How long does it take to fix an underperforming school?
Boonah students cook and serve meals for their Paddock to Plate dinner. (ABC Landline: Pip Courtney)
"Five years," says Dan Marrone, the principal of a high school in Queensland's Scenic Rim, an hour south-west of Brisbane.
But parent Jo Martin, said the game-changing headmaster flipped her daughter's country high school in just two years.
"He's absolutely transformed Boonah State High, it's going from strength to strength, with people outside our catchment area wanting to attend our incredible state high school," Ms Martin said.
Dan Marrone has been a Queensland school principal for more than 20 years. (Supplied)
"Decision and policymakers need to sit up and take notice, as this model works, and our community's [now] absolutely thriving."
From struggling school to stand-out success
Dan Marrone was appointed principal at Boonah in 2023.
"When I first got here it was not the school of choice, we're really proud of the fact that we're now the school of choice," he said.
"The level of behaviour and disengagement I experienced when I first got here was pretty high, we've reversed that completely."
Despite 23 per cent of the local workforce being employed in agriculture, agricultural studies were a low priority at the school when Mr Marrone arrived.
To ensure the curriculum engaged all students, "not just the third headed to university", he hired two more agricultural studies teachers, added new agriculture subjects, and helped teachers develop close relationships with local farm businesses.
Boonah's beautiful landscape and farmland located in the Scenic Rim rural region of Queensland. (ABC Landline: Cameron Lang)
"There's a whole other section of our kids there they want to be able to stay in the community; they want to have opportunities and pathways and employment conduits," he said.
A model for rural education reform
Aidan Richters, the only agriculture teacher in 2023, now takes students on tours of rural businesses and regularly welcomes agricultural experts to the school.
"We're trying to take learning outside of the classroom and by bringing industry into the school our program is buzzing," he said.
Boonah students regularly visit local rural enterprises like Kalfresh. (ABC Landline: Pip Courtney)
"Disengaged students are re-engaging with learning and changing their mind about leaving school."
Mr Richters revived interest in agriculture by starting a lunchtime Cattle Club in 2003.
Local studs donated cattle; an agricultural show team was formed, and the students' distinctive yellow competition shirts became highly sought after.
The club now has 60 members.
Year 7 student Piper Wainwright with her competition scarf and shirt. (ABC Landline: Pip Courtney)
Year seven student Piper Wainwright treasures her yellow shirt and scarf.
"When I first started high school all I wanted to do was to be in Cattle Club because you get to work with cattle, and you … can create a bond with them,"Ms Wainwright said.
Olivia Smith said Cattle Club has taught her discipline and perseverance.
"These lessons go far beyond the show ring, they're life skills that will continue to guide me in my future career which I hope will be in the stock agent industry," Ms Smith said.
The Boonah State High School Cattle Club proudly displaying their show ribbons. (Supplied)
Mr Marrone said the requirement for students in cattle judging competitions to explain how they reach their decisions has had a profound impact.
"We've got students for example that feel shy or embarrassed to do a year nine English oral presentation in front of their whole class but who'll stand up at Rockhampton Beef Week in front of a thousand people and speak for 10 minutes on the breeding characteristics of four heifers and not even think about it," he said.
Elders agronomist Brendan Magee teaching his students. (ABC Landline: Pip Courtney)
"It's those moments that bring a tear to your eye as an educator."
Cattle Club builds confidence and community
The Royal Queensland Show or Ekka is the Cattle Club's biggest competition.
Parent Elyse Payne attended this year's event to watch her son compete.
"We didn't know what our kids were missing out on, it's just unbelievable what it's done for this school,"Ms Payne said.
The relationship with local farm businesses is paying off, with students taking up apprenticeships and full and part-time jobs.
Rob Heinrichsen, the founder of Kalfresh, a multi-million-dollar vegetable business, has hired several Boonah High students.
Dan Marrone and students visit Kalfresh where founder Rob Heinrichsen explains the business. (ABC Landline: Pip Courtney)
"We've seen a real integration with industry, so instead of the school kind of sitting there and never the twain shall meet, we're getting a lot more interaction," Mr Heinrichsen said.
Challenging the system to keep students engaged
Agriculture teacher Aidan Richters praised principal Marrone for giving the teachers at the school "a licence to thrill".
Principal Marrone admits to being an educational "disrupter" but said it's absolutely necessary as traditional schooling only suits 40 per cent of students.
"When we talk about student disengagement or … youth crime or dropout rates or suspension rates, we're not talking about bad kids,"Mr Marrone said.
"What we're talking about is a system that doesn't necessarily always cater to the broad spectrum of students coming through our doors," he said.
Students prepare meals in the kitchen for guests. (ABC Landline: Cameron Lang)
"If you look at our trade and industry program where their maths and English is contextualised to their broader learning, we've got students getting A's and B's in maths that prior to grade 11 had never passed before."
Agriculture is embedded in the curriculum, culminating in the annual Paddock to Plate dinner.
The students raise the beef and grow the vegetables, herbs and eggs, and hospitality students plan and run the event.
At the dinner the principal told guests the school had been on a remarkable journey since 2023.
"We're setting a model, and the success of our young people relies on us pulling in a common direction to build the generation of the future,"Mr Marrone said.
Several Year 12 students who are about to leave school and with it Cattle Club told diners they'd miss it.
"I'd give anything for just one more show, because the lessons, the experiences and the people I've met along the way are truly priceless," Alexander Fordyce said.
Watch ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm AEST on Sunday or stream anytime on ABC iview.