Canberra students get their hands dirty at agriculture education day

Marni Tebbutt, senior executive officer of the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society, helped oversee the event, which saw students from five Canberra schools learn about everything from classing wool and throwing wool sheets to junior cattle judging and raising poultry.

Ms Tebbutt said each workshop was designed to teach the students about a different area of agricultural production.

"It gets them interested in their curriculum as well as whether they want to go into the agriculture industry once they leave school," Ms Tebbutt said.

Though studying agricultural science may not sound like the most interesting subject, for many of the students it's their favourite, offering a chance to escape the tedium of the classroom and learn some practical skills.

Nicholas Katsogiannis, a year 10 student from Canberra Grammar School, said it was a better way to learn than sitting in a classroom.

"To actually go in there and get your hands dirty is good," Nicholas said.

Year 9 student Natasha Doherty, from Karabar High School, said the practical side of the subject provided the chance to apply what she learns at home on her family's property, where she helps shear the sheep, in class.

"Most of the time we do some theory and then we finish off the lesson by going out to the agriculture plot. We're one of those lucky schools," Natasha said.

Ms Tebbutt hoped the students would leave with a better understanding of animal production and farming and that the event would help stimulate interest in the industry among the younger generation.

"Farming is a dying industry here in Australia, unfortunately," Ms Tebbutt said.

"We're hoping that the day generates more interest in an individual area [of agriculture] … and that hopefully [the students] can make an informed decision about where their skills, their jobs and their futures lie."