With the aim of attracting more young people into the agriculture industry, Tairawhiti Polytech held a careers day at the rural campus this week.

Eight Year 8 and 9 students from three different schools in the region tried their hand at various different employment opportunities in agriculture and related fields.

Students were given a taster on catching and restraining sheep as well as drafting off a particular weaner steer from a mob. They all had a turn driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on a flat area.

Agriculture course tutor Cobus Minnaar said some of the career opportunities covered over the day included shepherd, general hand, vet nursing, soil and artificial breeding technician, farm supplies sales person, fertiliser sales and stock agent.

The polytech will offer the National Certificate in Farming Skills (Work Ready) in 2010. This is a Level 3 qualification and incorporates both sheep and cattle farming.

Mr Minnaar says about a third of the course credits consist of theory unit standards covering safety aspects of agrichemical, ATV, chainsaw and tractor use as well as stock work.

The balance of the programme is practical farm skills.

The programme also looks at aspects of pasture management, feed budgeting, grazing systems, reproduction and digestion, anatomy and nutrition. First aid and taking care in an agricultural environment are also included.

The course includes practical skills like working a dog, farm vehicle and machinery use, handling and treatment of both sheep and beef, dagging and crutching sheep and woolshed work, weed control, feeding out supplements, killing and dressing a sheep for dog tucker, maintenance of farm water systems, fencing and docking.

“Farm stays and farm experience is an integral component of the course,” Mr Minnaar says.

An average week would include classroom work, practical farming skills and self-directed study.

“As students’ skill levels increase, there will be opportunities for them to work and be assessed on farms in the region.”

The programme has flexibility to assess students working on farms and to support them to achieve the National Certificate.

Enrolments are open for next year and there are only 14 places available on the course.