Defying the Drift 2026

From the 21st to the 23rd of September, I attended Longerenong College in Horsham, to participate in the Defying the Drift program. Thanks to the sponsorship of the Beaufort Rotary Club, I was fortunate to experience a closer look into the agriculture industry and the roles available.

After arriving on the first day, we had a tour of the College, before jumping straight into team building and ice-breaking activities, so we could get to know our peers. 

The following morning, we were up early (around 6:30) and on the road to our first stop of the day, Rethus Broadacre farm. Once there, we looked at the different equipment and tools they use for cropping. From here, we headed to Nufarm seeds where we learned about canola seed breeding, before moving on to CropOpti to learn about the chemicals used in agriculture. Our last stop of the day was at Barton Station, where we looked at new technologies shaping the industry. Once back at the College, we attended a formal dinner with a guest speaker, who discussed different aspects of the industry.

On our third and final day, we talked about the agriculture sector as a whole, including the various careers available and our next steps to obtain work in the industry. To conclude the program, we shared lunch with our families and discussed the events of the previous three days.

I highly recommend Defying the Drift to anyone considering a career in agriculture as it has opened my eyes to the many possibilities within the industry.

- Courtney Armeni