Beef & Lamb is supporting a private scheme to give senior college students the opportunity to find out if farming holds a future for them, at Summerhill Farm near Tauranga.

Roughing it – young people, taking part in the A1 Youth Academy, prepare to spend a night in the woolshed at Summerhill.

The farming industry's marketing organisation has made a grant to assist with the operation of the ‘Hands on Farming Scheme' is run by farm manager Bryce Gilbert on a 404.6 ha mixed dry stock and commercial forestry farm owned by the Summerhill Charitable Trust.

David and Cloie Blackley, who have owned the land since 1959 and have arranged to gift it to the nation, also oversee the programme which is aimed at students in their last year at college.

Three students are currently taking part in the scheme and enrolments are open now for more. The course is free, but students are expected to make a commitment to attend regularly and work while on the farm. They require suitable boots and wet weather clothing; and to keep a diary of the work they have done, which will form the basis for a future CV to assist with securing employment or progressing to full time training.

'It offers youth, from nine local high schools, the opportunity to learn some basics of farming before making the commitment to an established training centre,” says David.

'Over the last six months we have had several lads we have instructed, who assisted on many farm and animal jobs, and were all delighted to have this opportunity. One of them has obtained a job using our reference.”

Farm work doesn't fit easily into the well-established ‘Gateway' work experience scheme that local colleges are part of, which requires students to attend a workplace at the same time each week. 'That just doesn't work for farming so we now have an arrangement where the farm manager notifies parents and schools the day before some worthwhile experience for students is about to happen. They are also encouraged to spend time on the farm during school holidays,” says David.

'As much as possible we try to involve the students in handling our Angus cattle and Romney sheep; and this has included trying their hand at shearing.”

David says farm manager Bryce is a qualified and experience head shepherd who enjoys working with young people and passing on his skills and knowledge.

'By having hands on experience at Summerhill, young people can find out if farming is what they would like to do and then decide to train through a polytech, farm training school or go to Massey or Lincoln universities.”

Summerhill also offers training in leadership and life skills for 15 to 20 year olds through its Summerhill A1 Youth Academy. The academy course is free and those taking part commit to attend on one Sunday each month for nine months, plus carry out 30 hours of community work. The course is structured around the needs of each intake; and so far topics and experiences covered include students spending the night in the woolshed, gliding, sailing, time with the New Zealand Navy, Police, instruction in firearms safety, workshops on making money, the religions of the world and manners.

To find out more about both the ‘Hands on Farming Scheme' and Summer Hill A1 Academy phone 07 542 1838, 542 0077 or go to: www.summerhilltrails.co.nz/