Learning is on as the crop comes off at Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge Central School Hands On Learning students Kane Duncan, June Langmead and Zane Manton with teacher Damien Flaherty, sharefarmer Charlie Carpenter and Dave Sullivan, Manager Lightning Ridge Area Opal Reserve. Photo contributed

Harvest is well underway at Lightning Ridge with local students being given insight into the agricultural industry and possible career opportunities.

Lightning Ridge Area Opal Reserve Manager Dave Sullivan said the Reserve’s cropping enterprise has expanded significantly this year, covering more than 3,000 acres across three blocks.

“This is the first year we’ve had a share farmer for all the cropping we’ve got,” Mr Sullivan said. “We did an expression of interest through a stock agent, and a local Indigenous guy, Charlie Carpenter, was successful in a five-year arrangement which is great.”

The mixed cropping program includes wheat, chickpeas and barley, with each paddock contributing to both commercial production and local education opportunities.

“The Hands-On Learning class from the local school comes out every Wednesday,” Mr Sullivan said. […]

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