James Corcoran, Galong, NSW, and Ben Munzberg, Birchip, Victoria, have been named as 2016 Sheepmeat Industry Ambassadors – a joint Sheepmeat Council of Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia award recognising young leaders.
The award involves a study tour from 7-19 August 2016 as part of the Tri-Lamb Agreement between Australia, the United States and New Zealand.
The study tour of Australia and New Zealand includes ambassadors from the US and NZ and departed Canberra on Monday.
There is also a range of other opportunities and professional development as part of the program
James and Ben will participate in the TriLamb Group Young Leaders Program in 2016 and 2017 and will be mentored by 2014 SCA Ambassador Jamie Heinrich and SCA President Jeff Murray.
Mr Murray said both winners were worthy recipients because of the leadership qualities they displayed and their commitment to improving the sheepmeat industry.
“The Sheepmeat Industry Ambassador Award recognises outstanding young sheep producers and their potential as industry leaders and both Ben and James were incredibly passionate about the sheepmeat industry and displayed maturity beyond their years in articulating a vision for its future,” he said.
James, 27, from Gooramma Poll Dorsets at Galong, NSW, says the award is a great opportunity to gain knowledge and further build on the networks with producers in the United States and New Zealand.
“I am really passionate about the prime lamb industry and being around other like-minded people as part of the Tri-Lamb study tour is great,” he said.
“The Sheepmeat Council has pulled together a really good group of people and there are many opportunities for youth to get involved with leadership. It’s not often you get two weeks of the best learning opportunities where you can see different aspects of the supply chain.”