How This Sydney School Built Australia’s Largest Ag Cohort with Scott Graham
What if agriculture’s biggest opportunity isn’t on farm, but in the classroom? In this episode of Humans of Agriculture , Oli sits down with Scott Graham, Head of Agriculture at Barker College in Sydney . From a a student base that’s almost entirely from the city, Scott has built the largest Year 12 agriculture cohort in Australia , completely reshaping how young people see the industry. Scott isn't focused on just one school, he is also completing a PhD focused on engaging metropolitan students in agriculture, and what he’s learned challenges how the entire industry thinks about talent, careers and perception. This conversation dives into what’s holding agriculture back from attracting the next generation and what needs to change if we’re serious about building the workforce of the future . Key insights from the conversation Why agriculture needs to move beyond farming stereotypes to attract urban talent How Barker turned agriculture into one of the most in-demand courses in the school The missed opportunity: 70% of ag careers exist off-farm, yet most students never see them Why “plate to paddock” is a more powerful way to teach agriculture than traditional approaches What Scott’s PhD through Charles Sturt Uni reveals about the biggest barrier to students choosing ag How parent perceptions can make or break subject selection The rise of agribusiness, agtech and city-based careers among students Why even small increases in student numbers can have a huge impact on the future workforce Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and why this conversation matters 02:17 Scott’s journey and influence as an educator 04:15 Reimagining agriculture for urban students 08:39 Purpose, passion and careers in agriculture 10:54 Transforming Barker’s agriculture program 13:54 Changing perceptions and building credibility 17:56 The role of industry in showcasing careers 21:28 Off-farm opportunities and the future workforce 24:44 What today’s students are interested in 27:44 The rise of agribusiness and agtech pathways 32:29 Scott’s PhD and understanding student engagement 36:31 Barriers to scaling agriculture in urban schools 39:30 Rethinking how agriculture is introduced to students 42:17 “Plate to paddock” and making ag relatable 46:55 Key findings from Scott’s research 50:29 Why narrative matters for the future of ag 52:34 What keeps Scott motivated