Agricultural student wins national award

University of Adelaide student James Easter has been recognised as the 2022 Agricultural Student of the Year at a gala ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday.

James is in his third year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and has developed an incredible passion for agriculture.

“I originally chose my field of study because I enjoyed working outside, communicating ideas with others and learning about how plants and soil work together to produce what we eat,” James said.

“My goal after finishing my Bachelor Degree is to pursue post-graduate studies while still being a strong advocate for opportunities in agriculture.

“I want to get more people to consider the field of agriculture next to careers such as medicine or law as it’s just as, if not, more important.”

James is the President of the Adelaide University Agriculture Students Association.

He leads a committee of students in organising industry networking events and a mentoring program.

James has also worked with the Ag Institute of Australia, South Australian division, in developing the 2022 Student Compendium – a collation of more than 150 internships, scholarships, competitions, work experience, graduate programs, training and other opportunities for students or anyone interested in a career in agriculture.

He has broadened his experience at a series of important industry events – such as the Soil Science Australia Soil Judging competition, the AgXtra Agronomy competition and Innovation Generation.

“The University of Adelaide has a proud and rich history in mentoring the agricultural leaders of tomorrow... I hope this sends a positive signal to students who are considering their university options that agriculture is booming, and the rewards in undertaking a career in this area are diverse, enriching and will take you far.”Professor Jason Able, Interim Head of the University’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.

Professor Jason Able, Interim Head of the University’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, said James thoroughly deserved this honour.

“James’ undergraduate record speaks for itself - he has excelled in his coursework, winning several outstanding academic achievement awards during his studies,” Professor Able said.

“This accolade provides further evidence of James’ tenacity and leadership as a future agricultural leader for what is arguably one of Australia’s most important industries.

“The University of Adelaide has a proud and rich history in mentoring the agricultural leaders of tomorrow through our degree programs related to this discipline area.

“With the University typically ranked annually within the top 50 globally for agricultural science, our students, like James, are being mentored by some of the world’s best in this area.

“I hope this sends a positive signal to students who are considering their university options that agriculture is booming, and the rewards in undertaking a career in this area are diverse, enriching and will take you far.”

The 2022 Agricultural Student of the Year award is sponsored by AgriFutures Australia, and is presented as part of the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards.