Sunfam recently attended the Y School Career Expo in Bundaberg, an event designed to connect students with opportunities across a range of industries and give them a clearer picture of potential career pathways. For Sunfam, the decision to be involved was an easy one, with a strong focus on engaging the next generation and showcasing what a future in agriculture and water solutions can look like.
“We decided to go along to the Y School Career Expo to connect with young people in the industry,” said Bethany Stone, Sunfam Rural Product Sales Rep.
“It is good to gauge who’s out there looking to get into the industry and what young people are looking for in a career.”
Held through the YMCA school program in Bundaberg, the event brought together around 100 students, along with their parents and caregivers. It created an opportunity not just for students to ask questions, but for businesses like Sunfam to better understand the interests and ambitions of those considering a future in the agricultural sector.
Sunfam approached the day with a broad perspective, highlighting not only its own operations but also the wider opportunities available through Elders. Rather than focusing on a single area, the team aimed to reflect the diversity of roles across the business.
“We aimed to showcase all aspects of Sunfam’s business as well as draw on our connection to Elders,” Bethany said.
“We talked about Elders livestock and agronomy graduate program, plus all that we do at Sunfam. We keep an eye out for anybody who might be interested in anything from welding all the way up to procurement, rural products, sales reps, specialist roles… we do a bit of everything.”
That diversity became a key talking point throughout the day, with many students surprised by the range of pathways available. Conversations often centred around broadening their understanding of what Sunfam does and where they might fit within it.
“We had some really interesting conversations with young people, just opening their eyes to the full range of services that Sunfam offers that they might not know about,” Bethany said.
“A lot of kids in the area had heard of Sunfam, or their parents have had a bit to do with us, but they don’t always know exactly what we do.”
For Bethany, one of the most rewarding aspects of the event was being able to show that there isn’t a single ‘type’ of person suited to a career with Sunfam. Instead, the business offers opportunities across hands-on, technical and office-based roles.
“There’s a job for everybody at Sunfam,” she said.
“Whether you want to be out in the paddock planning and designing irrigation systems, or working with customers in the field, or even down in a trench doing hands-on work; we’ve got roles for that. If you’d rather be in an office, there’s everything from ordering equipment, from big irrigators to tiny hose clamps, right through to roles in rural products.”
Beyond Sunfam itself, Bethany highlighted the broader career pathways available across the business and the Elders network.
“We’ve got branch managers, agronomists, sales reps, truck drivers—we’ve really got a bit of everything,” she said.
By the end of the day, Sunfam’s presence at the expo had done more than just introduce the business, it helped spark curiosity and expand perceptions of what a career in agriculture and water solutions can look like, particularly for young people in regional communities.