More than half of all students at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth take a primary industries subject. Photo: Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
A Taranaki high school is training the next generation of primary industry workers.
Nearly half of the 800 students at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth take part in the school's primary industries programme.
As part of the programme, students even run a native plant nursery and are contracted to produce 10,000 plants a year for South Taranaki District Council.
The school operates its own 20-hectare beef farm where students apply classroom learning directly on the land - from stock work and fencing to sustainability projects.
The programme, led by Aimee Watkins, spans agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and sports turf, giving students pathways beyond traditional dairy.
Photo: Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
Watkins said many students go straight into farm jobs or some kind of related studies at university.
"Agriculture is really, really big here. It's a really important part of the whole school and it's massively supported.
"We have our practical stream, they've got stock in the yards and they're fencing, they're spraying, all those sorts of things and then there's the academic stream, so the agriscience, agribusiness kids as well.
"So they come through and do different things - whether it's investigations or environment, sustainability, and it's all teed up through their standards that they do.
"It's a pretty full package being able to have the farm as well, so the kids are talking about it in class and then also doing it.
"It's pretty special. It's a pretty unique environment really for students."
Gerard Kalin has been the manager of the Francis Douglas farm since July. Photo: Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
Gerard Kalin, a former student of the college, has been the farm manager since July.
Recently the farm had Halter's virtual fencing technology and smart cow collars installed, so Kalin had been walking students through that.
Photo: Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
"Just last week we put the collars on 25 15-month-olds, so we're a week into it," he said.
"Again, we've integrated all the boys to put the collars on and do all the work around it, erecting the tower that was dug by the students.
Recently the Francis Douglas students have been learning about tech and installing Halter's virtual fencing system and smart collar cow collars. Photo: Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
"Moving forward, it's going to be a great concept, I think. If we can integrate that knowledge or system, the boys will be a good product when they leave here."
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