Agfest role is a dream come true

Owen excited by countdown to Tassie’s big showcase

BEING Agfest chairman is a dream role for Owen Woolley, who combines his own business with co-ordinating one of Australia’s largest agricultural field days.

“Since my first Agfest it has been an ambition of mine to become chairman, and I am proud to lead the team bringing you Agfest 2018,” Mr Woolley said.

“It’s an honour to be chairman and I enjoy the challenge. Being part of Agfest is awe-inspiring at how it is organised and what is happening. So when the opportunity came, I put my hand up.”

In his role as chairman, Mr Woolley is overseeing Tasmania’s biggest rural event, which is set to provide almost $27 million to the state’s economy.

Agfest is run solely by more than 120 volunteers aged between 15 and 30 from Rural Youth Tasmania, an organisation that does not get any government funding.

With more than 704 exhibitors accepted this year and attendance numbers of about 60,000 each year, Agfest continues to go from strength to strength.

After volunteering at seven Agfests, this is Mr Woolley’s first as chairman.

He started his Agfest journey in 2010 parking cars and doing parcel pick-up and delivery, and his other roles have included security and assistant waste co-ordinator.

“I started my involvement in Rural Youth through family friends the Hayers family, and now my good friend Dale is working with me as vicechairman,” he said.

“We have a great committee who are doing an excel- lent job. The amount of things going on to stage Agfest is staggering.”

Mr Woolley, 25, is a member of the KingboroughHuon club. He is a carpenter and joiner by trade and runs his own business, working on anything from new homes and renovations, to decks and sheds.

“Being chairman of Agfest requires a lot of drive,” he said.

“If you let the eight-ball drop it has a ripple effect because it affects other people’s roles. It can be quite a struggle to get it all to fit and it requires some late nights.”

Mr Woolley said the role required a lot of work to stay on top of co-ordinating other volunteers.

“It’s been a massive learning curve. I came in as chairman cold turkey; I hadn’t even chaired a meeting before,” he said.

“The biggest challenge is working with people to ensure everyone is progressing with their roles, without micro-managing them.

“The other volunteers all have other priorities in their lives and my role is to keep them motivated and passionate about what we are trying to achieve.”

Another highlight of Mr Woolley’s involvement with Rural Youth has been a 2014 exchange program.

“I went to Canada and stayed with a family for three months who were involved in their Rural Youth equivalent, Junior Farmers of Ontario,” he said.

“After that I got a job on a grain-cropping farm in Ontario for three months before heading back home. I went back the next season for another stint grain cropping.

“The whole program was fantastic and helped my personal development.”

This year a number of up- grades have been made to the Agfest site, including a new roadway from the eastern gate and upgraded power.

“All Tasmanians have touch points with agriculture,” he said. “Agfest is not only an opportunity to celebrate agriculture and the people who make it happen, it is also an opportunity to educate and learn from industry leaders.”