Meet Emily Adams, Agricultural Science student at Murdoch University. Emily is doing a major in Animal Science and actively involved in in campus life.

When did you first become interested in agriculture?

I have loved animals since I was young and always enjoyed going out with grandad to ‘help’ with sheep work. I grew up in Perth, so it was only in my final years of high school that I started spending more time at the farm learning how to work sheep. That is when my love for agriculture began and has been a real passion of mine ever since.

Over the years I have since developed different passions within agriculture, particularly within the meat sheep industry. I  have found the breeding and genetics side fascinating. My favourite part of working with my grandfather is classing the stud animals. I get to not only learn about correctness in the structure of the sheep, but also which breeding values are important to him and what a ‘good animal’ looks like both physically and genetically.

When did you know that you wanted to study agriculture at university?

Up until halfway through year 12 I was determined not to go to university. I hated studying and did not think I would be able to cope with the pressure.

In early 2021 I attended the Murdoch University Open Day and got a real insight into studying agriculture at Murdoch University. This opened my eyes and showed me that University was perhaps not as scary as I thought. I could ask as many questions as I wanted to current students and get a feel as to what university would be like for me.

After Open Day I still had my concerns, but now these were not about my ability to cope with University, rather my ability to be selected into the course. In year 11 and 12 of high school I didn’t do any ATAR subjects. I applied through alternative entry pathway and in late 2021 I received an acceptance e-mail. Ironically I was in the middle of the sheep yards when I received the acceptance e-mail so I could share my excitement with my family and the workmen on the farm.

What have been your favourite units so far?

My favourite units so far have definitely been Animal Production Systems,  Work Placement units and Livestock Career Readiness.

The farm placement units allowed me to gain hands-on experience working at several different livestock enterprises such as sheep studs, wagyu cattle studs, chicken farms, horse studs, and a goat dairy. These really broadened my knowledge and allowed me to make connections that will benefit me for years to come. 

The Advanced Agricultural Career Skills unit allowed me to complete a different type of placement working along side the incredible team at Elders Narrogin. Here I learnt what it takes to be a stock agent, livestock production agent and also to work on the merchandise and sales side of Elders. This gave me so many opportunities and connections that I have since used, and I made friends that I will have for the rest of my life.

I highly recommend students do the Livestock Career Readiness unit if the option is presented. This unit changed me from a shy and sometimes awkward person into a confident and well presented individual. We learned various networking skills and took part in industry workshops about breeding and genetics, meat science and technology. I  learned employability skills and took part in a mock interview for an actual job. The highlight was the Australian Wool Innovation Industry Tour. This is a 5-day trip where we visited sheep and cattle operations, as well as a meat processing plant and sheep reproduction centre.

Have you had a chance to implement things you have learned into your work with Hillcroft Farms?

This course has absolutely given me more knowledge about what to look for when working with the Hillcroft Ultrawhites -  not only in the handling side, but also in the production, health, breeding and genetics side of the operation.

This course has allowed me to learn about what it takes to manage a sheep stud as well as a commercial prime lamb flock. I have learnt about signs and symptoms of diseases and deficiencies, how to treat diseases and most importantly, how to prevent these diseases and deficiencies from occurring.

The livestock handling practicals allowed me to become more knowledge of how to work sheep and handle them in a quiet manner so to not activate their flight response.

The modules on breeding and genetics allowed me to understand the importance of breeding values and structure of animals to get the best possible animals. Implementing these strategies helps us breed animals that are productive, genetically superior to their sire and dam, as well as structurally correct.

What is your dream career after graduation?  

After graduation I would love to have a career as a Livestock Production Agent and gain some extra knowledge and experience on animal production before going off to run my own operation.

The long term goal for me is to run my own successful sheep enterprise.

What have been your favourite extracurricular activities?

The Careers Evenings put on by Murdoch Agricultural Science Student Association (MASSA) are always a great opportunity for networking with industry professionals in fields that interest me and to learn about the career opportunities in their organisations.

MASSA also runs farm tours, seminars and panels with previous students and industry professionals. These are a fantastic opportunity to meet people. It's great to find out what previous students did to get to where they are, ask questions and get advice from their personal experience.

MASSA also holds many barbecues throughout the year. These are a great opportunity to socialise and meet other students.

Do you have any advice for students thinking about applying for university?

For students like me that have not done ATAR in high school, or just do not like the idea of studying - don't underestimate yourself and don't be daunted by the workload. It's a 3 year course, but you can do it as quickly or as slowly as you like and adjust the workload to suit you. It may take an extra year or so, but slowing down my workload was the best choice I ever made and made the course so much more enjoyable.

The teaching team is there to support you. If ever you are feeling uncomfortable with your studies or workload, they are more than happy to meet up and come up with a plan to make your time at university more enjoyable.

While University has been challenging,  I have been given amazing opportunities and experiences that I would have never gotten without being at Murdoch University.  I also made friends that I would have never met, and I'll be friends with these people forever.

Do you have any tips for students starting out studying agricultural science?

The more connections you can make the better!

The teaching staff are not scary. It certainly does not hurt to go up at the end of a lecture to introduce yourself and have a chat with them. The staff are here to support you through your degree. They can provide you with some great support as well as extra opportunities for work experience should you be interested.

I also recommend joining MASSA. It's is a great way to meet new people in different year groups which makes uni much more enjoyable. It also gives you access to events that are run throughout the year. These are usually great fun to attend and allow you to make some great connections and meet like-minded people.