More than 100 agriculture students and young beef industry professionals attended the 2022 Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association (ICMJ Association) Northern Conference in Rockhampton in mid-April.
As part of the recently announced five-year strategic partnership with the ICMJ Association, Herefords Australia was proud to sponsor the event and promote the breed throughout the four-day event.
Herefords Australia Breed and Business Development Manager, Kathleen Allan, said the conference was a fantastic opportunity to network with passionate university students and early career participants who are excited to be part of the red meat industry.
“Over the four days, I was able to meet with so many young, eager people and was genuinely impressed by the conversations had and level of enthusiasm for the beef industry,” Kathleen said.
“During the Career Expo, our youth programs and scholarships, and specifically the CM Hocking $5,000 bursary, were key focuses in discussions.
“As part of the Herefords Australia sponsorship, we also hosted a morning tea, which allowed me to share more information about Herefords and our strategic commitment to building capacity within the breed and the sector more broadly.”
As an ICMJ alumni from 1996, Kathleen said the program had evolved and was a credit to the ICMJ network.
“Back when I did ICMJ, there was a lot of time in the chiller room, but that’s now changed, and we’re seeing a lot more opportunities to build strong networks across the sector,” she said.
“Being there was a plus because you’re speaking to the converted about red meat.
“It’s really a great opportunity to highlight the Hereford breed and create interest for those who are still forming their career paths.”
