On Monday, 3 August, our Year 10 Agricultural Practices students had the wonderful opportunity to visit Wittacork Dairy Farm in Witta as part of their current unit exploring the dairy industry.

With sadly very few dairy farms remaining on the Sunshine Coast, this was a valuable opportunity for our students to step outside the classroom and experience firsthand what life and work on a modern dairy farm looks like.

Set on a beautiful Sunshine Coast property, WittaCork Dairy Farm provided plenty for our students to see and learn. Dan generously shared his extensive knowledge and passion for agriculture, explaining the many different elements that contribute to running a successful and sustainable farming operation.

Students learnt about the intricacies of growing high-quality pasture, improving soil health and even how Dan has drawn inspiration from the rainforest on his property to improve the health and productivity of his land. They also discovered how new technology is being incorporated into farming, including the use of drones to fertilise paddocks.

Throughout the tour, students gained insight into many other aspects of the farm, including beef production, artificial insemination, the milking process and the care and raising of calves. It was particularly valuable for students to see how many different areas of agricultural knowledge, science and technology come together in the day-to-day management of a dairy farm.

Dan’s love for agriculture and his willingness to continually learn, experiment and develop new farming techniques was evident throughout our visit. We are incredibly grateful to Dan and WittaCork Dairy Farm for welcoming our students and sharing their knowledge and experience with us.

It was a fantastic excursion and a wonderful opportunity for our Year 10 Ag Practices students to gain a greater appreciation of the dairy industry and the people who work so hard to produce the food we enjoy every day.

Merisa Wischnat, Secondary Teacher + Year 11 Coordinator