Food production of natural resources is a goal for Papua New Guinea but attracting a mushroom expert to get started is proving a challenge.  

Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is committed to building sustainable communities across the Pacific but has had one particular vacancy for a mushroom cultivator in Papua New Guinea (PNG) unfilled for 252 days and counting.

This is despite reaching out to mushroom businesses across New Zealand who have not, so far, had the capacity to help. 

“So, we’re widening the net and hoping a story in the media might spur a couple of applications,” VSA country programme adviser Ngaire Tihema said.

Bringing in a Kiwi mushroom cultivator for a four- to six-month assignment means the  Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Filae Maria Immaculata, or FMI) congregation of Vunapope, who run a women’s refuge-style facility in PNG, will be able to produce fresh mushrooms for sale.

This will go some way to becoming self-sustaining financially and will also mean that the community has access to locally grown, nutritional mushrooms. 

“In PNG, there is a significant shortage of trained horticulturists who can provide technical support to locals and instead, most farmers rely on traditional knowledge, which is often insufficient to address the modern challenges such as pest control, disease management and seed quality in agriculture,” Tihema said.

“Food security and nutrition in PNG is a major issue and a lot of processed foods are becoming common because many Papua Guineans are not looking at their own food sources or knowing what to do with it,” Tihema said

“Mushrooms grow in the wild here and no one is cultivating them because they don’t know what to do with them.”

Tihema said farming is not seen as a “particularly noble profession” in PNG and young Papua Guineans are turning away from it. 

“Imagine mushrooms from the paddock to the plate and there are plentiful resources of other fruits and vegetables too. 

“We just need more priority for agriculture and that will hopefully come with the focus on increasing awareness of agriculture, food production and getting young people into agriculture.”

The main aim of the Mushroom Cultivation and Production Trainer assignment is to support the FMI Sisters in generating sustainable income for their vital work, which involves providing safe housing and care for women, young people and children in PNG.

The assignment is also designed to enable the trainer to teach and mentor prospective mushroom farmers in the community, helping them understand costs, market dynamics, and the profitability of mushroom sales. 

“By training and mentoring individuals to grow mushrooms locally, we aim to contribute to poverty reduction, economic empowerment, and greater resilience against food insecurity, ultimately enhancing health outcomes and livelihoods.

“Furthermore, mushroom farming promotes skill development within the community, enabling farmers to adopt sustainable cultivation methods that encourage co-operation, development, and inclusive, shared economic growth.”

In areas where diets are primarily composed of staple crops and ultra-processed foods, mushrooms offer a nutrient-rich alternative that helps diversify local food sources and reduces dependency on imported items. 

Currently, mushrooms are imported and retail between 80 and 100 kina ($32-$40) a kilogram.

If you are an experienced professional in mushroom cultivation, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise then, Tihema said, “we have an exciting opportunity in store for you”.

The FMI Sisters’ tradition of selfless service began more than 100 years ago. Since 1912 the FMI Sisters have demonstrated steadfast resolve to support women and communities in pursuit of a better society.

The VSA assignment is a partnership between VSA and the FMI of Vunapope. 

All volunteers are flown in and out of the country, accommodated, and paid a living allowance.

To change your scene and become a VSA Volunteer and share your experience, knowledge, and skills to transform the lives of many, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz or or visit the website.

In Focus Podcast | Sheep outlook: the future of our flock

Sheep farmers are doing it tough right now, with farmgate returns dropping back after a few good years and input costs rising. Add to that the march of pine trees across the land, and there’s talk of an existential crisis. Bryan asked AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad to give him the lay of the land and asked her what the sector needed to do to find prosperity again.

Ravensdown’s South Island shareholders have voted Kate Faulks to the Ravensdown board for a three-year term.

Ravensdown chair Bruce Wills said voting shareholders have made a prudent choice.

“The combination of Kate’s farming experience, foundational governance experience and her passion for our co-operative and the wider sector, means she is an ideal addition to the Ravensdown board. I am very much looking forward to her contribution.”

Faulks is an active farmer and director of Altavady Farm and Glenkerry Farm (part of a six-farm beef, dairy and forestry family farming group) and a member of the North Otago Sustainable Land Management Group Steering Board.

Since 2022,  Faulks has been the board intern of Port Otago and its subsidiary Chalmers Properties. She has developed insight into scale commercial governance, strategy development, working with senior management, engaging with regulatory shareholders (Otago Regional Council), and staffing and Health and Safety matters.

Faulks has a Master of Business Administration (First Class) and a Bachelor of Chemical and Process Engineering (Honours).

Wills thanked outgoing South Island director, Pete Moynihan, for his long service and commitment to the board.

Wills was the only candidate nominated for the North Island Director Area. As a result, there was no election for the North Island and Wills remains a director for a further three-year term.

In Focus Podcast | Sheep outlook: the future of our flock

Sheep farmers are doing it tough right now, with farmgate returns dropping back after a few good years and input costs rising. Add to that the march of pine trees across the land, and there’s talk of an existential crisis. Bryan asked AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad to give him the lay of the land and asked her what the sector needed to do to find prosperity again.

Carla Muller is a career woman and has a pedal-to-the-metal personality.

From 2014 to 2018, when New Zealand’s freshwater reforms were at the front of the government’s and farmers’ minds, she was knocking on doors as a consultant for DairyNZ.

While the job had its challenges, she enjoyed interacting with the farming community, the Hamilton city life and the freedom of a childless woman in her 20s.

She met her partner Sam, a shepherd at the time, in her second year at Massey University in Palmerston North.

Fast-forward 10 years, and Sam had the opportunity to manage a sheep station in a small town with a population of 207 – Tikitiki.

The closest supermarket is more than two hours’ drive away and same with the nearest hospital in Gisborne.  

“You start thinking of the ramifications of getting pregnant there,” Muller said.

In 2019, while working in her dream job for Perrin Ag, she fell pregnant. In July 2020 baby Maddie was born in Tauranga Hospital. It was a six-hour drive away, but the safer option with Muller’s parents living nearby.

The young couple travelled back to the farm within a week and the cracks in their new lifestyle started to show.

At the time Sam’s job on the 2000 hectare station was at its most demanding. He would often leave the house at 7am on horseback and return in the evenings. Long days for him, but arguably longer for her and their newborn.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, postnatal depression affects 10-20% of women who have recently given birth. Living through postnatal depression can be overwhelming, with feelings of great sadness and pain.

“I hadn’t realised that once you have had a baby you are fundamentally changed and it is very hard to explain how big that change is.”

Having worked 10 years in corporate roles predominantly in a city, she struggled with the remote life. 

“And all of a sudden you spend 24 hours a day in a house by yourself with a baby that doesn’t sleep … It was very lonely.”

Muller isn’t alone in the fact she gave up her world to become a mother with a farming partner. 

“We are the mothers. It might mean losing a job, leaving your friends. Losing what you have spent 10-15 years building up, a life of your own.

“To change that and realise it is not going back to where it was before, we need to be able to mourn that. It’s not that it is worse, but it won’t look the same.”

Rock-bottom was where Muller sat mentally. Having never suffered from depression, she struggled with opening up to friends, family or professionals.

“Every time you would go in you would see a different doctor so you never formed that relationship where you felt you could let that stuff out.”

Muller struggled with being vulnerable and felt she could get out of the hole alone. In hindsight she couldn’t and needed help.

“All of a sudden someone like me who was high achieving, I had to say no to projects … then you are constantly worried that you are not doing enough at work or doing enough for your child and you’re not doing enough for your partner. I felt in all aspects of my life, I was failing.

“And of course none of that was true. I was trying my best.”

The isolation and postnatal depression put strain on the couple’s relationship, when they should have been enjoying life’s blessings of a new child, she said.

The hardest part for her was that feeling she wasn’t even enjoying motherhood.

“I think the big thing with postnatal depression is the idea that if you have chosen to have children and you are struggling, it means that you don’t love your child … and that’s not true. You can love your child and really struggle with being a mum.”

The break for the family came two years later when Sam was offered a job near Ōhope: she could be near town where she could get off the farm every day, and he could keep farming, albeit on a smaller block.

Having been through the worst time in her life and coming out of the other side, and having recently welcomed her second child, Lottie, Muller realised that it wasn’t necessarily the isolation that made her postpartum depression hard, but also not being honest with herself and exploring other options like online support.

Now living in a busier region, she has found the biggest difference has been PlunketLine, medical support and awareness phone line. 

“We communicate better, you are aware of your triggers and that’s where counselling was critical. “

Getting off the farm is hugely important to her, as is having regular contact with friends.

Living in remote Tikitiki has given her respect for the many mothers in the rural back blocks of Aotearoa.

“They are incredibly strong and resilient with the challenges they face, but it is also rewarding. 

Suffering from stress or postnatal depression?

If you want to talk, PlunketLine can help. Call any time, day or night, on 0800 933 922, or call or text 1737 any time to speak with a trained counsellor. 

Suffering from depression or stress, or know someone who is? Where to get help:

Rural Support Trust: 0800 RURAL HELP

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757

Lifeline: 0800 543 354

Need To Talk? Call or text 1737

Samaritans: 0800 726 666

Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234

Ngāi Tahu Farming and PGG Wrightson saw first-hand the fruits of their continued support for IHC when members of IHC’s South Canterbury Kapa Haka rōpū performed at Kōkōmuka Lodge on Ngāi Tahu Farming’s Te Whenua Hou farm in North Canterbury.

PGW has sponsored IHC’s Calf & Rural Scheme since its inception and Ngāi Tahu Farming is a long-term calf donor. The IHC Calf & Rural Scheme has been raising money to support people with intellectual disabilities and their families in rural areas of New Zealand for 43 years.

The calf donations help IHC fund a number of community initiatives that make a big difference in people’s lives. Kapa Haka is just one of those initiatives, where people with intellectual disability can connect with their respective iwi and enjoy the excitement of being part of a performing group.

Ngāi Tahu Farming welcomed IHC’s South Canterbury Kapa Haka rōpū onto its farm, along with PGW chief executive Stephen Guerin.

“We have a long affiliation with Ngāi Tahu Farming and the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme is a crucial part of our responsibility the community,” Guerin said.

“This occasion was a wonderful way to weave together those threads and see the important impact of our support.”

Ngāi Tahu farming operations manager – dairy and assets Ben Jaunay said being a part of the IHC Calf & Rural scheme is a way for the business to express its manaakitanga values.

“Rearing calves for the scheme is a tangible way for us to give back to the community and directly support the IHC. On a personal level, it is incredibly rewarding mahi to be involved in.”

IHC national fundraising manager Greg Millar said they love having the opportunity to say thank you and to show Ngāi Tahu Farming and PGW along with thousands of dairy farmers around the country what a huge difference their support to the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme makes in rural communities.

If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in rural New Zealand, you can get involved with the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme. Whether you’re a farmer looking to pledge a calf or someone who wants to donate a virtual calf, your contribution will help fund community initiatives that create meaningful connections and positive change.

Disclaimer: This article discusses suicide.

Monday December 3, 2018. 

That was the day Jason Herrick decided to take his life. 

Months of heavy rain, the pressure of excessive regulation, negative sentiment towards farming, and an inability to share his feelings left him at breaking point.

“It had been building up for quite some time,” says Herrick, who’s now Southland Federated Farmers president.

“It started all the way back with the earthquakes in Canterbury, which were just devastating to live through as a family.

“I lost some good mates to suicide in that time, and then my wife had some serious health challenges, and I never really knew how to deal with any of it. 

“We moved to a sharemilking position in Southland and that’s when I got so overwhelmed by the barrage of new regulations.”

Herrick says constantly reading and hearing negative comments about farming was weighing heavily on him. 
“That public perception against farming – you see it in the news and on social media, farmers getting hammered all the time.

“I just broke because I couldn’t handle people perceiving me in that light.”
Herrick finally snapped on that wet, muddy day in December, driving to cliffs on the southern coast to end his life. 

“I honestly didn’t think there was a way out. I didn’t think there was a way forward. I was ready to end it.” 

Looking back, he’s incredibly grateful a local police officer found him after being alerted by Jason’s worried wife. 

“I don’t remember much from that day, but I know he used GPS tracking on my phone and managed to talk me down off the cliff.” 

Herrick was escorted to a mental health facility, which was the start of a long, hard road ahead.
“My parents did a beautiful job of bringing me up, but I was raised as a southern man, taught to harden up, not show emotions, not show any sign of weakness.

“I slowly had to learn how to talk about what was going on in my head.”

Herrick found a counsellor he connected with, learned strategies to cope with pressure, and gradually rediscovered his love of farming. 

“I identified some triggers for me really early on and started learning how to manage those. 

“For example, watching the news at 6pm every night was so negative and would send me down the wrong path in my head, so I stopped watching TV and haven’t watched it since.” 

He now spends a lot of time listening to motivational podcasts and talks to friends and family about how he’s feeling. 

A turning point was when he and some friends founded the mental health support group Ag Proud NZ, to help other farmers through tough times. 

“Putting myself out there to help other people has given me so many rewards.

“Every time somebody reaches out to me and every time somebody tells me I’ve helped them, it’s a win that makes me feel good.

“It’s hard to describe that feeling, but that’s definitely the reason I talk about my own experience.”

Six years later, Herrick’s mental health is in “A1 condition”, he says.
“Don’t get me wrong: I still have some tough days, but I now have tools to get through them.” 

He says he wants to help bring a shift in rural communities and farming families, making it more acceptable for people to share their mental health battles. 

“It’ll take a long time to change everything, but we need to bring generational change. 

“We need to show our young ones it’s okay to talk, it’s okay to show emotion, and it’s okay to reach out and ask for help.”

As the country marks Mental Health Awareness Week, Herrick has a message to any farmers in a similar place to where he was in 2018. 

“Reach out to somebody, and if you don’t have anyone you think you can trust, dial 1737. There are plenty of people on that phone number who will help you.

“Rural Support Trust is also an absolutely phenomenal organisation. They’ve got access to so many resources.

“And, if all else fails, reach out to me. I’ll have no problem talking to people and I’ll point them in the right direction.

“You’re not the only one in this situation, and that’s sometimes the hardest thing to get over is recognising you’re not the only one.”

Hear Herrick’s story on the Federated Farmers Podcast as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2024.

Federated Farmers, New Zealand’s leading independent rural advocacy organisation, has established a news and insights partnership with AgriHQ, the country’s leading rural publisher, to give the farmers of New Zealand a more informed, united and stronger voice. Federated Farmers news and commentary appears each week in its own section of the Farmers Weekly print edition and online.

Suffering from depression or stress, or know someone who is? Where to get help:

Rural Support Trust: 0800 RURAL HELP

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757

Lifeline: 0800 543 354

Need To Talk? Call or text 1737

Samaritans: 0800 726 666

Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234

In Focus Podcast | Sheep outlook: the future of our flock

Sheep farmers are doing it tough right now, with farmgate returns dropping back after a few good years and input costs rising. Add to that the march of pine trees across the land, and there’s talk of an existential crisis. Bryan asked AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad to give him the lay of the land and asked her what the sector needed to do to find prosperity again.

Nominations have opened to fill two vacancies on the Alliance Group board.

Jason Miller is retiring by rotation and will not be standing for re-election. There is one other vacancy following the retirement of Murray Taggart.

Chair Mark Wynne thanked Miller for his service to the board.

“Jason was elected as a supplier representative in 2015.  He was also a director on the Alliance board from 2007-2013.

“He has made a valuable contribution to the board, consistently demonstrating a deep understanding of Alliance’s values and the needs of our farmers. His experience and strategic insight have been valuable during both stable and challenging times for the company.”

Alliance is seeking directors who can demonstrate strong alignment to Alliance’s long-term vision, Wynne said.

“We are looking for individuals with a deep connection to the meat industry or agribusiness sector, excellent judgment, and strategic reasoning.

“The ideal candidates will have governance experience, or show potential in this area, along with proven problem-solving skills, commercial acumen, and an ability to think strategically for the future.

“Equally important are strong communication skills, a commitment to environmental sustainability, and the ability to connect with our customers, stakeholders, and communities, including regulatory bodies and iwi.”

Nominations must be received by the returning officer by Monday, October 7 at 3pm. The election result will be announced at Alliance Group’s annual meeting of shareholders in Gore on December 18.

In a first for AngusPRO New Zealand, member Ben Todhunter from Cleardale Angus in the Rakaia Gorge has been selected as an optional appointed director of Angus Australia.

Todhunter brings extensive experience and skills to the position, in particular, NZ beef industry knowledge. 

Having representation at board level is encouraging on many levels, AngusPRO chair Tim Brittain said.

 Todhunter runs the Cleardale Angus herd alongside Cleardale Merino and Cleardale SX Fine Wool sheep studs. 

A graduate from Lincoln University, he also holds an MBA from the Graduate School of Business, University College Dublin, has been a Nuffield Scholar and a Kellogg Rural Leadership Scholar. 

He is a director and deputy chair of the NZ Merino Company Limited. 

Angus Australia chief executive Scott Wright acknowledged that Todhunter has been a key NZ-based member.

“He shines out as being a positive contributor to the Angus community and in our member interactions in NZ. We look forward to his involvement at a board level,” Wright said. 

Applications for the 2025 Growing Future Farmers programme close on September 27.

The GFF offers a two-year on-farm training experience for aspiring young farmers, combining practical skills with NZQA qualifications, and preparing students to thrive in the farming industry.

GFF chief executive Wendy Paul said in her first 18 months with the organisation she had already seen firsthand the life-changing effect of the farm training.

“Students join us quiet and unsure, and leave as proud, confident individuals ready to make their mark in the farming world. It’s not just about gaining practical skills; it’s about realising their potential and the opportunities that await them.”

The GFF programme provides a blend of hands-on farm experience and structured learning, offering:

•  A two-year programme with practical workplace training and development.

•  A placement on farm with farm trainers who provide mentorship and share their passion for farming with the next generation. 

•  NZQA New Zealand Certificates in Primary Industries, Pre-Employment Skills, and Agriculture (Level 2 and 3).

•  A fees-free learning experience with a weekly sponsorship allowance.

•  Pastoral care and support from Student Success Advisers in the regions.

“The applications have been top quality, and we only have a few places left for our 2025 cohort,” said Paul. 

“We’re encouraging any young people who aren’t sure what to do but know they love the outdoors, animals and learning practical skills, and have the right attitude/work ethic, to reach out and have a chat. GFF could be the answer they are looking for.”

Hailing from North Canterbury, where she grew up on a sheep and beef farm, Rachel Shearer has long had an affinity with wool. 

Shearer has been appointed general manager of wool for PGG Wrightson, the first female to head the role for PGW, a name she fondly recalls from her childhood days.

“When I was a little girl, the Pyne Gould Guinness store in our local town of Rangiora was my favourite place to go with Dad.”   

Many years later, it was her father John who played a part in securing a position for her in a business he had worked alongside throughout his farming career. 

“I went to visit my parents for a Sunday roast and he had cut out a job advertisement from the newspaper for the role of GM people and safety at PGW. 

“So I applied, got the role and was fortunate to spend the next eight years on the executive leadership team at PGW as the GM people and safety.” 

While her career may not have taken the most conventional path to becoming the GM of wool, she believes all she has done has led her to where she is today. 

“The fact that my last name is Shearer is definitely not lost on me either.”

Her father is no longer alive, but his influence is a big part of why she is so passionate about working in the ag sector, and for PGW. 

Considered a progressive farmer, he was always looking to make positive change, exploring new ways of doing things to improve his land, stock and business.  

Shearer sees it as her time now to consider the next generation of those coming into the industry. 

“From an early age my brothers and I were helping out on the farm with hay making, tailing, shearing, and working the lambing beat. 

“There was always something to do and much to learn. And it was such a defining moment when my parents decided to sell the farm. 

“I was a teenager and I recall trying to chain myself to the front gate in protest.

“I was devastated to leave as I had imagined myself following in my parents’ footsteps and taking over the farm when I was old enough. 

“However, I moved on, and after doing an Honours degree in journalism and political science at the University of Canterbury, I headed off for my OE.” 

She began her career in recruitment in Sydney, which eventually led her to working for investment banks in London. 

Two years later her brother, who managed rock bands in the United States, said “Banking’s not your passion, why don’t you come work for me in LA?”

She did and the next few years were spent working in music management with an array of American bands.   

A visit home for Christmas changed that.

“I looked back at what I was doing in the US and realised the entertainment industry and Hollywood wasn’t my reality. Home was where I wanted to be.”

It was back home in Christchurch that she secured an in-house human resources role for a mining company. It ended up going into voluntary administration a few years later, at which time Shearer was the GM human resources. 

“It was certainly tough but also career defining as there was no playbook for navigating our way through. 

“As we were winding up that organisation in 2016, I secured the job with PGW.” 

Responsible for all people- and safety-related activities for the 2000 PGW team members across the country, and as a member of the executive leadership team, Shearer was kept busy.

A couple of years ago chief executive Stephen Guerin began investing in her strategic leadership and governance development, which has led to her GM Wool position. She is also executive director of bidr.

Alongside Guerin, she was assisting Grant Edwards to develop a revised strategy for the wool business up until his untimely death earlier this year.

Shearer was offered Edwards’s role on an acting basis and while it was a difficult time with him gone so suddenly, she said the legacy he and other industry stalwarts left behind was evident. 

“The business was able to continue on and I think this is a testament of strong leadership, that even when you’re not there, the team continues to operate to their best. 

“Grant was instrumental in helping us contemplate the future of the wool industry and now we are carrying forward many of his thoughts and ideas to put together a comprehensive plan.” 

While it was an unexpected shift, Shearer was keen for the challenge and on reflection can see how much of her previous work experience led her to where she is today. 

“As varied as my background may sound, when you reach senior leadership, it’s really interesting to look back and see the number of things that you take from each manager and job you’ve had. 

“I often joke about my time in LA as a left-field career break and you wouldn’t think there would be anything remotely related to running a wool business, but some of it does really round out what I do now. 

“I firmly believe in taking opportunities and addressing challenges as they present themselves. Following values, passion and purpose are extremely important to me.”

Now at the helm of a heritage brand in an iconic New Zealand industry, Shearer is keen to ensure PGW Wool adapts and grows as a business to help secure a future “for this incredible, sustainable fibre and its growers”. 

“I grew up sitting in front of the fire with A Dog’s Show on and the sound of Mum spinning or knitting wool from our flock into jumpers. 

“Our son was born premature so was in the neonatal intensive care unit and once out of his incubator we made sure to dress him head to toe in Merino. 

“I remember the doctor saying the success of his growth rate was indicative of a child being wrapped in wool. We buried my father in a wool coffin. 

“I feel I’ve experienced the full life cycle of wool, and while I know I’m not going to single-handedly solve all the challenges of the industry, I’m passionate about what our strategy and roadmap looks like to ensure we play our part to help elevate NZ wool in the modern world.”

She said she doesn’t feel an extra responsibility of being a woman in the leadership position, but over the years she has become more comfortable leaning into what it means to bring her authentic self to work. 

“When I became a new mum, I had to understand and embrace what I brought to the table and I realised that being successful is more about your output and influence. 

“It was about changing my mindset, saying no to things that aren’t important in order to deliver to my best abilities as a mum, partner and general manager. 

“I am conscious, although not overtly, that I’m in a job which has traditionally been held by a man. 

“I see my role is to help open the door for other women to join me in operational leadership roles. But it’s definitely not a burdensome feeling, it’s one of optimism.” 

And if there is one thing that will never fail to motivate Shearer in her career, it’s the wise words of her dad. 

“One of my favourite sayings that I got from him was ‘If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevancy even less,’ and this is the opportunity I choose to see in leading our wool team: the opportunity to sustainably set ourselves up to play our part in the future of a successful NZ wool industry.” 

In Focus Podcast | Sheep outlook: the future of our flock

Sheep farmers are doing it tough right now, with farmgate returns dropping back after a few good years and input costs rising. Add to that the march of pine trees across the land, and there’s talk of an existential crisis. Bryan asked AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad to give him the lay of the land and asked her what the sector needed to do to find prosperity again.

The senior and junior awards at the inaugural Otago Southland Clash of the Colleges were claimed by the talented students of Otago Boys’ High School and Blue Mountain College.

The Agri Futures Clash of the Colleges was created to inspire the next generation into food and fibre careers. 

Established by the New Zealand Rural Games Trust, the team delivers Clash of the College events in Auckland, Canterbury and Manawatū, scholarships, and in-school modules that support the delivery of the agriculture and horticulture curriculum.

The Clash of the Colleges is a fast-paced, Amazing Race-style competition that offers students hands-on experience in various aspects of the rural sector. 

Students work in teams of four to complete 16 hands-on modules within 90 minutes. 

The modules are run by experts in their field, Otago University Agriculture and Telford SIT Agriculture students.

Agri Futures’ Daniel O’Regan said the competition included an ATV wheel change, tree identification, attaching an insulator, break fencing, feeds and weeds, drenching, handpiece set-up, wool identification, through to gumboot throwing, sulky racing, on-farm recycling, CPR and more.

“It was fantastic to see students showcasing their skills, trying new things and meeting industry representatives. A key aim of the day is that they understand there is a wide range of work opportunities across the food and fibre sector.”

Senior:

•1st Otago Boys’ High School: Dustin Young, Charlie Hore, Henry Chittock and Toby McLean

• 2nd Southland Boys’ High School: Oliver LeMon, Michael Crene, Jake Anderson and Fletcher Palary

• 3rd Taieri College: Archie Eaton, Elise Mathais, Cameron Ter Woorst and Samuel McLeod 

Junior:

•1st: Blue Mountain College: Addie McHutchon, Anna Herriot, Jeremy Sanford and Angus Weir.

• 2nd: Maruawai College: Charlie Sprenger, Bryon McClintock, Tristan Nel and Jack Davidson.

The Otago Southland gumboot-throwing champion was Manaia Tiller of Blue Mountain College.