Kate Turner, Jackson Pearce, Glen Weller, and Tom O’Brien studied ‘Willow Park’, a property near Guyra owned by the McKemey family. 

This year’s property planning competition was organised on behalf of the Local Land services by Michelle McKemey.

The students examined farm production systems and undertook activities on soil, pasture, livestock enterprises, water quality and biodiversity. 

They were given a scenario where they were a team of farm advisory consultants who have been asked to provide a strategic property plan ensuring economic and resource sustainability. 

The students visited Willow Park to view various aspects of farm issues and were led through these activities by both landholders and a team of technical experts. 

Based on their findings, the students decided on what types of enterprises the real-life property could utilise and what management strategies needed to be implemented to ensure the property was economically and ecologically sustainable. 

As well learning vital skills, students were introduced to people from a broad range of industries and were exposed to a wide range of career opportunities.

Class teacher Jaclyn Mack said she was really impressed with the dedication and effort this particular group put into their property plan both in class time and in their own time. Inverell High School’s team was also lauded as runners-up in the competition.