YOUNG farmer and agricultural innovator Anika Molesworth is one of four people who have been announced as a finalist in the 2017 NSW Young Australian of the Year Awards.
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Miss Molesworth’s passion for sustainable farming practices and agricultural development has seen her career span across two continents as a speaker, educator, researcher and adviser for climate smart agricultural practices and agribusiness.
"I am very passionate about agriculture so I am excited as a young farmer that I can be part of such a prestigious award, and hopefully play a positive role in drawing attention to farming and the future of Australian agriculture,” Miss Molesworth said.
"It is incredible that I have been nominated and that I have become a finalist for NSW, it gives this incredible spotlight to the issues that I am so passionate about and a platform to really share the story of farming with the wider Australian audience and raise attention to some the issues we are facing.”
Miss Molesworth said it also showcased the incredible work farmers were doing in rural communities to support the future of agriculture.
The 29-year-old is making a positive contribution to the farming sector through research and communication, she founded and manages the International National Trust Organisation’s Sustainable Farm’s program and she also established Climate Wise Agriculture, a platform for land managers and researchers to share ideas and innovations.
Miss Molesworth's passion for agriculture stemmed from her family's sheep station in Broken Hill, which they purchased during the decade-long drought in the 2000s.
“We purchased the property at the start of the millennium drought and that's where my interest in climate change stemmed from. It was immediately apparent that drought conditions have such a huge impact on farmers, on the environment and on a rural community. From then I have been studying agriculture and working on how to improve the resilience of farming communities to the challenges we are facing now and the challenges that we will be facing in the future," Miss Molesworth added.
She is now in the running to be named the 2017 NSW Young Australian of the Year.
Check out the Riverina’s other nominees, Stan Grant and Brendan Farrell.