Three emerging lot feeder leaders from across Australia have been named grand finalists in the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) Young Lot Feeder of the Year Award, proudly sponsored by Performance Feeds.
The award embodies passion, leadership, development, and initiative and encourages emerging, dedicated employees to contribute their ideas and vision for lot feeding at a national level. Entrants are required to submit a compelling essay on a real or perceived industry issue discussing its implications to the feedlot industry and explore a proposed solution to be successful in the award. They must also demonstrate their leadership potential through a defined set of criteria.
From a talented pool of young lot feeder entrants, six progressed to the second judging round where they undertook a formal interview with the independent judging panel followed by a presentation and meet and greet with the ALFA Council.
ALFA President, Barb Madden, said that the award is highly prized within industry and draws out the grain fed beef sector’s most impressive emerging talent.
“The ALFA Council continues to be impressed with the calibre of young people in our sector and that the collective effort of lot feeding operations around the country to attract and retain talented young people who are keen to contribute to a bright future for this sector is paying off,” said Barb.
“We are excited to follow the career trajectories of those in the Award as they will no doubt go on to be inspirational industry leaders.”
The Grand Finalists and their essay topics in the ALFA Young Lot Feeder Award 2022 (in alphabetical order) are:
Caitlin Herbert
Trainee Manager, Gundamain NSW
Essay Topic: “Improving NFAS compliance through integration and automation of processes”
Kailen Hodgson Feedlot Manager, Smithfield Cattle Co. – Smithfield QLD Essay Topic: “How about a BRD Autogenous Vaccine?”
Mitchell Elliott
Feedlot Manager, Aronui QLD
Essay Topic: “‘RecAUDIT’ – A program which provides a central platform to collate and review information critical for feedlot compliance and audit requirements
Grand finalists will partake in professional development training as part of the program and vie for the top spot in a final judging round in September.
The winner receives $5,000 towards undertaking a professional development course or overseas study trip and a grain fed beef industry scholarship to attend the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s TRAIL: for emerging leaders program, valued at $10,450.
The overall winner will be announced at the ALFA BeefEx22 Conference in Brisbane on October 20th within the Gala Dinner proceedings.
-ALFA