It's taken a while, but Dylan Light's graduation has been worth the wait. Now sharefarming at Jancourt East, Mr Light originally received a scholarship from the DemoDAIRY Foundation more than four years ago as he started studying for his Diploma of Agriculture through Rural Industries Skill Training Centre RIST). However, a new job as a share farmer and the COVID-19 pandemic meant his studies were put on hold.
"I never finished it at the time," Mr Light said. "I'd just started sharefarming and was out on my own and COVID struck and I struggled with sitting inside. I'd much rather be outside doing the farm work.
" While hands-on farm work is still his main priority, Mr Light says completing the Diploma has been worth the effort and he was proud to be among the recent graduates. "I'd always wanted to finish it," he said. "I started my Certificate III in Year 9 and went on to do my Cert IV after leaving school in 2016 and wanted to get this finished.
"At the start of 2022 we were pretty well settled and had a newborn baby so I thought it was a perfect time to get back into the study. "I only had four assignments to get it completed and I was determined to get it done." While he has plenty of on-farm experience, Mr Light says the study has been beneficial.
"It's more in-depth with information, more than just milking cows," he said. Mr Light particularly benefits from learning about staff management. "We milk 800 cows with 600 young stock on about 1300 acres and six full-time staff.