SFIRP | Career Q&A Sessions – Traditional Farming Digital Learning Kit

Traditional Farming

This theme refers to those career roles engaged with broadacre farming, with a focus on cotton production systems. Broadacre generally suggests large scale farming production systems which typically occur in regional areas. Cotton is mainly grown in NSW and Queensland. The crop is well suited to the heavy clay soils and Australian climate. Some varieties have been genetically modified for protection against the cotton pest Heliothis. This has resulted in a dramatic decrease in pesticide sprays. Cotton production systems are also well adapted for water use efficiency and the industry is constantly improving irrigation techniques.

This Digital Learning Kit resource contains:

• 3 Videos
• 1 Worksheets PDF

Traditional Farming Digital Learning Kit – Worksheets

Designed to be used in conjunction with the videos, these worksheets give students have an opportunity to answer questions about the videos, create a job description for a role and research agricultural careers in greater detail.
Access worksheets:

Associated Agriculture Careers Resources:

• PIEFA Career Paths in Agriculture Poster
• PIEFA Step into Agriculture Poster
• Charles Sturt University Careers in Agriculture Poster

Click on the Poster you would like to download

Traditional Farming Digital Learning Kit – Videos

This series of Career Q&A videos forms part of a suite of resources promoting careers within agriculture. Three candidates are interviewed and asked the same series of questions about their careers in agriculture. The videos can either be watched individually, depending on the topic, or all three of the videos can be watched together. To explore the rest of our Digital Learning Kits, based on the other themes, please click

The following videos discuss some of the industry’s issues as well as demonstrating the variety of roles, both as producers and off farm roles within the cotton industry.

• Kimberley Stevens, Extension Officer and Cotton Grower 
• Jenna Bell, Cotton Grower and Chief Executive Officer of Murrumbidgee Groundwater Inc 
• Jess Strauch, Manager Grower Services Queensland Cotton part of Olam Agri 

The candidates are asked the following questions:

• Where did you go to school and what was your favourite subject?
• Describe what you do.
• Describe a typical day.
• Explain how what you do is adapted for Australian agriculture.
• Explain how technology has changed the way you do things.
• Identify something that surprised you about your career.
• Describe the most useful skill you require for your role.
• Identify some of the challenges facing young people starting in your role and explain how they can overcome them.
• What shoes do you wear to work?
• Where do you sit on the CSU Career Pathway Poster?

Career Q&A – Kimberley Stevens, Extension Officer and Cotton Grower (8.45 min)

Career Q&A – Jenna Bell, Cotton Grower and Chief Executive Officer of Murrumbidgee Groundwater Inc (3.38 min)

Career Q&A – Jess Strauch, Manager Grower Services Queensland Cotton part of Olam Agri (7.13 min)