The NSW Farmers organisation represents our state's farmers across all agricultural commodities.

Part of their support for the agricultural community includes providing future rural leaders with financial support while studying.

At last week's NSW Farmers Annual Conference, five recipients were announced to receive the NSW Farmers Tertiary Scholarship.

One worthy recipient is 20 year old Rural Science student Jennifer Corderoy from Narromine who has grown up with farming in her blood.

"I've lived in Narromine my whole life," Ms Corderoy said. "My family has a mixed cropping and cattle farm and a little bit of cotton. It's a small family farm with my dad, my mom, my brother and I, as well as my uncle and his family and my grandfather. The farm has been in our family for many generations."

"I grew up on the farm, always helping dad, handing him tools and learning more and more. I guess that's where I first fell in love with ag, with the hard work, the long days and the cracking sunsets."

The tertiary scholarships are awarded to NSW Farmers members or their children to support their university or vocational qualification in a field relevant to regional and rural Australia. Ms Corderoy said the scholarship would enable recipients to open doors and unlock opportunities within their careers. 

“Receiving a scholarship from NSW Farmers has provided me with the necessary funds to do further work experience while I study, applying my textbooks to the field and learning much more on-the-job,” she said.

Currently, Ms Corderoy is in her second year of university at the University of New England at Armidale. It has been a carefully thought out career path after having studied agriculture at high school and doing work experience with local agronomists

"I worked with cottonseed distributors in the Macquarie Valley and upper Lachlan. I also did some cotton research and extension and that really solidified my love for agriculture and for cotton in particular," Ms Corderoy said.

"I like the cotton industry In terms of sustainability, in all aspects, like resource use. It is a growing industry, and I'd say they're definitely bridging that gap between the city aspects of Australia and the country. Educating others is something I'm passionate about as well, and the advocacy side of things."

Ms Corderoy said she is interested in growing the cotton industry in many aspects. Firstly from a research point of view in crop science, aiming to get the most yield potential, but also educating people about where our food and fibre come from.

“By studying Rural Science, I am being equipped to address farming challenges, and hope that the contributions of my career to our industry will be a return on the investment of NSW Farmers in me," she said.

NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee Chair Deb Charlton said the scholarships had a proven track record of helping the next generation find their passion in agriculture and rural communities, with this year’s cohort already showing exceptional potential in their chosen field.

“As an industry body, we have a responsibility to open doors and provide opportunities for the talented next generation coming through,” Mrs Charlton said. “These students have shown a clear commitment to their studies and I have no doubt each and every one of our recipients has the potential to make a real difference within regional communities through their chosen career."

“These recipients are to be congratulated for their efforts, and I look forward to seeing all they are able to achieve through the help of the program now and into the future.”

The 2024 NSW Farmers Tertiary Scholarship recipients are:

• George Hatty, Matong – E.L. O'Brien Scholarship
• Jennifer Corderoy, Narromine – John White Memorial Scholarship
• Ellie Peart, Gulargambone – Alan Chapman Memorial Scholarship
• Andrew Newton, Gurley – Graham Blatch Memorial Goobang Scholarship
• Ann Porter, Forbes River - Paul Lockyer Memorial Scholarship