January 8th, 2023The pay dirt beneath our feet: push for soils comp
It’s quite literally at the root of all agriculture. Soil and its intrinsic value has prompted a new push to make funding for a soils education and competition program available for every agricultural show in Australia.
The Grains, Oilseeds, Pulses and Soils Learning Program uses competitions to give young people aged up to 25 the opportunity to learn about soil quality and its importance to the entire agricultural sector.
The program has been developed by Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA), the peak body overseeing 572 agricultural shows in Australia, which attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1billion to the national economy. It is encouraging local shows to host the competitions within the newly developed guidelines and “how to guides”; and helping the royal shows and state bodies host finals.
A grant of $3000 is available from ASA to royal shows and state entities to kick-start state-wide competitions relating to grains, oilseeds, pulses and soils. The project is jointly funded through Agricultural Shows Australia, and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. The Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia is partnering with the initiative as it is rolled out across Australia.
After a successful trial at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2022, the competition will again be trialled in ASA’s National Young Judges finals to be held at the 2023 Royal Launceston Show. Big plans are in place for the program’s long-term future.
“It went really well at the Royal Adelaide Show and the national group has committed to a national young judges competition in 2024 focussing on grains,” Katie Stanley, ASA’s executive officer, said.
“We have a lot of resources now available that are there to help young people understand what we’re trying to achieve with these competitions and how they can participate in a really easy manner.”
“It’s very easy for a local show to run, so we’re hoping all local shows run one in 2023.”
Instructional videos, online guides, handbooks and factsheets developed by ASA also equip show organisers with all the information they need to run a successful competition. From the regulations and checklists to judge’s markups, it’s all covered.
Over 40 minutes competitors use a variety of techniques to determine a soil type and its key features. They deliver their verdict during two minute presentations, with the winner’s title being presented to the competitor who comes the closest to the official soil classification.
ASA has also partnered with Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) to deliver a host of educational resources. From soil statistics – just one teaspoon boasts more living organisms than there are people in the world – to recipes and quizzes via QR codes, PIEFA delivers the goods on the grains, pulse and oilseeds that grow to produce the foods we love to eat.
To learn more about the grains and soils competition, and the funding opportunities, head to agshowsaustralia.org.au
