Taranaki students learn real-life agri business skills

Student Kaedyn Wallace with one of the chickens.

A group of enterprising Taranaki students is hoping a new food venture will help them hone their business skills.

The teenagers are producing free-range eggs, assembling kitset beehives and making old-fashioned drinks as part of Enterprise Studies.

The class is a new addition to the curriculum at Waitara High School.

"I chose the subject because it combines my passion for business and the agri-food sector," says 15-year-old Kaedyn Wallace.

Cody Oxenham and Kaedyn Wallace with one of the beehives.

"It's really exciting."

"We took out a small loan and bought kitset beehives off Trade Me. We've assembled them and relisted them at a higher price," he says.

The students are being mentored by Megan Bates, who's a territory manager with NZ Young Farmers.

"I'm stoked about that," said teacher Julie Hill.

"This is new for us and Megan's in the rural sector, so her knowledge and connections will be invaluable."

The students have been given the go-ahead to rear some pigs in a disused piggery on a farm next to the school.

"The plan is to raise the pigs and turn them into bacon which will give students the full paddock to plate experience," said Julie.

"The primary industries are a great career path and there's a real keenness from the class to make the project succeed."

That proactive approach has led to the first TeenAg club being set up at Waitara High School.

"Four students have stepped forward to run the club and they're getting their classmates interested and involved," said Julie.

TeenAg clubs are run by NZ Young Farmers to highlight the vast career opportunities within the primary industries.

Two of the students, Kaedyn Wallace and Rylee Redshaw, have already been selected to attend a TeenAg leadership course.

"It's being held in Palmerston North next month and will be an amazing opportunity to meet other like-minded teenagers," said Kaedyn.

The three-day course will be attended by 16 students from across the lower North Island.