Following on from the competition’s enormous success in 2009, the AUCC allows a fun and competitive environment in which GGA assists students to acquire and apply knowledge of the practical aspects of agronomic and business decision making, as well as to develop students’ confidence and communications skills.

Denielle Kilby from the University of New England who placed fourth in the competition in 2009 said it was an experience not to be missed.

“The AUCC gives students the opportunity to implement and extend their current knowledge in a practical environment,” Ms Kilby said.

“It also opens up many networking opportunities, not only with people from industry but also within our peer group.

“The AUCC is a great stepping stone into the ‘real’ agricultural world, piecing together all the time spent in the lecture theatre,” she said.

The AUCC aims to promote and develop an increased awareness and greater connectivity between universities and the rural industry through the combination of technical knowledge and practical skill development and application.

GGA Chairman John Eastburn said GGA was committed to programs such as the AUCC which helped to raise the profile of agriculture as a career choice.

“The AUCC is one way we can focus on agriculture as a challenging yet rewarding career path,” Mr Eastburn said.

“Competition participants are provided with both information and resources to better prepare them to enter into a career in the grains industry," he said.

The competition will be held from September 17 to 19.

The Temora location will provide students with access to both lab based competition components and in field live crops trials.

Students will enter on an individual basis with a combined university team’s event running in conjunction.

The top five placegetters will receive a fully hosted international crops industry study tour.

The AUCC is a unique opportunity that is open to only 40 undergraduate students from universities across Australia and invitational universities from overseas. Registrations are now open but will close on Friday, August 6.