When Sam Fryer decided he wanted to continue in his family’s footsteps and pursue a career in agriculture, he wasn’t met with the reaction he was hoping for.
“When I went through school, I remember telling my guidance counsellor that I wanted to work in the beef industry, and he rolled his eyes,” says the second-year UNE Agribusiness student.
While he thinks this mindset about the industry is starting to change, Sam says there is still a long way to go. After recently being named as Queensland's Cattle Council of Australia and NAB Rising Champion, Sam plans to use his new platform to highlight the exciting things happening within the sector and show young people that there is more to agriculture than simply working on the family farm.
“We need to have that real paradigm shift because it's an exciting industry to be in in right now,” he says.
“It’s an innovative industry that’s growing and rapidly changing – not only for producers and graziers, but also for agtech companies, right through to consultancy and banking businesses.”
Opening doors
Exploring different opportunities is something he’s become well-accustomed to since he began his degree.
While juggling online study with his work on the family cattle station in North Queensland, the father of three recently began his role as the Northern Accounts Manager for Black Box Co, which is a beef data analysis start-up providing valuable insights into beef herds.
This role stemmed from his selection into the Advancing Beef Leaders Program in 2019, which was a 12-month mentoring and leadership workshop to advance the next generation of leaders in the industry.
“When you show that you're wanting to learn, people are willing to teach you and help you out in this industry.
Despite already having a well-established career working on cattle stations in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Sam says these opportunities wouldn’t have been possible if not for his decision to begin studying at UNE two years ago.
“I decided to start my degree when I went back to working in the family business and I realised I didn't quite have the knowledge that I needed to be at the level that I wanted to be at, which was to take over and run the operation on the family farm,” he says.
“Since studying my degree, it’s not only taught me the skills I need, but it’s led to so many opportunities, such as the Advanced Beef Leaders program, the E-Beef Smart Farming program, and the chance to attend events like EvokeAg.
“When you show that you're wanting to learn, people are willing to teach you and help you out in this industry.”
'Stay curious'
With three kids under four, a property to look after, a new job and a degree to finish, he says it hasn’t been an easy ride. Sam's advice for others who are looking to take the plunge and branch out into other agricultural areas is to stay curious and make the most of the people around you.
“Never stop learning and don't stop asking questions,” he says.
“It's one of those things that no matter who you meet, whether it's in the industry or walking down the street, you can learn something from anyone.”
Sam is set to finish his degree in 2022 and is looking forward to travelling to Canberra later this year for an intensive training and mentorship program as part of the Rising Champions Initiative.
Read more about the award and the other winners here.
