Chairman Wayne Cornish said Rural Skills Australia is proud to be a supporter of the Australian Year of the Farmer 2012.

He said this will be a year for all Australians to unite behind our hardworking farmers and to acknowledge the vital contribution they make to our lives, to the economy and to our way of life. Australia's farmers should be recognised and celebrated for feeding the nation, for leading the world in farming techniques and innovation, and for sustaining the vital agribusinesses that underpin our economy. Farmers are the providers of our nation.

Philip Bruem AM, chairman of Our Farmers.  Our Future. said, "In this nationwide, year-long program of activities, events and communication, we will strive to reposition the role of the farmer and improve relationships between our rural producers and all Australians.The program will enhance the education of children in our schools and universities, and inform families about the vital contribution farmers make to the nation."

Mr Cornish said the Board and staff of Rural Skills Australia embrace these sentiments. "It is time that we as a nation recognised the vital work farmers do, and the ceaseless challenges and setbacks they face, from floods and storms to drought and disease."

This is not an empty gesture. It recognises what farmers do for all Australians.  It's about what we eat; about fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, grains, fish, meat, eggs and about wool, cotton, timber - all the fine quality products that farmers grow and harvest in large and small businesses. The Australian Year of the Farmer reaches out to every Australian, aiming to involve and bring together rural and urban communities, schools, farming organisations, all the suppliers and the consumers of Australia's fine produce in a year-long program of events across the nation.

We have supported this campaign wholeheartedly because we believe the Australian Year of the Farmer will raise the profile of farming, and highlight the importance of food security and our dependence on the Australian farmer.  Especially, it will remind the rest of us of the importance of our farmers. We hope sincerely that fostering greater connection and understanding will encourage all of us to look for, to purchase and to appreciate Australian produce.

It will demonstrate how farmers respect and value the relationship they have with consumers and urban communities.
The Australian Year of the Farmer will also focus on the future and the sustainability of our farming industries.  As the Australian population grows, so does our dependence on our farmers. Our trading partners around the world also require us to keep pace with growing need and with increasing pressure on food security.

So we at Rural Skills Australia say: Be part of it, part of the fun, the experiences, and the spirit of Australian Year of the Farmer.