‘Unconference’ to stimulate ideas

Aunique farm-based festival at Marnoo next month will encourage people to share ideas and generate plans for the region’s farming future.

The Growing Ideas Unconference in the Bush festival on March 13 will feature an unconventional conference, or ‘unconference’, approach in exploring regional development pathways.

Northern Grampians Shire Council is partnering with the State Government, Co-design Studio and Grampians

Community Health to present the inaugural festival, which will run from 10am to 5pm at Marnoo Recreation Reserve.

The council’s Central Ward representative Murray Emerson said Northern Grampians was at the heart of world-leading research, education and business programs and organisations.

He added it also included some of the world’s most productive and innovative food and fibre farms.

“Growing Ideas 2020 will bring together the best and brightest of our agricultural industry and plant the seeds for a brighter future in food, farming, and production,” Cr Emerson said.

“The shire fully intends to enable and energise our Wimmera and Grampians producers, businesses, educators and thinkers to grow and develop this platform for themselves to best suit their future needs.”

The festival will also feature a family-friendly film screening of ‘Happy Sad Man’, food and beverage options, and presentations from the latest in cutting-edge agricultural thinking.

‘Happy Sad Man’ is described as ‘a charming and uplifting insight into the lives of five different Australian men’.

Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey used the premise of finding diverse and positive portrayals of men exploring their emotional selves for her film.

Cr Emerson said the event would encourage farmers, the next generations of farmers and people directly affected by agriculture to think differently about the ag industry.

“By bringing together industry experts, local knowledge and new ideas we can help facilitate a bright future for farming in the region,” he said. “This event is set to be a great addition to our calendar that will provide support to businesses to assist with long-term sustainability and prepare our community for the employment transition into the future.”

Entry to the festival is free of charge and people can book a place online via Eventbrite.

The council has also listed the event on its website at www.ngshire. vic.gov.au/events/growing-ideasfestival-2020.