Amy Williams, an organiser for the event, want primary producers, students, parents, teachers and those already working in the industry to come along to the one-day exhibition being staged at the Yankalilla Showgrounds on Monday 20 March.

“The event is designed to showcase the diversity and abundance of ag career and related pathways, including conservation and ecosystem management,” Williams said.

“It provides a networking opportunity for those already in the industry, as well as students and various other stakeholders.”

With reports indicating Australia has lost almost 50 per cent of its farmers in the past 40 years, Williams said events like these play an important role in the future of the nation’s farming industries.

“Our local businesses need to be able to recruit enthusiastic staff and there are also business opportunities,” she said.

“The better trained, better informed and better connected we are, the more successful and resilient our communities and economy should be.

“It’s critical that we communicate effectively the plethora of opportunities out there in agriculture and other primary production, ag services and supplies, and conservation and ecosystem management.”

Gum Park Beef, a local producer based in Mount Jagged, will be one of the companies presenting at the event.

Gum Park Beef owners, Trevor and Janelle Paech, believe it is important for the future of the industry to attract new workers.

“While we are all living, breathing and eating, we strongly believe it is very important for the next generation to be not only interested in farming and related industries but also a part of them and engaged with them,” Paech said.

“As the average age of a farmer on the Fleurieu is 65, we definitely need fresh faces and youthful enthusiasm.

“The difficulty lies in putting these people on farms, ideally, new farmers would be mentored by older farmers to transfer the huge amount of knowledge and experience they have.”

They also believe there is a social disconnect between the farmer who grows our food and the buyers.

“Socially, the farmers don’t have a connection with where their food is going and end up being undervalued. This has a mental health impact on farmers. As farm sizes have got bigger, farming communities and the social networks that once existed have got smaller,” Paech said.

Topics aimed towards attendees already working in the agricultural industry will be focussed on the practicalities of carbon farming, regenerative farming, animal and vet science, climate projections, heavy vehicle regulations, as well as the benefits of involving students in farming businesses.

The Fleurieu Agriculture Fest will be held on Monday 20 March at the Yankalilla Showgrounds, with gates opening at 9:30 am.