Australian Wool Innovation Emerging Young Leaders Scholarship awarded to NSW youngster Florance McGufficke

A wool industry young gun from New South Wales has been awarded Australian Wool Innovation’s most prestigious youth scholarship. Florance McGufficke, who lives and works at her parent’s farm in Cooma, NSW, where they run the Greendale Merinos stud, was this week announced the winner of AWI’s Emerging Young Leaders Scholarship. “I perform all sheep husbandry jobs from shearing to drenching, lamb marking and weaning,” she said. “Plus all the other jobs that need to be done on farm, such as fencing and weed spraying.” Her role as genetic data collection officer entails assisting with operating Tru-test technology in collection and analysis of genetic data and measurements such as DNA tests, mid-side samples, body weights, and fleece weights. She also assists with internal media promotion and website development. The AWI scholarship aims to build the capability of young rural people to farm with resilience and confidence while also providing a great platform to spark the next generation’s interest in an agricultural career. Ms McGufficke will participate in the prestigious Cultivate – Growing Young Leaders program run by Action4 Agriculture. This two-year training package will give her exposure to some of the country’s top media and communication specialists and equip her with skills to accelerate a journey in agricultural leadership. She grew up on a sheep and wool enterprise near Cooma, NSW and spent her early years in “daddy-day-care” following her father around the sheds and paddocks. It was a formative time for one who has gone on to complete a double degree in agriculture and business at the University of New England. “I believe this scholarship will help me navigate a future in this fast and progressive world with self-confidence and resilience,” Ms McGufficke said. “I am passionate about agriculture and becoming an ambassador for other young people and about building relationships and networks to promote the benefits and potential of wool; an industry full of opportunity for all.” This year marks a decade since AWI first started supporting the Young Farming Champions program. Through Action4Agriculture, the program continues to not only help build the capability of young rural people to farm with resilience and confidence, but also provides a great platform to spark the next generation’s interest in an agricultural career. AWI acting chief executive John Roberts said it was with delight that Ms McGufficke had been chosen to receive the 2022 AWI scholarship and be trained to become a local face of sustainable wool production. “The program is a great way to not only communicate the positive messages of the wool industry to the wider public, but also encourage youngsters into the industry,” he said. “As part of the scholarship, Florance will hone her skills by engaging with school students as part of The Archibull Prize and the Kreative Koalas – Design a Bright Future Challenge. “Once graduated from the Cultivate program, Florance will join the Young Farming Champions, a network of early professionals advocating and leading for agriculture.” Ms McGufficke said the Young Farming Champions had the ability to empower young people to embrace rural and regional Australia. “It allows them to explore the supply chains and diverse agricultural enterprises and share this information with various audiences to increase transparency and reduce the amount of misconception between the producer and consumer,” she said.