The finalists in the CRDC-Chris Lehmann Young Achiever Award are Blake Palmer, Jacob Booby and Grace Griffiths. These three young achievers represent the industry in different ways, yet share a common passion for cotton and securing its future.
The awardee will receive a bursary to attend the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program, valued at $12,000. This seven-day program is a new aspect of the award, with 2024 awardee Sharna Holman, CottonInfo’s Technical Lead for Biosecurity and Disease, the first recipient to attend.
Sharna said participating in the TRAIL program was an incredibly rewarding experience, providing a “valuable opportunity to step away from the demands of daily life and focus on personal growth and leadership development.”
“One of the most impactful aspects was the chance to reflect on the many ways and styles leadership can be expressed,” Sharna says. “I left the program with new perspectives and ideas, as well as a deeper understanding of myself. It was also fantastic to connect with a wide range of leaders in agriculture, health, and local communities from regional and remote areas of Australia. Overall, the TRAIL program was an enriching experience.”
Meet the nominees
Jacob Booby, Senior Account Manager, Louis Dreyfus Commodities
Jacob says growing up in Narrabri has allowed him to witness just how valuable the industry is to the community. He’s worked in a gin, as an agronomist, and has been involved in three Cotton Grower Associations — Walgett, Upper Namoi, and Lower Namoi.
“Cotton keeps the town alive. Even during drier times the cotton industry still seems to be ticking over,” Jacob said.
His role with Namoi Cotton has given him insight into world markets and their demands. “This information needs to be passed along to growers, as they need to be adaptive as this sustainability piece is constantly evolving. I would like to see cotton band together globally to tell its story and stop the loss in market share to synthetics. If this is possible, we’d see the price of cotton increase as demand increases, which is needed with current growing costs. The Australian industry sets itself apart from international suppliers when it comes to traceability. Data will enable us to access ever-tightening markets in the EU.”
Grace Griffiths, Grower, Agronomist and GIS Specialist with Digital Ag Technologies
According to Grace, “our industry is on the cusp of a new era, one defined by accountability, climate targets, and increasing public scrutiny. As expectations around environmental performance and ethical production grow, our social licence to operate will become more important than ever,” says Grace, from her base in Goondiwindi, Qld.
“To thrive in this landscape, two priorities must be clear: owning and telling our story, and empowering growers with the right tools and knowledge. We have the chance to lead, innovate, and show the world that Australian cotton isn’t just a high-quality fibre — it’s produced by a forward-thinking, climate-resilient industry that puts people and the planet first.
“It is this reliability and support that made me choose the industry. The values and objectives of continuous development, sustainability, profitability, and alignment with the community are what set the industry apart. I’m committed to driving that vision, where growers are supported, our story is celebrated, and our industry sets the global standard for sustainable production.”
Grace says she will continue to tell cotton’s story, openly and proudly, as a grower adopting sustainable farming practices — showcasing not only her work, but the incredible efforts of the entire industry. “Advocating for our industry and for growers will always be a priority for me, particularly in areas where I’ve built a deeper understanding, such as water, climate policy, and education.”
Blake Palmer, Soil Health Technical Lead and Upper Namoi Regional Extension Officer, CRDC and CottonInfo
Blake is an extension specialist and soil scientist based in Narrabri, where he has worked at the Australian Cotton Research Institute (ACRI). Blake is undertaking a PhD focused on understanding the soil dynamics behind cotton picker compaction and finding the ideal rotation crop for growers to use to bio-remediate the soil. He has worked as a technical officer with NSW DPIRD, holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree, and has sat on several soil-related bodies.
“Co-authoring the Soils Capacity Gap Analysis for Southern NSW strengthened my beliefs on the importance of extension, particularly in bringing soils knowledge to the cotton industry,” Blake said.
“I am focused on championing scientific outcomes and facilitating connections that add value to the industry. I am committed to actively using my drive to keep the ongoing development of cotton’s current and future workforce as a core part of both my work and the industry. I have been involved with people from all walks of life and have deliberately developed my skills to communicate effectively with authenticity and honesty, no matter who I am talking to. I’ve always used my platform to advocate for agriculture, cotton, and regional communities.”
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2025 edition of CRDC's Spotlight magazine. You can read this edition online here, and subscribe for future editions here.
