Golden Bay Federated Farmers update

Ann Thompson

Recently I accompanied eight young people when they visited a Takaka dairy farm during the busy springtime.  They are all part of Papa Taiao Earthcare’s Future Farming Mohua programme.

These students are 15 – 16 years old, from Golden Bay High School, Collingwood Area School or Te Kura Correspondence School. Most Fridays see them exit the classroom with organiser Miriam Sherratt, in search of career choices that interest them more than sitting at a desk.  They have explored bee keeping, fencing, pest management, soil science, seed drilling, effluent management, milked cows, planted trees and learnt about chainsaw safety and maintenance.  There is still more to be experienced, too, as the third school term comes to a close. The programme helpfully offers some credits towards NCEA, too.

The Friday I was there saw them picking up the latest batch of calves from the paddock and bringing in both the calves and the mothers from the herd, tagging the calves and recording their genetic line, visiting the calf pens, understanding the concept of pasture management, clearing fences of flood debris and care of the waterways.

In reality, the day consisted of so much more as the conversation flowed from salaries for dairy farm assistants (mean salary is $60,336 according to the 2024 Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farm Salaries Report) to the banking sector, mental health, the economic value of farming to New Zealand, how farmers feed families (here and across the world), and so much more.  Steven Woods, the host and farm owner, even managed to squeeze in a plug for maths as he talked about what he uses it for every day.

These were all broad conversations but added to the knowledge being built up. All these young people were cheerful, straightforward, confident, fun-loving teens who really are keen to learn something new.  They were able to bring their own experiences to the day, were focussed and pleased to help out.

Offering a broad range of career options is the aim of the programme.  While some on the visit I experienced would have preferred to do something they already knew (and loved), like driving (anything, but bigger appeared to be better, like a tractor!), seeing what else is out there is important.  Showing off what Golden Bay does best with its high sunshine hours, good soils, clear water and plentiful rainfall is a logical start for these students. The programme is funded by the Top of the South Trades Academy and Huarahi Trades Academy.

Federated Farmers is very proud to be associated with this programme and we look forward to meeting next year’s intake of students.