A group of enthusiastic Year 5 and 6 students from St Colman’s Catholic School recently stepped out of the classroom and into the heart of the Burdekin’s agricultural landscape, visiting Rocks Farming Company in Mona Park for an immersive learning experience.
Held on Wednesday, the 18th of June, the excursion was made possible through a collaboration with CQUniversity’s Agri-Tech Education Officers, Lilly and Grace. The visit offered students a rare, hands-on insight into one of Australia’s largest sugarcane producers and the many technologies and careers that power modern farming.
Guided by Rocks Farming Company’s Brian, the tour kicked off with a bus ride up a hill overlooking the expansive 2,700-hectare irrigated property. From this high point, students were treated to sweeping views of sugarcane fields, cattle paddocks, and earth-moving equipment in action - an impressive introduction to the scale and complexity of farming operations in the region.
The students then explored the working sheds and maintenance areas where they learned about the wide range of job roles required on a farm - from machinery operators and general farm hands to skilled technicians and even helicopter pilots. Engaging Q&A sessions sparked student interest in how technology such as GPS-guided equipment and drone surveillance is used daily to streamline farming practices and increase productivity.
Back at school, the learning continued with a fun and educational session of “Tractor Code Creator,” where students programmed Edison robots to mimic the movement patterns of tractors. This fusion of agriculture and coding not only reinforced their understanding of farm logistics but also encouraged problem-solving and critical thinking.
Another standout of the day was learning about technology used in animal management, including wearable tracking devices for livestock that monitor their movements and health in real time.
The school extended a warm thank you to Brian and Talbot from Rocks Farming Company, and to Lilly and Grace from CQUniversity, for making the day such a memorable experience!
A group of Year 5 and 6 St Colman's students discovered the future of farming at Rocks Farming Company last month (Photos Supplied)
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