Across the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region, grazing is more than an occupation - it’s a way of life. Early mornings checking fences, long days walking paddocks and ongoing careful decisions about pasture, herd health, and markets. All of it shapes the land, the livestock, and the livelihoods that depend on them. Seasons are unpredictable, challenges are constant, and yet graziers keep going, knowing that every choice today echoes for years to come. It’s in that context that gatherings like the Reef Catchments Annual Grazing Forum become so vital.
For the first time, the Grazing Forum will be held in Proserpine giving graziers across the Whitsundays easier access to the event and its wealth of knowledge. Adding to the excitement, cattle will be showcased in the Proserpine Showgrounds show ring, giving participants a chance to see genetics, bull selection, and animal presentation demonstrated live.
Reef Catchments Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator, Kellie Harmsworth, says, “This year’s Grazing Forum is all about the theme - Paddock to Sale, taking a big-picture look at the whole grazing journey. During the Field Day we will get out into the paddock to explore pastures and practical management, while the Forum will turn the focus to the beast - looking at genetics, performance, and how to get the best value at sale.”
Out in the paddocks and under the wide Queensland sky, graziers connect with others who understand the realities of the job. They swap stories about what worked and what didn’t, compare notes on pastures, pests, and herd nutrition, and discover new approaches that might transform their own operations. The annual Grazing Forum is a “must attend” event for many graziers, including Travis Perry.
“I always found the Grazing Forums to be not only an excellent event to come to socialise and interact with other graziers, meet new producers, be influenced by what other people are doing, and forming relationships there - but the actual information offered is something that you can’t just access any day of the week. As soon as it comes up in the calendar, it’s locked in - a must attend event,” says Travis.
This year will mark his 10th year attending the Grazing Forum.
“Events like the Reef Catchments Annual Grazing Forum are an investment to the region. They bring together practical know-how, shared experience, and a strong sense of community. It gives graziers a chance to step off-farm, see what’s working for others, and pick up fresh ideas to improve herd health, lift pasture productivity, and strengthen the bottom line. The benefits ripple out - healthier land, more resilient businesses, and a network of graziers backing each other,” says Kellie.
The 2025 Grazing Forum will be held on Wednesday 22 October (Field Day) and Thursday 23 October (Forum). To find out more about this year’s Grazing Forum, contact Kellie Harmsworth: saf@reefcatchments.com, or 0456 182 348.
The Grazing Forum is presented by Reef Catchments Ltd, through funding from the Australian Government and Glencore.
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