Taking a break from learning to shear and crutch sheep on a raised shearing board on Birchwood Station in Western Southland are (from left) Catriona Hill (18), of Whangarei, Sarah Andrews (18), of Winton, Taurus-Peyton Harden (18), of Gore, Ruald Raath (17), of Edendale and Zane Flawn (17), of Invercargill. Photo / Supplied
Taking a break from learning to shear and crutch sheep on a raised shearing board on Birchwood Station in Western Southland are (from left) Catriona Hill (18), of Whangarei, Sarah Andrews (18), of Winton, Taurus-Peyton Harden (18), of Gore, Ruald Raath (17), of Edendale and Zane Flawn (17), of Invercargill. Photo / Supplied
A charitable trust is calling for farmers to help train the next generation of shepherds in the South.
Growing Future Farmers Southland liaison manager Amy Priest, of Lumsden, said the group launched in Southland last year.
The first two students who started the two-year course in the South were ontrack to graduate at the end of this year.
Of the 80 students doing the programme on farms across New Zealand this year, 10 per cent of them have placements on farms in the South and liaise with Priest.
An open day to showcase the programme would be held on Wakefield Farm in Dipton between 10 am and 2 pm on August 9.
Everyone was invited to the open day, including potential students, trainers of rural skills and southern farmers interested in having a student on their farm.
Many farmers were interested in taking on students but the biggest challenge for some owners of smaller farms was a lack of accommodation to house the students.
Criteria to take on a student were to provide them with accommodation and supply electricity, internet, farm meat and firewood.
Farmers paid the charitable trust $180 a week, which was passed on to the students.
Each student was also given two vaccinated and registered puppies - a heading dog and a huntaway - and food to feed them.
The students train their dogs at fortnightly workshops and keep them after graduating.
The charitable trust was launched by sheep and beef farmers Dan and Tam Jess-Blake near Gisborne about three years ago, in response to their struggle to recruit a shepherd.
For the programme, school leavers from across New Zealand could apply for placements to live and work on sheep, beef and deer farms in a district of their choice.
"They live and breathe it as part of a team and after two years they should be work-ready to be a junior shepherd on a farm," Priest said.
Shearing trainer Chas Tohiariki demonstrates to Growing Future Farmers Southland students and local shepherds how to shear a sheep at Birchwood Station in Western Southland. Photo / Supplied
One of the students had a placement on a farm in Lauder in the Maniototo and the rest were on farms in Southland including Mt Linton Station in Ohai, Wairaki Station in Otautau and Glengordon Farm in Longridge.
Many of the students were "city slickers" and had no prior farming experience.
The students attend group training days, such as workshops on how to operate a tractor, chainsaw and a welding machine.
Students learned how to shear and crutch a sheep at a training day at Birchwood Station in Western Southland last month.
In the Eastern Institute Of Technology programme, students gain national certificates in primary industries qualifications.
Growing Future Farmers Southland student Zane Flawn, of Invercargill, learns to shear a sheep. Photo / Supplied
The students train on-farm for 44 weeks of the year and have holidays similar to other tertiary institutes, and are eligible to apply for loans and allowances.
Students helped farmers with duties on-farm and after some of them had proven themselves to be capable were being paid extra to complete duties outside of course requirements, such as moving temporary fencing on weekends.
Priest said she was approaching high schools in the South to find out if she could talk to pupils about the opportunities presented by the programme.
