Tools in Hand, Eyes on the Future – Jacob Has Got What It Takes, Turning Passion and Perseverance into Achievement.
“People definitely notice when you have a go at something and try your best. And most people in agriculture are very willing to share their wealth of knowledge with you, you’ve just got to listen.” – Jacob
Dedicated to learning, growing his skills, and making the most of every opportunity, Jacob Sanderson has carved out an inspiring path for himself in agriculture at just 18 years of age.
With a shearing handpiece in one pocket and a set of welding tools in the other, Jacob is proof of what can be achieved with determination, resilience, and a willingness to “have a go.”
We last caught up with Jacob in August 2024, not long after he had launched a shearing and hay baling businesses. In the 12 months since, he has built on that foundation with impressive achievements, balancing school, business, and training while setting his sights firmly on a future in farming.
Reflecting on a Busy Year
Jacob’s year has been packed with growth, challenges, and milestones. After our last chat, he joined Team Morgan Shearing for the summer school holidays, a chance to sharpen his skills and work alongside experienced shearers.
His hay baling business didn’t go exactly to plan, with heavy rain and equipment breakdowns limiting what he could get done. But, in true Jacob style, he turned the setback into a positive:
“I didn’t have a very successful run with my small square hay baling due to rain and equipment breakdowns – but that’s all part of the fun. I was very glad to have got 700 or so small squares stacked in the shed, because that has meant not having to buy hay so far this year.”
During the school term, whilst managing school commitments, Jacob has continued providing contract shearing services shearing pet sheep, using his 6 x 4 shearing trailer – a setup he’s proud of, and one that has kept him connected to his local community.
Some of his proudest milestones since we last spoke include:
- Winning gold in the WorldSkills National Competition for VETiS Engineering and Metals alongside his good mate Kadison Dalton who claimed a bronze.
- Shearing 220 composite ewes in a single day, proving skill and endurance in the shed.
- Being selected to represent Victoria at the National Shearing Championships in Jamestown, South Australia, coming up on October 24-26, 2025.
Through it all, Jacob says he’s learned an important discovery:
“People definitely notice when you have a go at something and try your best. And most people in agriculture are very willing to share their wealth of knowledge with you, you’ve just got to listen.”
Balancing Study, Skills & Work
On top of his growing businesses, Jacob has been managing a full Year 12 study load – Maths, English, and Accounting – while completing a Certificate III in Agriculture at RIST and a Certificate II in Engineering through TAFE.
The challenge of staying ahead in classwork has been real, but Jacob says he knows it will be worth it when he completes Year 12.
What has kept him motivated is the opportunity to combine theory with hands-on training:
“Having one day a week to learn on a real farm, alongside people who share my interests, has kept me motivated. That variety has made all the difference – without it, I probably would have left school a long time ago.”
Jacob particularly enjoyed the budgeting section of his ag studies, seeing the clear link to his own businesses and future farm ambitions. He also points to shearing schools through RIST and Shearer Wool-handler Training as being pivotal in improving his technique and confidence.
“Cert II and III in Ag has encouraged me to not give up on my goal of eventually buying and running a farm. It’s been encouraging to be part of a group of people interested in the same things that I am.”
His love for engineering runs alongside agriculture:
“I’ve always had an interest for making things and seeing how things work, and that is two things that are as relevant to agriculture as they are to engineering. I feel like a lot of aspects of many occupations go hand in hand with agriculture.”
WorldSkills Success
Jacob’s gold medal at WorldSkills in Brisbane stands out as one of his proudest achievements. He described the experience as both exhilarating and humbling:
“The competition was like the Olympics, but for tradies. It was three days of competition, and an opening and closing ceremony at the start and finish of the five days.”
Jacob admits he wasn’t expecting to win, which made the moment even more special:
“I felt I had done well, but I wasn’t really expecting to win. It was a great experience to be flown up to Brisbane and back.”
Winning also opened unexpected doors. Recently, Jacob was invited to Parliament House in Melbourne with the other Victorian gold medal winners, an experience he describes as eye-opening.
Beyond the Farm
Life isn’t all shearing and study for Jacob. Music provides him with a creative outlet and a way to relax when life gets busy.
“I enjoy playing music because I just find it relaxing.”
It’s yet another example of Jacob’s ability to balance his practical skills with creativity, finding harmony between his passion for agriculture and his personal wellbeing.
Looking Ahead
Jacob’s focus is firmly on the future. After finishing Year 12, he plans to shear full time in 2026 to save towards his ultimate goal – owning his own farm. He’s already exploring opportunities, including a 40-acre property at Hotspur, which could mark the beginning of his farming journey.
His hay baling business will continue, mostly for personal use but also for local contracting. Looking further ahead, he’s considering a Certificate IV in Agriculture at RIST, as well as pursuing fabrication work to strengthen his engineering skills.
“I may look at pursuing Cert IV at RIST, and I would love to do some fabrication work sometime in the future.”
Jacob’s advice for other young people thinking about blending school with skills-based training is simple but powerful:
“I would advise them to have a go. If school is feeling like a drag, something like RIST or TAFE can be a great outlet for them. You never know if you don’t try.”
And if he had to sum up his journey so far in one sentence?
“I’ve been very lucky to have had supportive parents and employers to help me on my journey so far, it has been great fun.”
National Skills Week
Jacob’s story is the perfect example of this year’s National Skills Week theme: Explore ALL the Options!
Running from 25–31 August 2025, the week shines a spotlight on the power of vocational education and training to shape careers and create pathways for young Australians.
At RIST, we’re proud to support students like Jacob who embrace challenges, build real-world skills, and inspire others in agriculture and beyond.
Images supplied by Jacob Sanderson.
