An educational approach
Hundreds of students will embark on an educational quest at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days.
Partners in Ag will join forces with the event to bring school students from across the Wimmera and Mallee a new resources kit to assist in their excursion to one of country Australia’s largest agricultural and agribusiness trade shows.
Heavy mineral sands resource development company, WIM Resource, is also supporting the Ag Ed Quest initiative – which was first formed for the 2020 installment of the event.
More than 350 students are registered to attend throughout the threedays.
Partners in Ag delivers quality, professional learning to the agricultural sector across Victoria and Tasmania.
Its business development officer Katherine Colbert said the Ag Ed Quest would provide a fun, educational and engaging pack of information for schools to ensure students and teachers made the most of their visit.
It will include classroom activities, planned itineraries and an on-site fact-finding mission, depending on the age of the student.
“With increasing pressure on teachers to ensure excursions are meaningful and education-based, Partners in Ag has developed the Ag Ed Quest to reduce the workload by generating the day’s program, aligning with curriculum outcomes,” Ms Colbert said.
“The Wimmera Machinery Field Days is a great opportunity for local schools to build awareness of the agricultural environment, industry and careers that exist in our communities.
“The development of the Ag Ed Quest for students would see a targeted and engaging approach to interactions between the students and exhibitors, with students learning about everything agriculture and giving exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the next generation.
“This provides an opportunity for students to gain a greater understanding of the broad employment opportunities within the region as well as a safe and central meeting place to conclude the excursion.”
WIM Resource stakeholder and community engagement manager Murray Wilson said the company recognised a valuable opportunity to support a more focused, educational approach to student groups visiting the field days.
“Being able to be part of the Ag Ed Quest program at the field days will assist WIM to engage with school students and discuss potential opportunities and career pathways in mining,” he said.
“WIM is currently developing the large-scale Avonbank mineral sand mine at Dooen and, once established, will be able to offer more than 200 full-time jobs working in the mining industry.
“It is important for WIM to be able to start conversations and provide opportunities to local students about a potential career working with WIM – and the Ag Ed Quest provides a perfect opportunity for this to happen.”
Entry to the field days is free for all students; a pre-purchased ticket, via Partners in Ag, will ensure priority entry.