Valuable rural journey

Mr Clarke comes from an irrigation cropping background, and is currently an academic researcher for SunRice.

He is based in Sydney, but travels back often to the Southern Riverina for his work.

He has long been a stalwart of the cropping industry. 

Mr Clarke was also awarded the Greg Graham Memorial Scholarship in 2017.

While he did not come away with the ultimate prize, the ‘Sydney Royal Easter Show Rural Achiever’, which was won Milbrulong’s Dione Howard, he says he has come away with something far more valuable. 

Mr Clarke said his almost 15 month journey as a Rural Achiever has inspired him to take up advocacy and communication for agricultural communities throughout Australia.

‘‘I’d certainly like to (work more in the communication space).

‘‘I think by having these last few years in Sydney, I’ve been fortunate to have conversations I wouldn’t otherwise have had.

‘‘If I was still in Finley, it would be a bit more preaching to the converted.

‘‘In Sydney, even just last week, there are times where you having debates with people who may not understand it as well.

‘‘I think that’s the space I’m most interested in; going from telling non farmers what we do, to adding the ‘why we do it’. 

‘‘There’s a lack of understanding as to why we do what we do in the industry. For example, animal welfare activists might think we are hurting animals, but we might be doing something to actually improve an animal’s life quality.’’

Mr Clarke has had the opportunity to take part in a diverse range of experiences as a Rural Achiever Award finalist.

He has visited the Governor’s houses, taken part in debates, met diverse young achievers from around the state, and witnessed behind the scenes of one of Australia’s biggest events. 

Mr Clarke says his experience was incredibly enriching. 

He encourages other young people from the Southern Riverina to put their hands up to take part in the Rural Achiever Awards, even if they aren’t sure they meet the standards required.

‘‘I think sometimes these scholarship programs and rural leadership programs, people can look at them and think, ‘have I done enough to actually get into that?’. I certainly felt that when I applied.

‘‘They are looking for people who are passionate about their communities and have leadership attributes, and actually have the motivation to progress further.

‘‘They do a good job of selecting people who have done things, and you’ve got to be able to display that you want to do things going forward and have that motivation.

‘‘There are certainly opportunities for people from Finley and the community to progress with it. If you apply and you don’t get in, you still get feedback.

‘‘They want to see people succeed in rural communities, and will help you develop yourself further. There were two people who were unsuccessful the first time they applied who were in it this year with me.’’