It’s the group you want in your corner. 
Dynamic, effective, and robust, the AgForce Young Producers’ Council is now in its second year - and excited for what’s to come in 2023. 
Meet the team… 
 
Emma Knight – Co Chair

I hold a dual diploma in agriculture and agribusiness, together with multiple years’ experience working within Queensland’s natural disaster policy, response, and biosecurity teams. 
 
My core goal is to foster the prosperity of Australia’s beef industry by strengthening and communicating our products position as a protein of choice to consumers globally.  
 
I am delighted to be re-elected for a second term and look forward to building on the foundations set during our inaugural term.  

Bronte Lloyd – Co Chair

 
I grew up on a sheep and cattle station in the Channel Country and have a Bachelor of Agriculture. 
 
I work as an Animal Production Specialist, for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Rockhampton, and also run my own breeding and backgrounding operation on our family property. 
 
I joined the YPC to be part of a team of forward-thinking young producers with the ability to help the industry move into a more productive future.  
 
Helen Woodland

I grew up on two farming operations in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley, producing dairy and lucerne, and have completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science. 

I am currently Regional Coordinator with The Partner Up Queensland Regional Science and Innovation Network linking science and innovation initiatives across the community via schools, government and industry. 

Together with my husband, I also trade cattle and run a small beef herd. 
  
Tamara Finger 
 
 I am a proud member of the beef industry as the owner/manager of TF2 Grazing Co., a commercial beef operation based near Middlemount. 
 
In addition to my day job, I am also a passionate advocate for agriculture and supporting the future generations of the industry.  
 
It has been a great privilege to work together with the Young Producers’ Council and the greater AgForce community over the last 2 years and look forward to what is to come.  
  
Clare Nugent 

Raised in southwest Queensland, I am the third generation within my family’s beef cattle business based at Tambo and more recently, Roma.  
 
I have a Bachelor of Agribusiness graduate, several years’ experience in agribusiness banking and have also worked in beef export logistics. 
 
I look forward to being an advocate for young producers and hope to inspire more young people to discover a love of agriculture.   

 
Sam Fryer 

I am a grazier from the Flinders Shire and, together with my wife, Emily, run cattle on agistment around the area.  

 
 
Brett Smith 

 Growing up on merino breeding property “Tralee” near St George, I have always had a passion for the wool side of our industry. 
 
I am involved in the industry in many ways, first as a producer in partnership with my family. 
 
I also work for Elders as a District Wool Manager, as well as representative roles with AgForce Sheep, Wool & Goats, which also sees me sit on the WoolProducers Australia board. 
 
Pieter van Jaarsveld 

As well as managing the family sheep and goat farm, Delamira, at Gore, I also run a full commercial breeding program - selling meat to the domestic market, and developing breeding stock for commercial producers. 

In addition, I work closely with a number of agriculture boards and governing bodies, and am a director on AgForce’s Sheep, Wool & Goats Board. 

In 2021, I was the recipient of Nuffield Farming Scholar. 

Mark Bugeja 

I'm a fourth-generation cane farmer from North Queensland.  
 
Together with my father, wife and three children, our main focus is planting (cane & soy bean to better the soil health), irrigation & harvesting.  
 
We cut our own cane with the majority of our tractors run by navigations.  
 
I am very passionate about cane farming and would love to see my children take it over one day in the future.  
  
Heather King

I grew up in Western Queensland on a beef property, and after leaving school I worked on cattle stations in the Northern Territory.  
 
After graduating from Marcus Oldham College, in Victoria, I worked in live export. 
 
These days my husband and I run a cattle trading business in the Western Downs on lease and agistment country. 
 
We also contract aerial spraying, and land access services to the gas industry. 
 
I joined the YPC to help move things forward and to do my bit for industry.  

Simon Currant

Simon is a 4th generation beef and grain farmer located in CQ on one of his family's farms alongside his wife and kids.

Soil health and being able to leave the farm in better conditions for the next generation are some aspects that Simon is extremely passionate about and part of what has drawn him to join the YPC.

New leaders rally young producers for the challenges ahead

After a hugely successful first term for our Queensland Young Producers’ Council, AgForce is thrilled to welcome Emma Knight and Bronte Lloyd as newly elected Co-Chairs. 

Em and Bronte are Queensland primary producers and agribusiness professionals who have significant on-ground experience across a vast area of Queensland.  

As beef producers in their early 30s, they hold a deep understanding of the cross-commodity challenges facing young producers, including succession planning, access to capital, personal business growth, and managing the dynamics of family enterprises - all while raising or planning to raise the next generation.  

They believe the agriculture sector currently faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities, such as understanding carbon, accelerating our world-leading practices in sustainability, and the increasing role Australian agriculture plays in global food security – and this means our environmental and social credibility will continue to come under attack.  

“One of our greatest challenges is building positive awareness around the agriculture sector and communicating our environmental and social commitments to consumers,” said Em. 

“Now, more than ever, we need young producers to be more connected.  

“Our sector is rapidly building towards $70 billion in value, and we are recognised as world-leaders in sustainability, animal welfare, biosecurity, and production practices. 

“We need to be involved in the decision-making processes, and we need to help shape the conversations around agriculture. 

"Fast-forward 20 years - our demographic will be driving the policies implemented today.  

“We are part of the solution, we are part of the future and most importantly we are a part of a rapidly developing industry - and we have the ability to help shape the direction it takes.” 

Bronte added: “As we take carriage of the Young Producers’ Council, we are committed to strengthening our partnerships throughout the food and fibre supply chain to maximise our impact and influence, while continuing to prioritise policy work around access to capital for entrant primary producers. 

“The Young Producers’ Council is enormous in its calibre of talent. 

“We are formed by agribusiness professionals, primary producers, financial professionals, Nuffield scholars and keen innovators across all four commodities represented by AgForce. 

“We have set our priorities for the coming term, with a clear vision mapped out to achieve this, as we continue to widen our footprint. 

“We look forward to leading the Council through its next phase of growth.”