Egelabra Merino stud goes above and beyond to teach jackeroos

And even for those who have grown up on a farm, there are some skills or enterprises they have never experienced.

But what Cam and Kate Munro offer is something priceless - it's a unique chance to learn every aspect of life on the land, and for many, it changes their future in the agricultural industry.

Mr and Mrs Munro, who manage Egelabra Merino stud, Warren, for the Kater family, have been running a rural traineeship on the properties for the past 15 years, offering many youngsters the chance to learn all aspects of running a property.

Egelabra runs between 40,000 and 50,000 head of sheep, crops around 6000 hectares and since the drought runs around 1000 head of cattle, half Shorthorn and the other half Angus, along with 1500 agistment cattle.

The traineeship is a two-year course where four or five jackeroos each year work on the Egelabra properties, undergoing training in many fields and skills, and earning a Certificate two and three in agriculture from TAFE NSW.

And the Munros' reasons behind starting it were simple.

"There seems to be a shortage of hands-on colleges, the likes of Dalby and Longreach," Mr Munro said.

"It's disappointing there are not more training grounds in the sheep industry for younger people."

"It means they can go jackerooing for two years, but come out the end of it with a Certificate two and three in agriculture. It's about crawling before they walk. They get to learn on the job.

"They have a good skill set and knowledge before they begin tertiary education. Once they go to university, they can relate to what they've learned with their eyes and hands, the eye-o-meter."

RELATED READING:

Established in 2010, TAFE NSW was approached to formalise the training through their rural traineeship programs and tailored to work with Egelabra's working program.

This has proved to be a terrific partnership, with access to skilled educators through TAFE as well as external educators in specific fields such as butchery and stock handling professionals.

But what jackeroos learn in the traineeship is way beyond what can be learned in a classroom.

The traineeship begins with an induction, learning about workplace safety. They then attend low-stress stockhandling and stockmanship courses with trainer David Motley.

Each jackeroo brings a work dog, and they attend working dog training. "A young stockman who looks after his dog will take good care of your stock."

Jackeroos also learn about using motorbikes, complete a chemical course, a three-day shearing and crutching course, as well as a series of livestock practical work which fits into what is happening on the properties at the time.

As well as learning about small motor and vehicle maintenance, they can also spend a couple of weeks with the fencing contractor with a half-day theory course.

They learn chainsaw usage, as well as slaughtering sheep and cattle. Those interested in cropping can spend time with the agronomist.

Eighty-five per cent of the learning is on-farm, but courses like welding and first aid are done elsewhere. The first year is about learning a bit of everything, but in the second year, the jackeroos get to hone in on their interests.

"In the second year, some will go into the commercial sheep division under the management of Scott Empringham, while others will go into the stud or work alongside our farm manager Rob Job in the cropping division, but at the end of the day we all have to help each other out," he said.

Those that stay on for a third year often become overseers, gaining further responsibility.

Most of the jackeroos who drive in the front gate have just finished school and are from properties, but Mr Munro said each year there was one or two who had never worked on a property.

"It is a real achievement when we get someone like that over the line," he said.

It is the amazing development of the jackeroos that has Mr Munro smiling.

"It is important that they are getting out in the field, getting out of bed early and working hard. It's about learning with your eyes and hands, not relying on a computer to run your place," he said.

"It is so rewarding, seeing them get addicted to the land and bush. They are learning about hard work and respect."

Those who had completed the traineeship have gone into many different fields, from shearing to studs and commercial enterprises to agribusiness.

"There is a huge opportunity for the younger generation in all aspects of the industry. If there was ever a time, it is now," he said.