Teenager receives financial boost for cadetship

Briar Swanson is congratulated by South Canterbury North Otago Deer Farmers Trust member Keith Orange after the trust provided her with financial assistance to go towards her time as a cadet at Coleridge Downs Training Farm. Photo / Supplied

Briar Swanson has landed a cadetship, giving her farming career a welcome boost.

The St Kevin's College leaver has been accepted for a two-year cadetship at the Coleridge Downs Training Farm, a role she will take up in January.

The training farm is part of a group of farms in the Rakaia Gorge in central Canterbury which cover 10,000ha and run 42,000 stock units.

Briar's career received an extra boost earlier this month when the South Canterbury North Otago (SCNO) Deer Farmers Trust announced it would provide her with financial assistance, to help her get what she needed for the cadetship, including wet-weather gear, boots and a heading pup.

That assistance was handed to her in the form of a $1000 cheque during a meeting with trust member Keith Orange in Geraldine earlier this month.

Briar (17) is no stranger to country life.

She grew up at Totara Peak Station, near Twizel.

Farming was an industry she has embraced and wanted to be a part of ever since moving to the station, she said.

''I've learned a lot from my step-dad in that department,'' she said, of her knowledge so far.

''Ever since I moved out here I've just loved working on the farm and helping out where I can and learning more things. It's something I've always wanted to be a part of.''

Briar welcomed the opportunity to extend her love of the industry with the help of the cadetship and was grateful to the SCNO Deer Farmers Trust.

''It was amazing, I was so surprised,'' she said, of being accepted into the cadetship.

''And, it's awesome to be able to get that funding to help go towards it.''

Despite having a gap between her high school studies finishing and the cadetship starting, Briar was not putting her feet up.

Instead, she was back in the agricultural field to work as an artificial insemination assistant for a few weeks.

The SCNO Deer Farmers Trust has provided funds for previous participants in the Kellogg leadership course and other deer industry learning and training courses.

Funds are available to people who want to further their interest, learning and knowledge of deer farming and the deer industry.