General News
9 April, 2025
Future leaders of agriculture
A spirit of celebration, pride and achievement filled the Horsham Town Hall on Friday, March 21, as Longerenong Agricultural College hosted its 2024 graduation ceremony.
More than 80 students received qualifications across various agricultural disciplines, which powerfully reflected the strength and promise of Australia's next generation of agribusiness leaders.
The graduation also recognised academic excellence through the prestigious 'Dux of Course' awards across five key programs.
These high achievers excelled in their studies and demonstrated leadership, perseverance, and a passion for the land.
Charlotte Cain, from Carisbrook, was named Dux of the Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management.
She has already entered her dream role as a Livestock Agent at HF Richardsons and credits her success to a lifelong passion for agriculture.
"Being named Dux is an extremely special honour," she said.
"I never thought I'd be here when I started two years ago.
"I've always had a willingness to learn, and when you're studying something you love, the rest falls into place."
She acknowledged the mental challenges during her studies but said strong friendships made all the difference.
"My best mate was one person I couldn't have made it through without," she said.
Ms Cain spends most of her spare time at her family farm, working closely with her father on their Poll Dorset Stud.
She also loves going camping and skiing with her family and friends.
Ruby Smith, from Beaufort, took home the title of Dux of the Certificate IV in Wool Classing, a field she's worked in since 2021.
With her sights firmly set on the wool industry, Ms Smith's message to students was simple:
"If you're good at something and you love it, give it everything and your results will show," she said.
"Classing carpet wool was a struggle at first, but with help from my peers and teacher, I grew to understand it."
She played netball for the Beaufort Crows for nine years, and in the summer, her family went waterskiing, another of her passions.
Alana Bascombe, from Cummins in South Australia, received Dux of Certificate IV in Agriculture.
Living 12 hours from home, Ms Bascombe overcame homesickness and academic hurdles, especially in maths, to achieve her goals.
"Receiving dux was a goal of mine from day one, but I focused more on learning and less on marks," she said.
"This award reminds me that it's worth pushing through the doubts and obstacles."
Ms Bascombe dreams of managing a Northern Territory or Queensland cattle station.
This year, she's just playing netball to allow her to work more, but she has played multiple sports, including football, swimming, and MMA.
She also hopes to travel overseas to expand her knowledge of beef genetics and horse training.
Lucy Dorrington, of Glenlee, was named Dux of the Certificate IV in Agriculture - Apprenticeship Program.
The recognition surprised Ms Dorrington, who wanted to apply her knowledge to her family farm.
"I didn't even know you could win Dux in Cert IV," she said.
"My goal was just to pass and keep learning."
Ms Dorrington is working alongside her father and brothers while also studying for her private pilot licence, an ambition that reflects her practical and adventurous spirit.
Dmitry Tolmachev, from Timboon, was awarded Dux of the Diploma of Applied Agronomy.
Mr Tomachev comes from a non-farming background and credits his success to a relentless desire to learn.
"It's been a steep learning curve, but I'm proud of how far I've come," he said.
"Having a diverse group of peers, from cropping farms to stations, really opened my eyes to how broad and exciting agriculture can be."
He plans to use his new agronomy or business management skills and hopes to travel both in Australia and abroad.
Each graduate at the ceremony represented their achievement and the bright future of Australian agriculture.
