Passion for industry earns young gun a US scholarship
ANNABELLE Butler’s passion for beef has landed her an industry scholarship at a university in the United States.
The Kansas State University is one the best agricultural universities in the US, and the scholarship will allow Miss Butler to attend the university for one semester.
Miss Butler will have access to the university’s own seedstock and commercial herd, feedlot, feed mill, brilliant teaching facilities and high-quality teaching staff.
She will also have the opportunity to enjoy campus activities and experience the local life of beef producers and agribusinesses in the area.
Miss Butler grew up on a mixed farming operation on the Darling Downs and in northern New South Wales.
“It was mostly cropping and cattle on the side,” Miss Butler said.
“I was involved in beef as much as I could be. I was involved in the inter-collegiate meat judging competition in 2017.
“It’s something that I was passionate about and always interested in.
“There are a lot of exciting opportunities in the beef industry and it has a lot of potential.”
From the age of 10, Miss Butler was involved in several Queensland Youth Cattle Conferences both as a delegate and as a volunteer, assisting younger participants in handling, herdsmanship and competition.
After studying Animal Production and Agribusiness at the University of Queensland, the 22-year-old graduated last year.
She spent 2018 working for Teys Australia in a livestock strategic operations role and then a quality control position.
She has now finished up her role and is living on the family farm in Croppa Creek in northern New South Wales before leaving for Kansas in January.
“I’m hoping to learn about the industry in general over there,” Miss Butler said.
“Where they’re at with the production systems and technology.
“And also for the education and uni experience, to see how it works and what sort of subjects they teach.
“There are also a lot of important people over there who influence the beef industry. So it will be interesting to meet some of them.”
After being based in Brisbane for work, Miss Butler said when she gets back she hopes to go back to the land.
“I would prefer to be on a property somewhere on the production end of the beef industry,” she said.
“I’d like to combine cattle consultancy with beef production.
“I want to be on a farm.”