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2024 NSW Young Farmer Business Program Conference

The 2024 NSW Young Farmer Business Program (YFBP) Conference is happening on 16 and 17 May in Armidale!

A fantastic networking event designed to equip young farmers with the essential tools needed to take their businesses to the next level.

With innovative farm tours and dynamic networking opportunities planned, there is something for everyone, topics include proactive succession planning, leadership, planning and preparedness for agribusiness, and maintaining good mental health.

With fantastic keynote speakers across the 2 days including keynote speakers Nedd Brockmann, Grace Brennan and MC Jodi Lee – you don’t want to miss this fabulous event!

As an initiative of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) we recognise that these networking events are of great importance and have therefore provided funding to reduce the price of this conference that has a value of over $450*

Download full agenda for the Conference here


Tickets

Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now!

Purchase YFBP Conference tickets here:  https://events.humanitix.com/2024-yfbp-conference

Full 2-Day Conference Ticket  $125 ($150 full price)

Access the entire YFBP conference experience, Thursday’s behind the scenes farm tours at 5 great locations hosted by our educational partner UNE, and the ‘biggest event of the YFBP year’ the networking dinner including a fireside chat with Nedd Brockmann. Enjoy a delicious breakfast before the conference on Friday, where you will hear from exciting speakers including Grace Brennan #buyfromthebush.

The conference will have a foyer full of stallholders across both days from banking through to landholder advice, grants, concessional loans, and insurance, plus more!

Breakfast & Conference Only  $60 pp ($75 full price)

For those that can’t make it to day 1 of the conference, take the opportunity to network over a delicious breakfast before attending the engaging full-day conference session.

Conference Only    $50 pp ($55 full price)

Ideal for those seeking to gain valuable knowledge and insights, and to network with peers.

As an initiative of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) we recognise that these networking events are of great importance and have therefore provided funding to reduce the price of this conference that has a value of over $450*

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DAY 1 - Thursday 16 May 2024

TimeActivityDetails
12pm-4:00pmStall holders openOpen to conference attendees and the general public
12:00pm – 1:15pmRegistration and meet and greet lunchConference attendees are invited to register and enjoy lunch before departing on the Farm Tour buses
1:15pm – 4:00pmFarm Tours

FARM TOURS – Attendees choose up to two farm tours

Farm Tour 1

Tullimba offers insights into cattle feed efficiency, behaviour, animal welfare, and feedlot management

Tullimba | UNE SMART Farm

Farm Tour 2

Kirby tour includes discussions on sheep methane research, feeding, and related topics

Kirby | UNE SMART Farm

Farm Tour 3

Visit Clarks Farm followed by a lecture on drought resilience and waterway management

Clarks Farm | UNE SMART Farm & UNE

Farm Tour 4

Explore Glasshouses and Toombs Farm for insights into agronomy, crops and pastures

Glasshouses and Toombs Farm | UNE SMART Farm

Farm Tour 5

Embark on a tour of CART (Centre for Animal Research and Teaching) Tour and engage in a discussion about methane research and chambers

Centre for Animal Research and Teaching (CART) | UNE SMART Farm

Farm Tour 6

Hands on workshop and meat science discussion looking at different cuts of meat and their purpose

Meat workshop | UNE

5:30pm-6:15pm

6:25pm - 6:50pm

9:30pm

11pm

Welcome

Keynote Speaker

Music

Buses

The Bistro | UNE

Welcome to attendees and an official introduction to our Master of Ceremonies Jodi Lee

Fireside chat with Nedd Brockmann and Jodi Lee

Put your dancing boots on! Network, enjoy the music and dance

Buses available to main accommodation

Day 2 - Friday 17 May 2024

TimeActivityDetails
7:30am - 8:30amBreakfast with NSW FarmersThe Bistro | UNE
8:00am – 2:30pmStall holders open - Lazenby HallOpen to conference attendees and the general public
8:30am-4:15pmMain Conference

8:30am- 9:15am

Local Elder
NSW DPI
UNE

9:30am – 10:30am

Young Farmer Panel Discussion

  1. Grace Collins - RAS Rural   Achiever Award 2024
  2. Mitch Highett - Bullseye Ag – Farm Management Solutions
  3. Jack LaurieBreeder   Genetics
  4. Emma CliftonYoung Farmer Business Program
  5. Jack CresswellFarms   Advice Podcast/Annalara White Dorpers

10:30-11:00am

Morning Tea – Networking opportunity and chance to talk with stallholders

11:00am – 11:35am

Succession Planning

Jess Cavanagh - ProAgtive

11:40am – 12:15pm

Leadership in Agriculture – Seizing Opportunities

Troy Setter - Consolidated Pastoral Company

12:20pm – 1:15pm

Keynote Speaker

Grace Brennan - Buy from the Bush

1:15pm – 2:10pm

Lunch  - Networking opportunity and chance to talk with stallholders

2:15pm – 2:40pm

Building Better
Banking Relationships

George Hardy - Director of NAB Agribusiness and
President of Farm Writers Association

2:45pm – 3:10pm

Thinking Outside
the Square

Bill Mitchell - Optiweigh

3:15pm – 3:40pm

Being Financially Prepared

Stuart Brummell- Rural Financial Counselling Service

3:45pm – 4:10pm

Healthy Farmer
Healthy Farm

Bronte Lee & Kate Arndell - Rural Adversity Mental Health Program

4:10pm – 4:15pm

CLOSE

Conference wrap up with Jodi Lee

4:15pm – 4:45pm

AFTERNOON TEA – Networking opportunity


Keynote Speakers

Journalist, MC
Thursday 16 & Friday 17 May

Jodi Lee is a well-known television journalist and event MC.

For more than a decade she has had a front row seat to history, delivering the news as it happens to
hundreds of thousands of Australians. Jodi appears nightly on the evening bulletin and has interviewed everyone from sitting Prime Ministers to Olympic athletes and Hollywood celebrities.

When Jodi isn’t gracing television screens, she is hosting events across the country. As an MC Jodi is adaptable, energetic, relatable and engaging. She effortlessly commands live audiences, interviewing famous faces and facilitating panel discussions for sporting, corporate and government clients.

Nedd Brockmann- Tradie & Marathon Runner who wants to change the world
Keynote speaker at Networking Dinner Thursday 16 May

Nedd Brockmann grew up on his family’s farm in Central West NSW before moving to Sydney to work as an electrician in 2019. Having only started running 2 years prior, at the age of 23 he became the fastest Australian to run across the country, and the second-fastest in the world, completing a journey of 3953 kilometres from Perth’s Cottesloe Beach to Sydney’s Bondi Beach in 46 days and 12 hours. Averaging an incredible 85 kilo-metres a day for the run, Nedd had to contend with numerous challenges along the way, from logistical night-mares of accommodation and food supplies out in the Australian outback, to countless injuries that threatened to derail him from finishing. With an unwavering determination to succeed and an aptitude to never die won-dering, Nedd continued to show up each day with the resolution he would finish, and in doing so inspired thousands.

Throughout the run, he used his platform to call attention to the urgent crisis of homelessness, setting himself the target of raising a million dollars for the charity We Are Mobilise, who provide functional care to the home-less and seek to create change through connection. In his regular posts on Instagram, Nedd highlighted the highs and lows of the epic run and encouraged others to pursue their dreams; to trust in their ability to over-come adversity and have the courage to start on those lofty goals that otherwise might prove daunting. It's no surprise that when he made his way to Bondi Beach, a crowd of more than 10,000 people gathered to welcome him home, all of them feeling a kinship to his laid-back humour and authentic self. It was a finish line that is now woven into the national fabric of Australia history.

Nedd Raised a final total of $2.6million for Mobilise. It's a figure that has already seen change occur in real time, with Mobilise providing an Australia-first direct cash transfer program for the homeless aimed at offering employment and ongoing support, including housing and financial counselling. Just eight months after com-pleting his run across Australia, Mobilise reported their first participant had received a contract offer to start work. 34 people are now in the Direct Giving program.

Nedd’s run across Australia catapulted him forward into what he had already planned to do in this life; make the most of every day, do hard things and to give back, all in the hope to be able to push this out to a scale where everyone can get a glimpse of what that feels like. Post his trans-continent record run, Nedd has pub-lished a bestselling sports book, Showing Up, started Nedd’s Milk, a chocolate milk company that donates to Mobilise with every bottle purchased, and continues to push his limits daily. Though Nedd doesn’t call himself a runner, he is someone who see tests of physical endurance and suffering as a playground for the human spirit to thrive. He takes on such challenges with nothing but a desire to test himself and prove that anything is possible if you're willing to work for it and make sacrifices. He believes that every day you should live as if it were your last and to never take a backward step

Grace Brennan Founder, #Buyfromthebush, and 2020 NSW Australia Day Speaker
Keynote speaker Friday 17 May


Grace Brennan has been instrumental in uniting Australia’s communities in the city and country. The founder of the Buy from the Bush campaign, she has started conversations, lifted spirits, created jobs and saved businesses that may otherwise have failed due to devastating drought and bushfires.

Grace Brennan’s significant contribution to Australian communities was recognised when she was asked to deliver the 2020 Australia Day speech. An inspiring and passionate speaker, she talks about the power of community-driven change and how to start up a business and drive its sustainable success.

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Partners

The Young Farmer Business Program is proud to partner with UNE as an educational partner for the Thursday 16 May at the YFBP Conference 2024. UNE has kindly donated the use of 5 farming facilities including Tallimba and Kirby, with three other farms announced shortly, for the farms tours on Thursday 16 May. If you are interested in becoming a partner for the YFBP conference, we have packages available. Please contact young.farmer@dpi.nsw.gov.au if you are interested in receiving a package.

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Armidale

About Armidale

The Armidale region boasts spectacular waterfalls, gorges, world-heritage national parks, cool-climate vineyards and a fascinating and diverse cultural heritage.

At around 1000 metres above sea level, Armidale offers visitors a truly evocative and unique experience.

The city of Armidale and the town and villages of Guyra, Wollomombi and Ebor share a rich history and stunning natural environment. Where else can you experience World Heritage wilderness in the morning and indulge in the sophistication of world-class galleries and vineyards in the afternoon?

This is all part of the experience in the Armidale region – there are hundreds of thousands of hectares of national parks and state forests to explore.*

*Sourced from www.visitarmidale.com.au

Accommodation for the Young Farmer Business Conference

The Young Farmer Business Program has blocked out rooms at the following hotels, please feel free to reach out to these hotels and mention you are attending the YFBP conference. These rooms will be blocked until 17 March, 2024.

  • Armidale Showground- affordable option - 0400 639 630 -
  • Camping is $30.00 per night per site for a powered site and $20.00 per site per night for unpowered

  • Highlander Van Village 6772 4768
  • Country Comfort Armidale 6772 8511
  • All Seasons Armidale 6772 9800
  • Sandstock Motor Inn 6772 9988
  • The Armidale Inn 6772 8122
  • Alluna Motel 6772 6226

Things to do in Armidale

The Big Chill 18-19 May

Embrace the vibe, feel the chill
The Big Chill is back and bigger than ever. Get ready for big vibes and good times in 2024.

The stages showcase a kaleidoscope of musical genres. From indie, country and folk to electronic sounds, there will be something for everyone.

Beyond the beats, the festival grounds come alive. Indulge in gourmet delights from local and regional cuisines, award-winning craft beer or explore local distilleries and wineries. Our event is open to all ages. Entertain the entire family with a kids zone, art installations, interactive experiences for teens, and much more.

Whether you're a music lover, a foodie enthusiast, or someone seeking a weekend at the top of the ranges, The Big Chill is set to deliver the perfect winter festival experience.

Come and experience Armidale in all its glory! Dance the night away under the open sky or gather around a fire pit to embrace the vibe, and feel the chill on May 18 and 19, 2024.

Visit www.bigchill.com.au for more information and to buy tickets!

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Sponsors

Silver Sponsorship

Keep an eye out on Silver Sponsors being posted soon!