RACHEL Fife, from Northumberland, is to attend the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) conference in Australia.

The 24-year-old farmer’s daughter from Coldrife Farm, near Chathill, will represent Glendale Agricultural Society (GAS) at the international event at Brisbane Showground in October.

GAS is one of the UK’s smallest agricultural society’s but is also one of the most proactive and progressive.

It joined the RASC four years ago and Rachel will attend as its Next Generation delegate, She has always wanted to farm and looks after the family’s 400-ewe flock and all the farm’s paperwork.

Rachel also works at Northumbrian Quality Feeds and is a self-employed contract shepherd during the summer.

Her experience includes three months travelling and working in New Zealand, in particular in shearing sheds, grading the wool as it was being clipped, penning sheep and pressing wool.

She described her attendance at the conference as an opportunity of a lifetime.

“It is a difficult industry to start up in, and I feel that the knowledge that will be available to me at the conference will go a long way in helping me achieve my overall aim to start up my own farming business breeding pedigree Suffolks,” she said.

“I am very interested in learning about new ideas and techniques that can help the farming industry, and am really looking forward to getting an in-depth look at the issues facing primary production in south-east Queensland in the farming and agriculture industry.”

Simon Orpwood, from GAS and a trustee of the RCAS, said: “Rachel has agriculture in her blood. We were looking for someone with an abundance of enthusiasm and an interest in the agriculture sector, and Rachel was the ideal person.”

GAS has contributed £500 towards Rachel’s trip and is looking to secure further funding to cover some of the costs.

The RASC Next Generation scheme looks for candidates under the age of 40 with an involvement in agriculture and who have the potential to contribute to the long-term face of agriculture in the region, the country and the Commonwealth.

During the conference, the RASC coordinates a separate Next Generation forum for future leaders of Commonwealth agricultural societies.