46 | Cadet training on a Shearing school. Sue Russell RURAL PEOPLE » Smedley Station “They come out of the two year course well grounded in all the main farming activities and skills. It’s great to see them blossom as young people through the learning and go on to take up roles all over New Zealand.” Farmers looking for staff often contact Smedley Station to enquire as to the cadets nearing the end of their training.” NGĀPUTAHI “Breeders of Genetically Superior Seedstock” Forbes Cameron 06 329 4050 | 0275294050 Angus Cameron 06 329 4711 cameronfamily@inspire.net.nz Please scan our QR Code to read our 2022 Bull Data Proud to support Smedley Station Rob Evans, Manager of Central Hawke’s Bay Sheep, Beef and Deer farm says no other cadet training farm in New Zealand carries the long and proud history that Smedley Station does. That history goes back to 1919, on the death of the original owner Josiah Howard, when the Government passed a special piece of legislation, enabling the 5,600 ha property to be given to the Crown, administered by the Public Trust, with the express purpose of providing agricultural training opportunities for passionate young people intent on making a career out of farming. The first course began in 1931 and since then cadets have been selected each year. Currently 13 cadets are selected annually to undertake a varied training programme, covering all aspects of running a farming operation. “It’s a two year course, so in any given year we have 26 cadets on the property. They live in a hostel on site and work on the farm five days each week for most of the year,” says Rob. As Manager, he oversees the training programme with a team of 11 other farm staff carrying various roles. There are three block managers, for the sheep, beef and deer operations and a stock manager. A fencing maintenance person runs the deer units while a tractor driver/workshop manager, training manager, full time builder and two cooks complete the team, which includes Rob’s wife Jenn who is in charge of administration and pastoral care. Rob knows Smedley Station well, having himself undertaken the training programme in 1998/1999. He says the programme is set up in such a way that all cadets get a taste of everything in the first year leaving them to concentrate on stock work, breaking in a dog and mustering on horseback in the second year. “They come out of the two year course well grounded in all the main farming activities and skills. It’s great to see them blossom as young people through the learning and go on to take up roles all over New Zealand.” Farmers looking for staff often contact Smedley Station to enquire as to the cadets nearing the end of their training. Asked how they select the 13 cadets from as many as 100 applicants each year Rob says there’s a process of shortlisting for interview about 40 applicants, from which the final selection is made. “They go through quite a thorough interview with us. We want to know what they have done to understand or make their mind up that farming is what they want to do. That they’ve got out and experienced it.” The content of learning provided has, over the years, evolved as farming management systems and supportive technologies have evolved. “We find some of our cadets like to get into the tech side of farming with all the tools now available to the modern farmer.” With so many cadets having passed through Smedley Station, an ex-cadets association has been formed. Rob is involved in this organisation and says they are in the process of revitalising the organisation. “You pay a membership fee and then you are affiliated. It’s a great way for cadets in any given year to keep in touch with their mates and to find out what becomes of them.” This yearwe have nine cadets over the 2 year groups that have come from the South Island so Smedley Station truly is a national training centre. “We really try to keep our traditional practices and learnings happening in the course, such as handling horses and dogs, digging fence posts and we add in the technology, so its a very broad, balanced training the cadets receive.” Smedley Station uses FarmIQ to administer its operation systems and Rob says he’s very conscious of the need to offer cadets experience of working with up to the minute technologies. While the training straddles the calendar year Rob says that by September, the group graduating will have secured work for the following year. “It’s very satisfying to be in this role and to see what our cadets make of their opportunity to learn from the team at Smedley Station.”
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