From the Western Districts to the Top End: Sophie’s career in Ag is just beginning.
At just 18 years old, Sophie is already on a bold path in agriculture — from growing up on a farm in Victoria’s Western Districts to now heading to a cattle station in the Northern Territory. A recent graduate of the Certificate II in Agriculture at RIST, Sophie is proving that passion, curiosity, and hands-on experience are a powerful combination for a successful future in the ag industry.
While completing Year 12, Sophie chose to follow her interest in agriculture through a traineeship, completing it on a nearby cattle property Weeran Angus. While she grew up with farming in her blood, working outside her family farm gave her a broader understanding of the diversity and challenges of the industry.
Sophie’s time at RIST offered her even more exposure to real-world agriculture. “My favourite part of the Cert II at RIST was getting to know everyone in the class and visiting different farms,” she said. “It was great seeing how everyone does things differently and learning more about the wide variety of roles within agriculture.”
From shearing to agronomy, Sophie embraced every opportunity. “I hadn’t had much experience in those areas before, so it was really good to learn something new,” she explained. She credits the small class sizes and one-on-one support from trainers as key to building her skills and confidence.
Sophie’s dedication and leadership didn’t go unnoticed — she was awarded the Leadership Award at graduation. “It was a big honour and very unexpected,” she said. “To hear my classmates say I deserved it was really nice.”
Now, she’s preparing for her next big step: heading north to work on a cattle station in the NT alongside a fellow RIST graduate. “It’s very exciting, a bit nerve-wracking, but it should be a lot of fun,” she said.
Her message to others thinking about a future in agriculture is clear and encouraging:
“Give it a crack. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything is fun. Even on a bad day, there’s always a positive to take from it. Just give everything a go, put your best foot forward, and keep trying. There’s always someone behind you, encouraging and supporting you.”
– Sophie
Sophie’s journey shows how a career in agriculture can lead to incredible adventures — from the paddocks of the Western Districts to the vast cattle country of the Top End. With hands-on training, industry connections, and real-world experience, RIST is the perfect building block to launch a future in ag. If you’re a young person considering your next step, Sophie’s story might be just the inspiration you need.
Recent photographs from Sophie’s experience in the Top End. Images supplied by Sophie Taylor, May 2025.
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Learn more and register for an information session today!
