“I think for me, why I’m involved in agriculture is for a few reasons. I love the people and the lifestyle that it provides for me, and knowing that I’m part of something that is so vitally important to our community and globally, food production.

Eight years ago I had the chance to be involved in a shipment of Brahman cattle from Townsville to Jakarta, Indonesia and I was hooked! I knew straight away that I had found where I was meant to be and today, 8 years on, I’m still loving it.

I think I’ve found a job where the saying “Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life” rings true to where I am. I work with incredibly passionate people who live and breathe what they do and it’s so infectious to be surrounded by people like that.

It’s given me the chance to put myself out there, and that’s something that certainly hasn’t come naturally to me.

I’m highly introverted by nature, but I think when you’re extremely passionate about something and with a ‘say yes’ attitude you can overcome the insecurity that comes with it.

I think we have an incredible story to share and it’s really important that we share it. I got some advice once ‘It’s not about you, it’s about the message that you’re conveying” and that’s really stuck with me, especially when I’m feeling uncomfortable.

It’s allowed me to take up opportunities that otherwise I probably wouldn’t.

A few years ago, there was a group of us here in Northern Australia looking for some opportunities around professional development and networking.

The options were pretty limited for us and so we came together to create @younglivex. We wanted to provide a workshop here and there for 10-20 people, and it’s just grown!

I think it shows there is such a passion for what we do and also the importance in the development of young people in agriculture.

That experience has definitely changed my career, for the better.

It’s given me confidence. A network of people around me. It’s shown that when we come together we are so much stronger and I’m really excited to see where the network and the people who are part of it go”

– Kari