Two promising WA ag students announced as 2025 AgriFutures Australia scholarship recipients

Two promising WA agriculture students have been announced as part of AgriFutures Australia latest scholarship round.

Capel’s Chris Partridge and Gidgegannup’s Jasmin Hanlon were among the 21 recipients of the 2025 AgriFutures Australia’s Horizon Scholarship, designed to support Australia’s most promising university students.

Each scholar receives a $10,000 bursary over two years to support their studies and living expenses, along with access to a unique program of professional development, industry networking and work placements with an industry sponsor.

The 2025 cohort will get together in July for a five-day workshop in Canberra, held in conjunction with the AgriFutures Stakeholder Summit.

Mr Partridge grew up working on his family’s grapevine nursery.

“I am very incredibly thankful to be provided with this opportunity and to have Hort Innovation as my sponsor, especially as I have seen the difference that they make in the industry,” he said.

“I am excited to build new skills, make industry connections and network with students from all over Australia.

“The opportunities provided by this programme will be life changing for me.”

Mr Patridge said he didn’t realise that agriculture was his passion until he completed work experience at school with an agricultural research company in York, despite his agricultural upbringing.

He is currently in his second year studying agricultural science at The University of Adelaide.

Prior to this, Mr Partridge embarked on a gap year to gain experience outside of horticulture, working on an irrigated cropping and cotton farm in Wee Waa, New South Wales.

He also worked as a field technician for an agricultural research company conducting trials in both broadacre and horticultural environments.

“When I have completed my degree, I would love to work in the horticulture industry as an agronomist, assisting growers in improving the production potential of their farm or as a researcher contributing to the future of horticulture in Australia,” he said.

Ms Hanlon said she was looking forward to what the next two years of the scholarship would bring.

“I am extremely grateful to AgriFutures and Grains Research and Development Corporation for providing me this amazing opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals, gain valuable knowledge and hands on experience through placements,” she said.

Ms Hanlon grew up on a small hobby farm but it wasn’t until she attended the Western Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin that her passion for the industry “flourished”.

After completing year 12, Ms Hanlon began a bachelor of agricultural science, majoring in crop and casture and animal science at Murdoch University.

“I am particularly interested in integrated crop management and the relationship between cropping and livestock sectors in building a sustainable production system,” she said.

“In the future, I hope to be working as an agronomist where I can encourage and assist WA producers to adopt sustainable practises to optimise their grain and pasture production.”

Since its inception in 2010, the program has more than 240 students, strengthening the future of regional and rural Australia and driving innovation and change across the sector.