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For a country with a proud farming history like Australia's, the notion that agriculture struggles to find key talent is difficult to accept. Yet, like all its domestic economic counterparts, Australia's $60 billion industry faces its own recruitment challenges when it comes to finding the next crop of trailblazers.
News of key agricultural colleges closing their doors doesn't make the task any easier. In 2018, Queensland announced it was scrapping pastoral colleges in Longreach and Emerald resulting in job losses. The decision came as the state experienced an ongoing drought crisis.
Defying the current climate, livestock agencies across the country are hard at work breeding the next generation of bold young men and women. These are the faces of Australia's up and coming agents, already forging long and successful careers in a challenging environment.
Joshua McDonald - Rodwells
An established agent, Joshua sells weekly at Mortlake and Warrnambool in Victoria and has quickly identified himself as a future star by those that have watched him progress into one of the state's most talented young auctioneers.
In 2018, Joshua earned the right to represent Victoria at the 2019 National ALPA Young Auctioneers competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show after an impressive performance at the Victorian qualifier in Euroa last year, where he finished runner-up.
Possessing a wide range of auctioneering skills, Joshua is proving that his industry can look forward to a bright future ahead.
A mainstay at Rodwells Warrnambool, Joshua McDonald represented Victoria at the 2019 National ALPA Young Auctioneers competition.
Anthony O'Dwyer - Grant Daniel & Long (GDL)
At last year's Ekka, Anthony O'Dwyer from GDL showed why he is held in such high regard among his peers when he finished runner-up against nine competitors at the ALPA Queensland Young Auctioneers competition in Brisbane.
Known for his strong work ethic and loyal client base, Anthony's performance at the Ekka would have come at no surprise to anyone who knows him around the Dalby Saleyards, where he sells weekly as GDL's Livestock Manager.
Anthony was crowned the National ALPA Young Auctioneer winner for 2019. This is a fantastic achievement for Anthony and he will now represent Australia in the world championships to be held in Calgary.
Anthony O'Dwyer from GDL is already a senior figure at the Dalby Saleyards after years of consistent excellence and hard work.
Hamish Fauchon - Davidson Cameron & Co (DCC)
Growing up in the agricultural heartland of the New England region in Northern New South Wales, Hamish Fauchon knew from a young age he was going to be a livestock agent.
A student at Tamworth's Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Hamish secured work experience with Luke Scicluna at Davidson Cameron & Co in Year 10 where he impressed his future employer enough to land himself a role.
Since then, Hamish has continued to develop as promising young livestock agent while building a strong reputation with his clients throughout the Gunnedah region in which he is based.17-year-old Hamish Fauchon is already building a name for himself at David Cameron & Co after a Year 10 internship culminated in a job offer.
Jack Schaeche - Roberts
Growing up in Launceston, 23-year-old Jack Schaeche is quickly making a name for himself as a future star at Roberts. Jack, who has a background in commercial real estate, was looking for a change of scenery and a new challenge when he made the switch to livestock agency.
Jack loves the outdoors, communicating with clients and is never afraid of hard work. A student of the Ruralco Livestock Trainee Program alongside his Roberts colleagues, Justin Groves and Cooper Lamprey, Jack has relished the opportunity to learn more about the industry and observe unique differences in saleyard operations across Australia.