Former Tauranga resident Eva Huckstep meets "King", working with dogs is among skills the trainees learn
Last month 10 Growing Future Farmers students completed an orientation week at the Oliver family’s Ōtorohanga property, Rangitoto Lands.
Duncan and Rhonda Oliver are heavily involved in Growing Future Farmers through their role as farm trainers, and their 1100-hectare working farm – with sheep, beef, deer and bees – provides a perfect orientation venue.
The Olivers are among farmers in seven locations who have hosted 75 new students for their orientation week nationwide.
After an initial overview of what a farming career will hold in store, the trainees are assigned to farms where they will live and work.
“Orientation is a time for students to learn some important skills before heading on farm for the next two years as well as forming valuable relationships with their fellow students and regional liaison manager,” Growing Future Farmers King Country spokesperson Sue Meade said.
“Students engage in a range of activities during this week. The goal is to set them up for success.
“Vehicle training, first aid, communication techniques, independent living skills and making sure they are ready to start their study through EIT all happens during this time.”
Kevin Mitchell from Training Ventures took the King Country students through a comprehensive two-day vehicle training in which they learned to safely operate and maintain a two-wheeler, quad and light utility vehicle.
These skills are regarded as a vital part of orientation, and Kevin insured all students had a good skill base before they started their on-farm training.
What the students learned included navigating challenging terrain, weight distribution and minimising the risk associated with using a vehicle on farm.
Pratt Motorcycles Te Kūiti along with King Country Farm Trainers supplied vehicles for this course.
The youngsters also completed their first aid training with Triple One Care.
They were taught how to identify and treat a range of injuries and conditions they may encounter during their time on farm.
These skills included giving CPR, stabilising fractures and stopping life threatening bleeds.
“It is reassuring knowing the students have the necessary skills should they ever need them,” Sue said
Growing Future Farmer was born from a small group of beef and sheep farmers who sat around a table in 2016 and decided that they needed to create high quality and meaningful career pathways into the sector.
It was to be a “by farmers, for farmers” design, so the employers of the next generation of farmers were actively investing and contributing to on farm succession planning. he instigators felt it was important to shift the mindset to training for what future farming needs would look like in an ever-changing context. The Growing Future Farmers model is now established and proven one, led by those with the most at stake – farmers. The programme has seen continued and substantial growth since its trust was formally established in 2019. Numbers have gone from 10 students in 2020, to 135 students enrolled in this year’s programme. Some key facts: 188 students have enrolled in GFF since the pilot scheme in 2020. There are 135 students in 2024 cohort 73 graduates to date The “into employment” hit rate has been 100% 105 farm trainers are taking part in 14 regions The student gender split is 50:50 male/female 26% of students are non-Pakeha There has been a 60:40 rural-urban spilt among students 38% of students have numeracy or literacy challenges (EIT info 2023)
