It’s Ewe Time Event Coordination
Did you know more than 1,000 sheep producers have attended an It's Ewe Time! forum to help improve their business productivity and profitability?
Project start date: | 01 June 2017 |
Project end date: | 27 September 2019 |
Publication date: | 10 December 2019 |
Project status: | Completed |
Livestock species: | Sheep, Lamb |
Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
It's ewe time! forums aim to increase producers' awareness of the principles and capabilities that drive highly profitable and productive sheep enterprises.
MLA and Australian Wool Innovation jointly funded 23 It's ewe time! forums in all states (except for Tasmania) from August 2017 to April 2019.
The forums were a successful tool to drive improved productivity, with the majority of the 1,113 producers who attended the forums planning to make changes to their business and seek more information or training as a result of attending.
Objectives
A coordinator was engaged to lead the planning and delivery of at least 17 It's ewe time! forums between 2017 and 2019. The It's ewe time! National Coordinator was responsible for:
- consulting and engaging with community
- developing the program
- engaging speakers
- engaging with event partners
- managing venue, catering and logistics.
Key findings
- The It's ewe time! forums were overwhelmingly successful, with all attendees giving very positive feedback; 22 of the 23 forums had satisfaction ratings of more than 8 out of 10.
- The forums reached 1,113 sheep producers and service providers.
- 60% of attendees indicated that they intended to make a change to their business as a result of attending the forum and 68% indicated that they would seek further information on subjects raised at the forums.
- 48 speakers were engaged across the series
- Most of the content of each forum was specific to the region; although there was a common theme on all programs around optimising ewe and weaner management and flock health.
Benefits to industry
The It's Ewe Time! events are highly valued by the sheep industry as they lead to on-farm practice change and stimulate desire for further learning and improved business productivity and profitability. Participants in smaller communities appreciated the ability to access a quality event in their area.
MLA action
MLA has taken the fundamental principles of the It's Ewe Time! forums and merged them with content from pasture and beef forums to create the new MeatUp forums; an all-encompassing awareness program that covers cattle, sheep and goats across southern Australia.
MeatUp forums will begin in May 2020. For further information contact amorelli@mla.com.au.
Future research
It is recommended that these forums are held again in the future.
Areas that could be improved include:
- ensure all speakers provide the event coordinator with a preview of their presentation before delivery
- allow at least five months to plan each event.
- provide speakers with more feedback on presentations, content and style between forums
- ensure speakers consistently emphasise opportunities for attendees to follow up with reading or training opportunities, including referring people to the forum booklet.
Related resources
MLA news articles
- It's Ewe Time! set to return in 2019. Friday Feedback article, 14 December 2018.
MLA guides and factsheets
- It's Ewe Time! forum, MLA presentations, 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, Victoria and New South Wales, 20 February 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, Birchip, Victoria, 26 February 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, South Australia, 8 March 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, Jamestown, South Australia, 26 March 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, Karoonda, South Australia, 27 March 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, Armidale, New South Wales, 28 March 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, Naracoorte, South Australia, 28 March 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, Armidale, New South Wales, 2 April 2019.
- It's Ewe Time forum, Campbell Town, Tasmania, 12 June 2019.
More information
Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
Primary researcher: | GI & AL Collins |