Hermidale Public School has been named the 2023 winners of the Inaugural Royal Easter Show Agricultural Innovation in Schools award much to the excitement of its pupils and teachers.

The small school, situated 45kms west of Nyngan, has been in the news over the last twelve months for its innovative immersive cropping program that saw the school plant an 85-hectare wheat crop in a donated paddock next to the school, to fund a yearly excursion and to teach the kids step by step, and hands-on what it takes to be a farmer.

The 11 pupils are over the moon as are the people in the tiny town of Hermidale who have all contributed in ways to see the project to fruition. From the donation of the land to crop, tractors and fuel, trucks and helping out at harvest, the community has backed the kids 100%.

School Principal Skye Dedman is beyond thrilled with the award and was on hand with Hermidale Teacher Rebekah Coddington to accept the Award at the Show this week.

“Receiving the Royal Agricultural Society’s Agricultural Innovation in schools award, is acknowledgement of the tremendous commitment, strength and energy that is pulsing through the Ag Industry in Western NSW.”

“Our solution-based thinking and teaching is having positive impacts on our students learning,” Said Mrs. Dedman.

“We draw on the knowledge and connection that those around us have to the land and work in partnership to connect around agriculture in Australia and the world.”

Duncan Kendall, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Head of Education, stated in a Facebook report that the school’s achievements had inspired the award, which he hoped would encourage more schools to be innovative in agricultural education. 

“The staff at Hermidale Public School made the curriculum come alive for their students,” he said.

Teacher Rebekah Coddington, who initiated the idea was honoured to be present at the Royal Easter Show and to accept the award with School Principal Mrs. Dedman by her side.

“Getting recognition for this award to me means we have inspired others and hopefully other schools in Australia to find their own agricultural initiatives suited to their environment and interests,” said Mrs. Coddington.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Australia and making this known knowledge is important and what better place is there to start than in our schools, especially when agriculture links to the curriculum in so many ways.”

“It’s engaging, exciting and creates a wide range of opportunities for employment pathways in the agricultural sectors,” she said.

Meanwhile back at the school plans are well and truly underway with this year’s crop and a new year of learning for the kids.

“If it rains in the next couple of weeks we will put in some canola crops, if not, we will look at another variety of wheat for this year,” said Principal Dedman.

Either way it will be all hands-on deck as the kids excitedly look forward to what is to come in their next cropping adventures.

Raechel McCarthy Relieving Executive Director Regional Rural and Remote Education, Duncan Kendall Head of Education,Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Principal Hermidale Public

School Skye Dedman, Hermidale Public School Teacher Rebekah Coddington. Photo:NSW Education Facebook report