DOWERIN/MURESK

This week, our Year 11 Farm Focus students set off on an exciting three-day trip to Dowerin/Muresk, with a program full of industry visits, guest speakers, hands-on learning opportunities and time to connect as a group.

On Monday morning, students departed bright and early, stopping at Williams for a quick morning tea before travelling on to Patmore Feeds in Narrogin. 

Here, they gained insight into the operations of a commercial feed mill, its role in livestock production and the career pathways available in animal nutrition and feed milling. After a lunch break in Brookton, the group travelled to Balco Hay, where they observed large-scale hay export operations and learned not only about international quality standards but also the wide range of careers in hay production, processing and exporting. 

Arriving at Muresk in the afternoon, students settled into their accommodation, explored the farm and enjoyed a barbecue dinner before evening of activities and presentations. That night, they heard from an agronomist from Nutrien, a drone technology expert and the General Manager of Muresk, who outlined course offerings and career opportunities in agronomy, ag-tech and higher education.

Tuesday began with a short trip into Northam to watch the National Working Dog Trials, where students developed an appreciation for the skills of working dogs and the career options in training, breeding and handling. 

From there, the group toured Northam's CBH grain handling and storage facilities, learning about the vital role CBH plays in WA’s grain industry with many employment opportunities within logistics, operations and agribusiness. After morning tea, the students travelled to Cunderdin Ag for lunch and a tour, which showcased the College and their pathways. 

In the afternoon, students visited the Wyalkatchem Agricultural Museum to explore farming machinery history and see how careers in agricultural engineering and mechanics have changed. The day concluded with dinner at Dome in Northam and more activities back at Muresk.

On Wednesday, students packed up early and travelled to the Dowerin Machinery Field Days. They had the opportunity to see the very latest in machinery, technology and had the opportunity to speak directly with exhibitors about careers across the agricultural sector. 

A highlight of the day was competing in the sheep judging competition, where students demonstrated their judging skills. Congratulations to Charli Smith, who made the finals in the Merino Ram Judging – a fantastic achievement! 

We sincerely thank all the businesses and organisations who generously gave their time to share knowledge and expertise with our students. 

A special thank you also goes to the staff who made the trip possible. Our students represented Harvey with genuine interest, maturity and enthusiasm over the three days