What was it all about?

This project supported NxGen forums to develop the leadership skills, financial knowledge and business acumen of the next generation of turf growers, from 2012 to 2015.

Targeting growers aged 18 to 40, forums equipped attendees with the decision-making skills to continue to improve productivity and profitability at farm level. They also addressed personal development, business management, financial management and turf technical information, as well as national turf industry R&D and marketing initiatives.

Forums received overwhelmingly positive feedback from young growers, with 100 per cent of participants from the 2015 forum stating they would recommend the workshop to their peers.

In their feedback, young growers also highlighted the significant value of the forums as a connection point for developing vital networks with fellow industry members.

From an industry perspective, the forums were found to have:

• Increased the positive outlook of young people working in the industry
• Broadened their knowledge of career options within the industry
• Lifted the uptake of R&D
• Raised young growers’ awareness of national marketing issues.

Forums were held at Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, in January 2013 (35 participants); Windsor, New South Wales, in May 2014 (54 participants); and Twin Waters, Queensland, in May 2015 (55 participants) with feedback from previous forums used to determine specific content and location.