Three dedicated University of Queensland students have been awarded prestigious 2019 Rural Bank Scholarships for their outstanding work in the field of agriculture.
The $5000 scholarships support youth in agriculture, offering financial support to first-time undergraduate students who have chosen subject areas which enable them to contribute to the Australian agricultural industry and/or rural and regional communities.
Scholarship winner Brodie Crouch is looking forward to making a difference on the land.
“Growing up on a dairy farm, I saw first-hand some of the complex issues involved in efficient, sustainable agricultural production,” he said.
“And during my last year of high school, the family farm was drought declared, leading to lowered production, which was further exacerbated by an increase in grain price.
“This strengthened my concern about climate change and encouraged me to study a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) at UQ.”
Brodie is aiming for a career where he can facilitate collaboration between farmers and agribusiness, finding the best methods to feed our population whilst preserving the environment.
“I want to research and problem solve some of the big agricultural issues,” he said.
"Things like invasive species and pests, water management, land use, the biodiversity crisis and – in particular – climate change, which will and is having a profound effect on agriculture.
“These are problems that I’d like to help tackle as part of my career, working in collaboration with farmers and agribusiness people to find the best methods to feed our population, while preserving the environment.
“I’d love to help contribute to work that finds the right ‘balance’ between human development and our natural world.”
To support the students’ dreams, the scholarship helps cover study-related expenses, such as accommodation costs, course costs, study materials and equipment, textbooks or tutoring.
“Since I live two hours away from campus and make the daily commute for my lectures, the scholarship will really help me, taking some of the strain of paying for petrol and public transport,” he said.
“I also aim to use the award to help pay for board closer to uni, so I don’t have to travel so far.
“And the benefit of having connections with people already involved in the agriculture industry is invaluable.
“The scholarship has given me several contacts and networks in the field already, handy now and in the future.
“Now I’m looking into into studying abroad in the UK, which has only been made possible by the scholarship.
“I want to gain a better appreciation of how different people around the globe approach some of these problems.”
Fellow UQ students Liam Donaldson and Lillian Donald were also awarded. 2019 Rural Bank Scholarships.
Applications for Rural Bank’s 2020 Scholarship Program will open in December 2019 and close late January 2020.
Media: Dominic Jarvis, dominic.jarvis@uq.edu.au, +61 413 334 924.
