Kate Blair-Hickman will spend six months from March studying agriculture in the UK.
The East Blaxland teenager who attended Nepean Christian School, was recently awarded an $8000 scholarship from the charity BBM Youth Support to study overseas.
She will travel around England, Wales and Scotland learning about the sheep industry and different models of agriculture.
Unsure what she wanted to do for a career, Miss Blair-Hickman chose to study agriculture at Tocal College in the Hunter and discovered she loved the industry.
“It’s a good lifestyle, it’s good work. I get a lot of enjoyment and reward out of doing what I’m doing,” Miss Blair-Hickman said.
She’s graduated from the college and started her first job on a sheep and cattle property at Wellington, near Dubbo. Here she’s learning about shearing, crutching, stock work and general maintenance.
“Something always needs doing. I like to get in there and get my hands dirty. It’s always different and always about problem solving,” Miss Blair-Hickman said.
She particularly enjoys the stock work and is learning a lot about wool classing and shearing.
“I pick up the wool and it’s sorted by a wool classer,” she said. “It’s hard work on your body.”
The 17-year-old said she was looking forward to travelling overseas and the opportunities presented.
“It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and over the next few months I will be planning and preparing myself for my trip abroad,” she said.
BBM Youth Support offers awards in the performing arts, agriculture, horticulture and trades.