Joanne Amyes / PGG Wrightson
I have had the fortune of being asked to give two presentations per year to the cadets of Waipaoa on cropping and pasture renewal.
My experience is that the boys are always polite, beginning with rising to shake my hand and introduce themselves when I enter the room. This was one of the most noticeable aspects I remember about my first visit to the training facility, the manners and respect that came from the cadets.
The culture/manners they are instilled with extends to ensuring I have a coffee and I notice that one or two make the coffee’s for the group each break. I usually stay for lunch and at the conclusion it is always offered for my plate to be taken to the kitchen. There is good banter from the cadets during this time.
During the presentations I have found they ask all manner of questions which is great and can lead to good discussion, which is often more valuable than just listening to someone talk.
The manners, eagerness, and good natured-ness of the cadets makes it a pleasure to come up and teach them what I know and gives me a good feeling that these young gentlemen will do well in the future.
Kind regards
Joanne Amyes
Technical Extension Agronomist
PGG Wrightson Seeds
Russell Cameron / Lincoln University
A well planned and logical progression linking Waipaoa to Lincoln University came to fruition in early 2009 when Rupert Barton, one of Waipaoa’s first graduates, enrolled in the Diploma in Agriculture programme at Lincoln. This eight course programme started in February and it was soon apparent that Rupert’s experiences and training at Waipaoa had set him up very well for this extended programme of study.
Lincoln’s Diploma in Agriculture covers a comprehensive range of courses, all of which are integrated with the core Farm Management subjects, which focus on applied management. A ‘practical work’ component is an invaluable part of the Diploma in Agriculture, and even more so for the advanced Diploma in Farm Management. The applied experiences and associated skills learnt at Waipaoa contribute to these practical work requirements, and provide an excellent grounding for students who wish to study at higher levels.
Rupert has now completed his Diploma in Agriculture and achieved excellent results in all subjects. His aggregate mark ranked him 4th in a class of nearly 80 students, which indicates a high degree of competence and ability, but even more importantly, is evidence of the discipline and focus required to succeed. Along with these attributes, the social skills and ‘values’ instilled as part of the Waipaoa training have provided him and his contemporaries with an excellent base from which to launch their careers.
Russell Cameron
Senior Lecturer in Farm Management
Academic Co-ordinator for Dip.Ag. and Dip.FM
Lincoln University.
Gavin Loudon / Ravensdown
For the last 2 years I have been involved in assisting in the training of the cadets. This is both in a personal capacity and in bringing up product specialists from our company. At all times I have found the students keen to learn with good attitudes. The culture of the cadet farm and the quality of the students in the programme will I am sure provide well balanced and knowledgeable farm managers and farm owners in the future.
Yours sincerely
Gavin Loudon
Account Manager
Ravensdown
Rupert Barton / Waipaoa Grad
I was one of the first to go through Waipaoa and although it was still in the process of being started up I feel that it has set a brilliant foundation for my intended career in agriculture. I feel that you can not beat the "hands on", practical learning that Waipaoa offers. I am currently studying a Diploma in Agriculture at Lincoln University and most days I look back and realise how much I got out of Waipaoa. Whether it’s when I am doing casual work for a farmer or discussing a topic with a lecturer I feel have a good understanding of farming which was attained during my training up there. I am still realising how beneficial the experience up at Waipaoa was, I don’t think I could have learnt the variety of things that I did anywhere else.
Rupert Barton (Waipaoa 2007-08)
Report to the Waipaoa Board on the 2009 Meat & Wool New Zealand Genetics Workshop
Russell Priest (Beef Genetics)/Georgie Walker (Sheep Genetics)
Meat & Wool New Zealand
On Wednesday 12th August, Georgie Walker and I conducted a six-hour sheep and beef genetics workshop with 10 Waipaoa farm cadets. The workshop followed a very successful one held last year and while some of the cadets present also attended the previous one, they felt being present at both was valuable, as this second workshop helped reinforce what they had learnt last year. We also noted a significantly improved level of knowledge compared with last year, which would help to endorse the above comment.
The workshop was designed to provide the cadets with relevant knowledge to enable them to select rams and bulls for specific purposes, using genetic information produced by the two major genetic evaluation systems used for sheep and beef in N.Z.; namely Sheep Improvement Ltd., and Australian-based Breedplan.
We found the cadets extremely eager to learn and attentive, even after being presented for five hours with a lot of information. They were also very polite, introducing themselves individually when we arrived and asking us what our drinking requirements were at morning tea and lunch time. We could not help but be impressed by their overall demeanor and willingness to learn and felt very satisfied with the level of knowledge achieved by the completion of the workshop.
The day ended with a practical session in the yards looking at breeding soundness issues of both species and viewing the genetic information relating to the recently purchased Charolais herd sirWe both departed feeling the students are well on the way to being able to make informed decisions on which rams and bulls should be used for specific production systems. All they need now is to be faced with real-life experiences.
Russell Priest
Beef Genetics Coordinator
Meat & Wool New Zealand
Mike Beedie / Independant soils specialist
I have to say it is always a pleasure to come up and do a series of lectures with the cadets. Each year I am impressed with the calibre of the young men the Waipaoa Station Farm Cadet Trust takes on board.
I know that maturity comes from the environment and guidance you and the Waipaoa Station staff create. They are very willing to learn and get involved which makes the teaching easy- yet they are not afraid to question if they aren't sure or don't necessarily agree with my comments. The ability to question and think through problems will hold them in good stead for any future challenges.
I have spoken with a number of farmers that now employ young men that have passed through your programme and they are held in very high regard and are valued members of their farming teams.
I look forward to my next training session with you and the cadets.
Mike Beedie
Contract Tutor
Dan Lynch / Ovis Management Ltd
In regards to your students
They are an extremely impressive group of young people, highly motivated and inquiring with, in my experience, outstanding people skills. Waipaoa will develop future farming leaders.
Regards,
Dan Lynch
Project Manager
Ovis Management Ltd
Alex Reekers / Waipaoa Graduate 2009
Lincoln University has been a big step for me in terms of opening my mind to taking a year off for study and experiencing a new place with new people and finding new opportunities. My affinity to the land is too great for me to stand another year of this, however I urge future cadets to attend university, and make the most of it. It is very important, and if you want to be the one with the edge you’ll need it.
My time at Waipaoa Station set me up well with experiences and knowledge that make the Dip Ag almost a piece of cake, though it is still a challenge. The Dip Ag is a very general and introductory course; however it gives you the tools to expand.
Next year holds promise, with the prospect of work wherever I want it. All opportunities are being considered, and I’ve been keeping my eyes open.
Alex Reekers
Rick Spence / St Leger Station
Firstly I believe Waipaoa must have an excellent selection procedure because the first group of cadets are a fine example of a group of young men, it is a pleasure to know and employ one of them.
Ryan Sayer our employee has excellent basic skills and has proven able to work well with our team and tasked on his own, exceeding expectations of his level of experience.
The students have been installed with great self motivation, to be punctual and reliable and receptive to further learning and instruction. Ryan has a career path in his sights and the Waipaoa scheme has given him the foundation to build on to achieve it.
Rick Spence