2022/23 Agriculture Science students speak on their experiences in and out of university, the challenges they've faced, their plans for the future and their advice for new agriculture science students.

Article by Kristen Batten, Agricultural Science student

It can often be daunting to university students when faced with the big question “what are you going to do after graduation?" It is often a question that might provoke feelings of doubt and uncertainty or may leave students feeling unsure of what career pathway they want to take. Whilst some agriculture science students may have the option and the plan to return back to family farms, that is not the goal for all students.

I spoke with four past agriculture science students, ranging from spending a couple years out of university to their first year in their careers, and asked them to provide current students with ideas and advice about post-graduation life.

These leading women in agriculture are taking the work force by storm, and it is my pleasure to introduce Rielly Cobley, Hayley Hill, Kaitlyn Anderson and Brooke Barnes.

Rielly Cobley

Who are you? My name is Rielly Cobley and I studied animal science graduating in 2023. I’m from a farming background in the Midwest four hours north of Perth where my parents farm crops, sheep and cattle. My passion for the outback and agriculture stemmed from there. I have a passion for improving the industry through research and educating not only people in the industry but the wider community too.

What is your current career and how did you get there?  I am currently working at Australian Wool Innovations (AWI) as their Project Administrator in the On-farm research sector.  I originally applied for the AWI graduate program, but I was unsuccessful. However, in the same email, they offered me this job instead and I was successful. I see it as a great pathway into my future endeavors.

How did your degree at Murdoch help you achieve this career? Firstly, an honorable mention to ANS303. I learned about the AWI graduate program during this unit. As my current role is within the on-farm research department at AWI, I regularly use the learnings from my degree to engage with my colleagues. I often refer to my education to understand complex conversations as well as offer solutions. I can also help explain on-farm science terms and concepts to colleagues who have no on-farm knowledge.

What are your future plans? Both in my studies and now in my employment, I really enjoy extension work and coming up with creative ways to engage with wool growers to educate them on the research we are funding. There is a department within AWI that is for on-farm research, and I’d love to be a part of that in the future. I’m keen to learn more as I go so there may be some post-grad courses I may apply to.

What are you best pieces of advice to new agriculture science students? Don’t view animal science as only a gateway into Vet. Yes, we need more vets but you might find more value in other areas within the industry. Get to know your lecturers. They’re just people and are willing to help you throughout your degree. Third Years - look for graduate programs or employment opportunities early. Graduate programs usually close around mid-year so apply, apply, apply. Finally, apply for ANS303. Best unit EVER!!

Hayley Hill

Who are you? My name is Hayley Hill. I grew up on a mixed crop and livestock farm in the wheatbelt and following a passion for agriculture, I studied a bachelor of agricultural science, majoring in crop and pasture, graduating in 2023.

What is your current career and how did you get there? I am currently working as a graduate agronomist for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Esperance. This is a two-year program. I ended up in this position due to an application process that started roughly in July last year.

How did your degree at Murdoch help you achieve this career? Murdoch helped me achieve this career pathway by the exposure to difference companies and opportunities available post bachelor degree. I attended career days and other industry events hosted by Murdoch. The course allowed for plenty of work experience opportunities to help me decide the career path I wanted to follow.

What are your future plans? I hope to finish my grad program in November next year and then really see where that takes me and what opportunities arise along the way. But hopefully wherever I’m based I can share my passion and useful advice to farmers across the state and potentially country.

What are you best pieces of advice to new agriculture science students? If I could recommend anything it would be to get involved, meet people in the industry and find what part of ag is your passion. Meeting people at career events, field days, GRDC updates are so important in the agricultural industry.

Kaitlyn Anderson

Who are you? My name is Kaitlyn Anderson. I started studying at Murdoch University as a mature-aged student in 2020, enrolling in a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with a major in Animal Science and Animal Health. As my studies progressed I was able to explore what I was passionate about and decided to take a slight study change completing my studies in 2022 with a Bachelor in Agricultural Science with a major in Animal Science and a minor in Science Communication.

What is your current career and how did you get there?  I am currently an Agricultural Research and Extension Coordinator at Facey Group, a grower group located in Wickepin WA. Further, I am also the Node Lead for the Wheatbelt Zone of the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub. This includes a range of responsibilities from experimental design, conducting field research, planning and executing extension and communication plans, analyzing data and report writing.

How did your degree at Murdoch help you achieve this career?  Murdoch University gave me many opportunities outside of the classroom that I believe have been an asset to my start in the industry. As well as travel opportunities to explore industries such as being a part of the ICMJ team, Murdoch gave me opportunities to make lasting connections with peers in the industry and let me explore my interests and passions. During my time at Murdoch, I was able to embed myself in the Murdoch community by being a part of the Murdoch Agricultural Science Student Association (MASSA), and in my last year took the role of President. Through this role, I was able to develop project management skills, and get an understanding of how a not-for-profit works. It gave me endless opportunities to engage with industry and peers that I now work closely with through my position at Facey Group.

What are your future plans? Through being a part of the Murdoch ICMJ team in 2022, I was able to make international connections which has led me to study a Master of Science in Agriculture Communication through Texas Tech University in the USA. My short-term goal is to move to Texas in August 2024 to complete my masters. In the long term, I hope to collaborate with leading researchers in agriculture to advise and assist in communicating and extending their science to ensure that the research that is conducted gets adopted by industry.

What are you best pieces of advice to new agriculture science students?  My top three recommendations for new Agricultural Science Students are to free your thinking, build relationships and be kind to yourself. University can be extremely rewarding, but it can also come with challenges as students settle into a new lifestyle. It can be easy to start to compare yourself to others and put immense pressure to keep up with your peers. I highly recommend you try not to focus on the things you cannot change and focus on the things you can. If you are having trouble, make sure you ask for help and be aware of how your mindset is traveling. Murdoch campus and staff are incredibly caring and there are a lot of resources on campus to help you through your degree.  

Brooke Barnes

Who are you? My name is Brooke Barnes, and I am from Perth, Western Australia. My family has no ties to an agricultural background. I graduated in 2023 from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (double major in Animal Science and Crop & Pasture). My passion for horses guided me towards an agricultural science degree where I was originally wanting to focus on equine reproduction. As I progressed further into my degree at Murdoch, my focus and interest began to shift as I gained more exposure and knowledge surrounding the cattle industry. I have a strong passion for cattle genetics, efficient reproduction, livestock nutrition, and carcass quality assessment.

What is your current career and how did you get there? After graduation at the beginning of 2023, I began a Trainee Manager Program with NH Foods at their Whyalla Beef Feedlot, located in Texas, Queensland. I worked with NH Foods for a few months but had to return to Western Australia due to personal reasons. I then did a 5-month internship in the USA where I gained experience and knowledge gathering cow-calf pairs from pastures; working calves (ear tagging/marking, collecting bloods, castrating, and providing injections); doctoring cattle; assisting with heat synchronization; heat checking twice a day; pregnancy scanning; sorting cattle; prepping cattle for sale (clipping and semen testing); and completing other basic husbandry practices.

How did your degree at Murdoch help you achieve this career?  The degree I undertook at Murdoch University enabled me to find what I was truly passionate about. It was extremely unexpected as I never thought I would be so engrossed in the cattle industry. The units covered, the farm placements, and industry events, such as ICMJ, don’t just provide students with the industry specific knowledge we require, but I believe it also plays an integral part in helping to identify which avenue we may want to pursue after we graduate.

What are your future plans? Currently, I am looking into different options. One of these involves returning to the United States to undertake a Masters in Animal Science at one of the colleges. Post the degree, I would like to obtain employment focusing on cattle reproduction or nutrition, in either Australia or the United States.

What are you best pieces of advice to new agriculture science students? My guidance for new agricultural science student; You will never be ready for everything, just start, and never forget your why. Some of you may know exactly where you want to head after you finish your degree, but many of you will be caught up in the “not knowing” of where you want to go, or what you want to do. So, whilst you are starting out just focus on learning all you can throughout your degree; jump at any opportunities that arise which provide you with the ability to network & build connections; join MASSA; and attend industry related trips. In any industry, it’s not always what you know, but who you know! Any opportunity that provides you the ability to network and communicate, I strongly urge you to take it. My final piece of advice for first-years, or anyone for that matter - you don’t have to follow where others go. Take a leap if you really want to pursue something. If you have enough passion and drive, it will honestly take you far. Whatever happens, just trust in the process, and trust in yourself

A huge thank you to the interviewed graduates in this article for taking the time out of their busy schedules to answer these questions, their experiences and advice is invaluable to all agriculture students.