The Future Farmers Network (FFN) is proud to announce Zoe Sibley as the recipient of the inaugural Tim Emery Bursary, awarded to support young people in the beef industry.
Zoe, 23, is based in Longreach and currently works as an Extension Officer with the Department of Primary Industries. She received the Tim Emery Bursary to attend the Young Beef Producers Forum (YBPF), a two-day event powered by FFN designed to educate, inspire and connect young people (under 40) from across the beef sector.
Paddock to Possibility
Last year’s forum theme, “Paddock to Possibility”, brought together speakers from a diverse range of agricultural backgrounds, each sharing the challenges, lessons and opportunities that have shaped their careers. Reflecting on the event, Zoe highlighted how valuable it was to hear firsthand from industry leaders across all areas of the sector from finance and trading to animal welfare, people management and innovation.
“The backbone of agriculture is not just cattle, but money and farmers need to know how to manage their assets in a very volatile market to remain profitable.”
Zoe said key takeaways included the importance of:
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Gaining maximum insight from minimal data
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Understanding scale to improve efficiency and reduce costs
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Investing strategically to grow a business
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Recognising the value of off-farm income
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Maintaining high animal welfare standards
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Supporting and developing people within agricultural teams
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Backing passion, resilience and long-term vision
She also reflected on the powerful reminder that while challenges in agriculture can be visible such as drought or market volatility there are also many invisible challenges faced by individuals and families across the sector.
Building Community and Connection
For Zoe, one of the most valuable aspects of the forum was the sense of community and connection it created.
“During both the presentations and conversations at the evening events, topics were brought up that I’d often pondered while mustering or working alone but never had the chance to discuss with others. It gave me a real sense that I’m part of important conversations that enable agriculture to progress.”
The event also provided Zoe with the opportunity to build new networks and meet people she would not have otherwise crossed paths with including Tim Emery himself, after whom the bursary is named.
“It was great to meet Tim and chat about our shared interests in the beef industry, as well as learn from his experiences and knowledge.”
Looking Forward
Zoe says the forum has strengthened her passion for agriculture and inspired her to think differently about solving industry challenges.
“In line with the theme of paddock to possibility, I want to challenge myself to think outside the box and test new ways of thinking. Sometimes taking risks is necessary to improve agriculture and be successful.”
She also shared her commitment to approaching her career with greater awareness of the complexities facing people across the sector including the unseen challenges many producers face.
Honoring Tim Emery Legacy
The Tim Emery Bursary was established to honor Tim’s contribution to the beef industry and his commitment to supporting young people to build successful, sustainable careers in agriculture.
FFN is proud to support passionate young leaders like Zoe and looks forward to continuing the bursary in years to come.
