On the surface, a mother (clearly over 35) and her 13-year-old son, who are organic beef producers, would be seen as out of place at a national grains conference aimed at the 18 to 35-year age group.

The investment of our time and money, however, was more than worthwhile, not only for the information shared but for the unexpected opportunity it gave my son.

The conference covered a host of new trends and technology that will transform agriculture beyond belief, and I’ve outlined the key issues in a previous post the challenges facing the innovation generation of agriculture. But they weren’t the only messages we took away as my 13-year-old future farmer and I looked towards a new era.

Here’s some further takeaways on agriculture in a digital age…

Digital agriculture needs to be taught

The conference reinforced my beliefs that digital agriculture should be taught as standalone subjects in high school. In the not too distant future digital concepts considered innovative agriculture today will be mainstream.

Initiatives that bring new ideas and blood into the industry are excellent, but what can we do for those already with a strong connection to the industry? How do we encourage the next generation to think differently and be part of the digital age in agriculture?

Takeaway lessons for a future farmer

As a mother, the subtle changes I saw in my son at this recent conference were a highlight. As the days progressed and people approached Rob to ask his thoughts on the conference, he moved further from my shadow with each conversation.

Kindness goes a long way and the little things do have an impact. Sam Trethewey, the MC and Dave McKeon, the Grain Growers General Manager, did not have to thank us for coming and make us feel so welcome, but they did. Members of the Policy Group including Peter Thompson and Bob McCormack also made an impression.

Why?

They made the effort to acknowledge the importance of the next generation of Australian farmers having a voice and the opportunity to feel important. Once Rob knew he could not just think ‘I am here because my mother made me come’ but realised he would be asked his thoughts, it made him stop and think about what he would say.

Information is a valuable resource and the online world provides an unlimited supply. The challenge lies in giving our future farmers the confidence to speak in public and share their perspectives.

The irony of the conference theme ‘Telling the Ag Story in a Digital Age’ is without the ability of the younger generations to articulate their story and engage city consumers, someone else will tell it for them.

A strength of the Agricultural industry, and in particular intergenerational farming families, has always been the ability to access the wisdom of the older generations for guidance and support.

Interactions using modern technology must be balanced with the ability to converse in person.

In this digital age our children need opportunities to improve their communication skills, to build their confidence and their ability to speak in public. They will need guidance in terms of what Australian  Agriculture’s message is.

The conversations we have at a family level have never been more important. Just as important as the impact this conference had on my son will be the interactions we all have with our future farmers.