Horsham agricultural students have regained opportunities to learn outside of the classroom through workplace experiences following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. 

Longerenong College students are continuing to develop their skills alongside working agricultural industry members during their time at school, with an aim to move into regional jobs after they finish their studies. 

Student Lynae Howlett secured a work placement at Western Ag this year, spending four weeks working alongside Longerenong College alumni at Western Ag Horsham. 

Miss Howlett, originally from Ballarat district, said the placement was a great chance to get real-world experience under her belt. 

“This is my second year at Longy where I am studying a Diploma of Agronomy  and an Advanced Diploma of Agro-business management. This experience gets your foot in the door at a good company,” she said.  Miss Howlett will complete four weeks at the Horsham site, before gathering more experience at the company’s Ballarat site. 

College 2019 graduate Laura Millard, an animal health specialist at Western Ag, said the college offered ‘great courses and amazing teachers’.

“Longy helped me get my job here, with support from my teachers and the college to get me through my courses and into this role,” she said. 

Miss Millard and Miss Howlett constitute an increased number of female agricultural students at the college. 

“It is really great to see the girls giving the boys a good run. It is still a very male-dominated industry, but I think there might just be more girls than boys at Longy this year, which is great,” Miss Howlett said. 

The entire May 25, 2022 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire May 25, 2022 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!