Mr Cooney enrolled in University College’s agribusiness associate degree at Launceston at the beginning of this year and combines study with his farm hand and marketing job at Tasmanian Natural Garlic & Tomatoes.

He has been working at the Selbourne business three days a week for almost three months, and plans to continue combining work and study for the second, and final, year of the degree.

“I have been planting tomatoes and pruning, building poly tunnels for tomatoes and helping out with the seedling sale [held in October],” Mr Cooney said.

“I also do marketing for the business, and I’m looking forward to the Tasmanian Garlic & Tomato Festival, but farm work is taking precedence now,” he said.

Mr Cooney found the job with Tasmanian Natural Garlic & Tomatoes via the business Facebook page, but said he would have approached owner Annette Reed for work experience anyway.

“I’ve always been interested in the festival and like the business,” Mr Cooney said.

This is the first agriculture role for the former graphic designer and advertising assistant, but he jumped at the chance to work in the industry where he wanted to be and use his marketing skills at the same time.

“At IGA I collaborated with small producers around the state producing social media content. I got to know the industry and enjoyed growing things in my garden at home,” Mr Cooney said.

“I had been in advertising for 11 years and was looking for a change,” he said.

While his new job has been a change from what he was used to, Mr Cooney has not looked back.

“I’m enjoying learning new things and doing physical work outdoors. I don’t need to go to the gym anymore,” he said.

“I really like that Tasmanian Natural Garlic & Tomatoes celebrate the produce they grow and engage with the community,” Mr Cooney said.

Another plus is being able to combine what he is studying at his workplace.

“The degree has been good because I’ve been able to do assignments on my workplace. That’s a real positive part of the course,” Mr Cooney said.

“It’s a good way for me to get into the industry and it has been a real confidence booster for me,” he said.

The degree’s 2017 Student Showcase will include Mr Cooney’s and fellow agribusiness students’ work on solutions to real-world problems.

University College applied business and applied design students are also participating in the showcase.