OUR PROGRAMME
UPDATE- WAIPAOA FARM CADET TRAINING TRUST PROGRAMME
The Waipaoa Station Farm Cadet Training Trust is not offering places to new cadets in 2024, as it completes a strategic review of what it is offering cadets, the farming sector, and its sponsors.
Open days for the training programme will also not be held at the Station in 2023.
These decisions do not affect currently enrolled cadets, who will continue receiving the high level of education the Trust has provided young farmers since 2007.
While the review has been underway for some time, the decision to complete it has been brought forward by news that Waipaoa Station is on the market.
Over the next 18 months, the Trust will consider its long-term plans and is keeping an open mind about the options that may be available for the future.
Trust chairperson Tim Rhodes says he is very proud of what the Trust has achieved in the past 16 years and is looking forward to what will come from the strategic review. “We have trained 75 young farmers who are all immersed in the industry now, from labourers through to farm and business owners,” he says.
“We had already started our strategic review when we were notified that Waipaoa Station was being put on the market. The Trustees felt it was not appropriate to take on new cadets during this time of change, and while we consider recommendations that may come out of the review.”
Since 2007, the Waipaoa Station Farm Cadet Training Trust has successfully provided young people with the opportunity to complete skills-based training in sheep and beef farming at Waipaoa Station, Gisborne. The course has been popular and well respected by the industry.
Our graduates have earned a reputation for being well-rounded, confident, motivated, and ultimately work ready.
FAQs
Why is the Waipaoa Farm Cadet Training Trust not offering places to new cadets in 2024?
The Trust is not offering places to new cadets in 2024 because it is finalising a strategic review that will direct its future. The decision to do this was brought forward, after the Trust was notified Waipaoa Farm Station was on the market. Trustees felt it was not appropriate to take on new cadets during this time of change as we decide what to do in the long term.
Will the open days still be going ahead?
The Trust will not be hosting its usual open days this year because we are not offering places to new cadets in 2024.
What about the current cadets who haven’t finished their training?
The Trust’s decision does not affect currently enrolled cadets who will continue to receive the same high level of education that has been provided to young farmers since 2007.
Why did the Trust need to complete a strategic review?
During the last two years, thanks to funding from Trust Tairāwhiti, the Waipaoa Station Farm Trust started a strategic review of its operating model to see if it was still meeting the needs of the industry and sponsors. Over the next 18 months, the Trust will complete this and decide on its long-term plans.
What is the history of the training programme?
Since 2007, the Waipaoa Station Farm Cadet Training Trust has successfully provided young people with the opportunity to complete skills-based training in sheep and beef farming at Waipaoa Station, Gisborne. The course is popular and well respected with graduates having a reputation for being well-rounded, confident, motivated, and ultimately work ready. The
Trust has trained 75 young farmers who are all immersed in the industry, from labourers through to farm and business owners.
Cadetship year 1
Course is New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture, provided by EIT
Level 2 Primary Industries - Skills
Level 3 Vehicles, Machinery & Infrastructure
Level 3 Farming Systems
During the first year of training as a Waipaoa cadet, students will focus on academic and general farm work, while assisting with general hostel duties.
Cadets are teamed up with a second year cadet (senior) for hostel duties and mentoring for the whole year. Duties include milking the cow, feeding horses and pigs, daily cleaning of the hostel, general maintenance and managing dog tucker supplies. Cadets are also taught by the cooking tutor how to prepare meals when on hostel duty and, if required, how to ride a horse which they will use for transport and stock work.
The highlight of the year, for many - all cadets get a heading pup in March, and will be taught how to rear and break in a working dog.
The practical and theoretical focus for first year cadets includes:
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Basic principles of slaughtering, carpentry, fencing, water systems, stock sense, general maintenance, woolshed operations, animal welfare and tractor operations.
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Technical farming including soil analysis, fertilizers, budgeting, meat and wool production, and pasture management.
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Academic principles of farm management, including record keeping and analysis, and personnel management.
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Practical farming including horse riding for transport and stock work, horse care and welfare, rearing and training a working dog.
First year cadets also take part in a comprehensive first aid course, a one week Health and Safety induction course and a shearing course.
Cadetship year 2
Course is New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture, provided by EIT
Level 4 Breeding Systems
In the second year of training as a Waipaoa cadet, students focus on stock work and improving their business competencies, while assisting with general hostel duties. There is also a strong emphasis on mentoring, and senior cadets are paired with junior cadets to provide support and promote a sense of community.
Cadets return with their fully broken-in, work-fit huntaway and are taught how to break in the heading pup they have reared.
The practical and theoretical focus for second year cadets includes:
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Academic principles of farm management, including record keeping and analysis, and budgeting.
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Practical farming including increased responsibility for mustering and animal health operation, rearing and training a huntaway, and working with the existing heading dog they have reared.
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Breaking in a horse – Most mustering done on horse.
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Technical farming including pasture harvesting, stock management, genetic improvement, pro-active climatic situation management, and reinforcing and expanding on skills and knowledge gained in the first year, with educational visits to a fertiliser plant, woolstore, freezing works and farm field days.
Short courses & Specialist tuition
Throughout the study year, industry experts visit Waipaoa and deliver lectures and short-courses that further back up tuition given by on-site tutors. This practice allows the information flow to our cadets to remain in tune with new industry developments. Both senior and junior cadets attend these sessions and are encouraged to work together on post lecture exercises.
Specialist courses include:
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Animal anatomy - ruminant anatomy, internal parasite identification.
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Animal health and husbandry - animal health planning and policies, animal welfare.
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Electric fence systems - the system of electric fencing and on-farm application.
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Fertilisers - soil testing, nutrient budgeting, program development, environmental awareness, types and their purpose.
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Meat production - strategic management practices for improved protein production, sales and marketing, grading and processing systems.
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Pasture and crop management - renewal programs, feed budgeting, pasture, weed and crop identification, factors influencing pasture production.
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Reproduction and genetics - strategic use of genetics for improved productivity, breeding programs, policy development.
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Rural safety - chainsaw, SPV/ATV, tractor, motorcycle operation and safety.
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Soil science - soil identification, factors effecting fertility, influence of farming practices on soil formation and structure, soil biology, climatic and geographical influence on soil types, environmental awareness.
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Water systems - source and storage options, systems development and installation, component identification and use, calculating stock water requirements.
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Wool production - factors influencing wool production, wool "from the farm to the consumer", woolshed operations, identification of wool types and faults, breeding for improved wool production.
