AgForce brought the Bush to Brissie today to celebrate ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Agriculture Day.
The lunchtime crowd in Queen Street Mall were able to quench their curiosity about farmers and their way of life, asking a panel of primary producers – including AgForce General President and South Burnett cattle producer Georgie Somerset – a range of sticky questions.
Some of the answers were equally surprising in their honesty and informativeness.
Other passers-by tried their hand at throwing horseshoes or took a virtual tour of a real-life farm using the latest 3D AV technology.
The North Pine Bush Poets delighted the crowd with lively renditions of bush ballads, poetry and music.
AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said the event was a great opportunity to begin a conversation with city people.
“Over the past few decades, we have noticed a widening gap between rural Queenslanders and those living in the cities,” Mr Guerin said.
“Events like Ag Day are a terrific opportunity to close that divide and rebuild the connection between country and city by helping them understand us, our way of life, and the importance of agriculture to their daily lives.
“The response from the thousands of people walking past – many of whom stopped and took a seat to listen to the panel, enjoy the entertainment, or throw a horseshoe – was fantastic.
“It was a terrific opportunity to begin the conversation with city folk about the plight of the bush.
“Not the drought or the fires or the flood earlier in the year, but the slow but steady stagnation of country towns as businesses close, essential services are eroded or withdrawn, and families move to the cities in search of work.
“Many were surprised by the simple things they could do as urban dwellers to support people in the bush – buy Queensland-grown produce, take a drive and have lunch at a country pub, have an Outback holiday, etc.
“It was also great exposure for our Stand Up for Regional Queensland campaign in one of the busiest parts of Brisbane during a peak period.
“AgForce Regional Managers and Head Office staff were able to engage passers-by in conversations about agriculture and the challenges we currently face, but also the great future for Australian agriculture once we get through the current tough times.”
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