AgNews
Introducing our 2026 Ag Team: We are excited to introduce the Agriculture Team for 2026 and share the updates to our teaching and farm support staff for the year ahead:
Jessica Fegan has returned from maternity leave and will be taking all Senior School Agriculture classes, as well as Year 9 Sheep Production.
Renee Bell is also returning this year and will be teaching Year 6 Agriculture and Year 9 Vegetable Production, in addition to continuing with the Year 7 Agriculture rotation classes.
Heidi Van Paridon will begin the year teaching the Junior School Agriculture classes before commencing maternity leave in Term 2.
Sean Everett is diversifying his teaching load this year and will be taking the Year 8 Agriculture rotation classes.
Travis Lienert and Paul Castle are returning in their existing roles, continuing to support the Agriculture program and farm operations.
Debbie Zimmermann will continue in the role of Agriculture Manager/Administration, supporting the team and the ongoing development of the Ag program.
Ella Ireland (Year 11 Student) joins us as our Junior Farmhand, assisting with weekend and daily farm duties.
Christa Oosthuizen, Science Learning Area Coordinator, who oversees the Agriculture curriculum and provides support to the Ag teaching team.
Happenings around Unity Ag
Several of our animals have already arrived on site over the past four weeks, bringing plenty of excitement to Unity Ag.
Five 10‑week‑old female pigs arrived on the first day of Term 1 — a huge thank‑you to SunPork for generously donating them.
Eight crossbred wether lambs were collected from Mark Humphrey (Windella Pastoral) to begin our probiotic trial, with Year 9 and Year 12 students working closely with them throughout the term.
By the end of Week 1, our day‑old chicks arrived from HiChick, kindly collected from Bethel by Michael Obst.
(Let me know if you’d like to preorder any Point‑of‑Lay chickens for collection in June.)
In Week 3, our new laying hens settled into the Junior School campus, and we welcomed our twin poddy calves, Kimchi and Chipotle. They will feature heavily in the Year 5 and Year 8 Ag curriculum and will be cared for by many students and staff involved in the program.
(Let me know if you’d like to agist they calves for up to 18 months for Unity Ag – contact Debbie Zimmermann)
Over the coming weeks, students will take part in excursions to Thornby Sheep Feedlot and Lucernbrae Merino Stud, as well as compete in a Wool Handling Competition in Karoonda.
We look forward to a productive and engaging year in Agriculture, and we are excited about the expertise, energy, and passion each team member brings to the program in 2026.
