Agriculture challenges youngsters

Ag Challenge tutor Tim Evans (seated on tractor) and dairy students about to graduate and enter the workforce. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Teenagers keen on a career in agriculture or construction will be given a free leg up next year.

Wanganui-based private training enterprise Ag Challenge is offering places on fees-free agriculture and construction courses.

The Youth Guarantee-funded programmes provide free places for 16 to 19-year-olds as part of the Govern-ment's commitment to provide free training in foundation skills for New Zealand's youth to enable them to get a qualification at levels 1, 2, or 3 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).

The agriculture course will be 31 weeks long and will result in the achievement of two national qualifications - the Level 2 National Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy Farming) and the Level 3 National Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy Farming).

Students will learn a range of practical farming skills including how to handle livestock, assist with grazing management, install electric fences, agricultural vehicle awareness, as well as assisting with milking.

This course will start in February, although certain eligibility criteria apply. Also running is the full-time AgEXCEL endorsed Level 3 programme, the National Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy Farming), with two intakes proposed in 2015.

"Over 85 per cent of our Level 3 graduates get great jobs, and this qualification is fast becoming the entry requirement for finding work in the dairy industry," Ag Challenge tutor Tim Evans said. "We regularly have dairy farmers ringing us looking for competent, work-ready graduates to go and work for them."

The fees-free construction course - the National Certificate in Building, Construction and Allied Trade Skills, Levels 1 and 2 - focuses on home maintenance projects and house building. Supervised projects and theory involve building work, fencing, decks and house framing.

This course pathways on to Ag Challenge's Certificate in Carpentry Level 4, a comprehensive course which essentially enables students to complete the theory aspects of a carpentry apprenticeship. Mr Evans encourages anyone who may be interested in any of these courses to get in touch with Ag Challenge and arrange to have a chat with the tutors. "If a person is keen to work and learn new skills, then they're half way there, and we'll do everything we can to support them to successfully complete the qualification."

Studylink loans and allowances apply, although certain eligibility criteria apply.

- Ag Challenge Ltd is a NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) registered and accredited Private Training Establishment (PTE). Ag Challenge is one of the region's leading providers of agriculture, trades and veterinary nursing training. For more information call 0800-348 8215.