Busy times on Waipaoa for cadets
Earlier disruptions dished up by mother nature now aside, the work program on Waipaoa is very much business as usual seeing the cadets involved in all aspects of farm operations. The senior cadets are now well on their way to learning the art of stockmanship and have relished the opportunity to work along side Dave and Rob. Having come back last January with their newly broken in heading dog and a fully broken in huntaway dog the senior cadets have carried out 90% of their stock work from horse back completing stock-shifts, weaning and treating cattle, crutching and shearing sheep, weighing and drafting lambs and bulls while at the same time keeping their hand in with general maintenance on fences and yards. In conjunction with their practical responsibilities the senior cadets have also been working hard on written assignments which will see them graduate with National Certificates in Agriculture at level 2, 3, and 4.
The first year cadets have been working with Waipaoa's general work managers on a daily basis and have been busy building and replacing flood gates to replace those which were lost in February's flood as well as general maintenance of fence lines and yards. Thistle control, track and water table maintenance, crutching and shearing have also been on the agenda seeing a wide range of skills being covered. Theory work toward a National Certificate in Agriculture at level 3 has also been completed by the junior cadets with topics selected to coincide with the farm work operations at the time. As well as learning to train a working dog the cadets have been taught how to cook by Leigh McIlroy the on-site cooking tutor and to look after and ride a horse with training already well under way. The cadets especially look forward to the horse work they learn about horse health, how to look after saddlery and ultimately, to ride. Once competent, cadets are rostered on one at a time to spend a week out with the stockmen which serves to provide a grounding in stockmanship, knowledge of Waipaoa's geography and the opportunity to learn from the senior cadets.
In June the cadets will get a well earned week off before returning and looking forward to lambing and calving, and further extending their skill base. For training staff it is satisfying to see these young people come in with limited or no experience in most areas of farm work and leave with the confidence and ability to carry out a variety of farm operations with minimal or no supervision.