TeenAg club gives glimpse of new career

Being part of a TeenAg club at high school helped Hannah Slater to discover where a career in agriculture could lead.

The TeenAg club format has been developed by New Zealand Young Farmers as a way for younger people to get started with the movement.

Young Farmers are taking a "pipeline" approach, explains NZYF chief executive Terry Copeland, developing a format to suit each age group around the Young Farmers set-up. New Zealand Young Farmers has existed for more than 80 years and is for people aged 16 to 31 whereas Teenag is designed for students 13 to 18.

The overall aim is to help more young people understand the potential opportunities in the primary industries says Tony.

Hannah, a former Stratford High School (SHS) student, is currently in her first year at Lincoln University studying for a diploma in Agriculture and Farm Management. Hannah, now a member of the Lincoln University Young Farmers Club, says the TeenAg Club was good stepping stone into Young Farmers, "especially when you are heading off to an agricultural university such as lincoln where there is a lot of happening in the club and community".

Kelsi Bayley, also a former SHS student and current member of Central Taranaki Young Farmers says she would have loved the opportunity to have been a part of TeenAg when she was at school.

"Coming from a dairy farming family, something like TeenAg would have been another way to align myself with other young people from similar backgrounds or from rural areas and somewhere to share learning experiences or be exposed to different farming practices at an earlier age".

Kelsi adds that the opportunity to make a few connections, and to get to know some of the young farmers members before getting into the workforce or heading to university would be great for anyone thinking about a career in agriculture.

TeenAg Clubs were started in both Stratford High School and St Mary's Diocesan School early last year by Central Taranaki Young Farmers chairman Jayden Harvey.

"We got the club set up in local schools so the students have access to Young Farmers and begin the flow on effect into our club".

Jayden says while the clubs are still new there have already been successful joint events between the clubs and many more still to come on the calender.

"We have a camp coming up later this year so the students can get involved with Young Farmers at the Stratford A&P Show and we organise guest speakers for their meetings at school so they can begin networking with people in the industry."