Warra farmer Brendan Taylor has won the inaugural Ben Coleman Award
AG-VOCATE Brendan Taylor has been awarded for his contributions to the grains industry, receiving the inaugural Ben Coleman Award.
The award, in memory of central Darling Downs farmer Ben Coleman, was presented to Mr Taylor at the Australian Summer Grains Conference at the Gold Coast this week.
Mr Coleman, a friend of Mr Taylor’s, tragically lost his battle with depression late in 2017. The $5000 travel and study award recognises selfness commitment to the grains industry by a farmer.
Mr Coleman demonstrated passion and was involved in many grains industry committees, activities and networks.
Mr Taylor said it was a surprise to be nominated for the award.
“It’s nice to be recognised by your industry for your services,” he said.
“It’s something that we just do, not for recognition but just because we enjoy it.
“I am very honoured. Ben was a good friend of mine, and it’s very sad he’s not with us any more.”
Mr Taylor runs a mixed cereal cropping operation, north of Warra, with his parents Jeff and Bev, wife Maree and three kids Erin, Felicity and Imogen.
He is an active industry member and an exceptional communicator, using social media and technology to tell agriculture’s story to the wider world. He is on the ASGC committee, the current AgForce grains president and a director on the Grains Research Foundation board.
Mr Taylor said the ASGC was in the spirit of the Ben Coleman Award and gave producers a chance to step away from the farm to relax and recuperate.
“It’s no secret it’s still very dry in our grain growing regions,” he said.
“If nothing else, it gave people a chance to get off farm, get a change of scenery, and mix with like-minded people.
“We do need to look after ourselves – in our physical health, but also mental health is just as important.
“There is some pretty cool stuff happening in the industry and some of those speakers were quite inspiring. It gives us a lot to look forward to when it does decide to rain.”
Mr Taylor said they had managed to get a barley crop established on his property this year, despite receiving less than half the average rainfall.
“Despite the lack of rainfall, the timing of it was one of the best starts we’ve had to winter,” he said.
“We got 30mm in March and we got about 30mm in June after the crop was planted.
“We will need good fall in the next three weeks to get us through.”
Mr Taylor said he hadn’t had a chance to decide what to do with the $5000.
“It will probably involve heading to the US and looking at some sorghum research,” he said.
“Or travel interstate in Australia and have a look at some other farming systems and see if they can be applied here.”
Runners-up for the award were Wade Bidstrup, Warra, and John Woods, Goondiwindi.
“I would have been more than happy to see either one of them win the award,” Mr Taylor said. “They have made and will further still make significant contributions to the grain industry.”
More Australian Summer Grains Conference coverage on Pages 14–15.
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