelter.”
Nicholas Graham, O’Connor, was runner-up for the Northern Tablelands region.
