Probiotic honey, phone apps, and innovative agricultural tools were just some of the products pitched at the Year 13 Agribusiness Crocodile Pit.
Presenting in front of a panel of six 'crocodile' judges, students participate in a den-style competition where they have just five minutes to show off their innovation. Students are then ‘snapped’ with commerce questions about their planning, process, and market research. With spots at Fieldays and cash on the line as prizes, students must bring their A-game to be considered for a top spot.
Of the 16 groups that presented, this year’s winner of the Crocodile Pit went to Benjamin Allen, Olivia Calder, and Jade Luxton, who came up with the Steri-Needle. Steri-Needle is a holster used to sterilise vaccination gun needles so farmers can hygienically vaccinate several animals. The Steri-Needle group have earned themselves a spot at the 2022 Fieldays in November and a $400 cash prize.
Milan Hood and Taiki Lynn were placed second for their SeaFeed product, a pellet feed designed to be consumed by cattle in feeding systems. SeaFeed includes wheat and molasses to ensure the cattle receive high nutrition levels. Their point of difference is the red seaweed which disrupts enzymes of gut microbes in the cattle stomach that produces methane gas. Team SeaFeed also earned a spot at the 2022 Fieldays and $300 cash.
Third place went to the EzePull team of George McNeil, Ben Haskell, Logan Spencer, Hunter Doull, and Andy Irvine. The EzePull lever is designed to put a wedge between the gate gudgeon and a fence post, pulling the gudgeon safely out. This product applies to various gudgeons, such as rusted in gudgeons, drive gudgeons, screw-in gudgeons and lock through. EzePull earnt a place at the 2022 Fieldays and $200 cash.
CowCuts was placed fourth for their design to assist farmers in treating and trimming cow hooves while in the milking shed. CowCuts works through a quick release clamp that connects to the rails of the shed and the cow hoof, lifting the foot towards the farmer safely and sturdily. Congratulations to Levi Davidson, Charlize Tutbury, and Kyla Kerr-Rushbrooke, who won $100 cash for their product.
