Recognition for Rural Youth star with autism, Patrick Rosevear

Patrick Rosevear, a 17-year-old Launceston College student, has been acknowledged for his work with Rural Youth.

He and his parents credit the organisation with not only teaching him agricultural skills, but social skills as well.

"We have a really fun time with each other," he said.

"The skills I've learned are fencing, a lot of irrigation work, I've done some tractor driving, and things like that."

He was the assistant coordinator for the beef expo and junior livestock handling at Agfest 2019, and also manned the Rural Youth stall at the Exeter Show.

His mother, Melissa Blundstone-Rosevear, said the organisation has done wonders for Patrick.

"It's been a long journey to get here for all of us," she said.

"We joined him up with Rural Youth because, being an only child, he hasn't had that much opportunity to work with his own age group.

"And it's all been about teamwork, communication with other people, compromising, and he's also had to learn about independence."

She said Patrick has joined various different groups, but Rural Youth had been the most effective for him by a long shot.

"When they go to Agfest for the working bees they stay on site, so he's had to learn about sharing, and personal space," she said.

"He has worked really hard, and [the award] is the first time anyone's really recognised that."

Patrick wants to be a farmer after graduating, which Mrs Blundstone-Rosevear said was inevitable - one side of his family founded the Blundstone working boots company, and the other half were the original settlers of the land around the Rosevears Hotel.

He has his eye on studying an Associate Degree in Agribusiness at University College.

"Further down the track I'd like to be an agronomist - but that's ages away," he said.

Patrick is the only Northern nominee for the MAIB Disability Achievement Award at the Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards.

He was nominated by his teacher at Launceston College, Sharyn Lawrence.

The Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards will be announced on Friday, November 22.