2024 SALRC award recipients, from left, Stephen Lee (Scientist/Researcher Award), Richard Kirkland (Producer Award), Jillian Kelly (Communications/Extension Award) and Andrea McKenzie (Young Achiever Award).

THE Southern Australia Livestock Research Council has announced its 2024 Excellence award winners across the region’s livestock industries.

The awards were developed to recognise, reward and celebrate excellence in the contributions of individuals to research, development, extension, communication and practical application of innovation on farm, to improve the profitability, productivity and sustainability of the Southern Australian red meat and livestock industries.

The four awards presented this year cover livestock production, research, communication/extension and young achievement.

The 2024 Award recipients are:

• Producer: Richard Kirkland (Mixed farming enterprise, Millicent, SA)
• Scientist/Researcher: Stephen Lee (Director, SA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub)
• Communication/Extension: Jillian Kelly (Consultant, AHN Consulting, Coonamble, NSW)
• Young Achiever: Andrea McKenzie (Senior Extension Officer, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries).

In announcing the award recipients, SALRC chair Ian Rogan said the council was keen to encourage excellence and innovation in the region’s sheepmeat and beef cattle industries – whether that be livestock producers who are testing and adopting best practices on farm or the research and extension service providers who are contributing to an innovative, productive and profitable future.

In receiving his award, Producer Award recipient Richard Kirkland said SALRC was instrumental providing region-specific R&D for the red meat industry and ensuring appropriate extension work that helps with the adoption of new farming practices.

“To be recognised as contributing with R&D and aligning with the SALRC principles is extremely rewarding,” he said.

SALRC 2024 Scientist/Researcher award winner Stephen Lee said he had been fortunate to have the opportunity from early in his career to establish great collaborations with livestock producers, value chain partners, and colleagues from across Australia on research and development programs focused on measurably improving productivity, profitability and sustainability.

“Through my current role, this scope has expanded to drought and climate resilience. I would like to acknowledge the SA Livestock Industry Blueprint Working Group, which has been a driving force in collaborative project development.”

Communication/Extension 2024 Award recipient Jillian Kelly said she was pleased that the producers she worked with found enough value in the service she delivers to recognise her efforts in this way.

“A big thank you to SALRC and here’s to keeping the communication going between research, industry, advisors and producers through these channels.”

Young Achiever Award recipient Andrea McKenzie said she was pleased to be at a stage in her career where she could give back to the industry that’s given so much to her.

The Awards were presented at the SALRC Rural Bank Livestock 2024 Conference Dinner held last month at Albury.

SALRC will continue to identify and recognise outstanding contributors to the red meat and livestock industries again in future.

SALRC is an independent, incorporated association and one of three national research Councils set up to provide recommendations on Research, Development & Adoption priorities and planning for grassfed beef and sheepmeat producers throughout southern Australia.