The 12 student pilots selected to compete in the trials received specialist training with drone experts before having the opportunity to race a drone through an obstacle course on Muresk’s oval.
More than 100 students from Guildford Grammar School, Margaret River Senior High School, Kelmscott Senior High School and the WA College of Agriculture in Cunderdin, Narrogin and Morawa came along to support and cheer on their classmates.
They also had the opportunity to watch working sheepdogs in action and attend career sessions in the lecture theatre.
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READ NOWGuildford Grammar student Ben Farrell completed the course with the fastest time in 18 seconds, winning two drones – one for himself and one for his school.
Muresk Institute general manager Prue Jenkins said the event was a unique and fun way to showcase the role technology played in modern farming while also exposing students to a state-of-the-art agricultural learning environment.
“We’re passionate about changing the perception of farming and agriculture,” she said.
“Drones, for example, are used today to monitor crops and even move cattle from one paddock to another. We wanted to explore the role of technology with students in an engaging and exciting way and potentially open up some young minds to the possibility of a career in agriculture.”
Muresk Institute hopes to make the trial an annual event.
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