| 53 ON FARM » Smedley Station Agricultural training ‘the driving impulse’ In their second year cadets at Smedley Station are heavily involved in stock work with dogs and horses a key part of this. Sue Russell Central Hawke’s Bay sheep, beef and deer farm, Smedley Station, is not only a fully working farming operation, spread over 5600ha of at times challenging terrain, but is also home to a farm cadetship programme that stretches back to 1931. Manager – and former cadet himself – Rob Evans, says given this long and proud history, Smedley Station has supported hundreds of young men and women to find their place and forge careers in agriculture. The real story of Smedley Station extends back further though, to 1919, on the death of original owner Josiah Howard. The Government of the day enacted a unique piece of legislation, enabling the property to be given to the Crown and to be administered by the Public Trust. “The express purpose of providing agricultural training opportunities for young people sat behind the legislation and has been the driving impulse behind our work all these year’s since,” says Rob. Each year an intake of 13 cadets, chosen from a pool of up to 80, is selected so there are always 26 cadets on farm at any stage. They begin learning what day-to-day life working on a farm is all about. Each cadet works in all areas of the farm, experiencing a well-rounded first year where they are out in the field getting taught general farm skills from fencing, butchery, engineering, building, tractor work, mechanical repairs and handpiece work, among other things, while working in a team and contributing. “Having the cadets over a two-year period is good because they get a taste of everything and then in their second year the cadets are full on stock work with a couple of dogs and riding a horse with stockmanship a key part of this. Their personal interests in farming can then be explored more. All our cadets either go out shepherding, shearing or on to University. Cadets generally will have a job sorted by September/October ready to start straight after Graduation in the middle of December.” While the farm’s footprint is considerable, its actual effective working area for stock and infrastructure is 3600ha. On this land close to 30,000 stock units are farmed – 12,500 ewes, 450 breeding cows, 900 velvet stags and 500 hinds. The number of trade stock has lifted also in the past couple of years, Rob says. Sheep are acquired from Ngaputahi Romney a Forbes and Angus Cameron Stud, where Rob says, they are seeing some really good results. “I’ve seen a really positive change in our sheep using their genetics.” “We are coming into tupping at this time of the year and mating our cows is all done, so its a busy time but things are going very well.” Determining stock numbers to carry through and a good understanding of feed supply ongoing is crucial at this time of year Funding for the cadetship programme is generated from farm income sources placing a responsibility on Rob and the staff to ensure good money is generated from the myriad of stock income streams. He’s been in the role nine years now and describes it as a pretty awesome job, working and supporting the young people that come through the training programme. “They come to us from all over the country. In last year’s group we had nine cadets from the South Island split between the two year groups. Interest in applying for the cadetship generally comes from social media posts, school careers advisors and word of mouth. Initial experience of Smedley Station occurs at an Open Day held in the second weekend of June each year, to give applicants some understanding of what the farm and training programme is all about.” Rob says its very important that each cadet actively wants to be in the programme as demand is high. “We need them to know this is what they want to do and they have to have a positive attitude, good work ethic and be able to work in a team situation, including helping in the hostel. Applicants have to have been out and actually experienced working on a farm so they come into this with their eyes wide open.” An advisory Board is part of the team at Smedley Station, with the board representing their organisations such as Fed farmers, rural councils, urban councils, A&P Society, Ex-cadets Association and the Secondary Schools Principal’s Association. Servicing Hawke's Bay with locations in Waipukurau and Hastings 068588983 & 068783289 NGĀPUTAHI “Breeders of Genetically Superior Seedstock” Proud to support Smedley Station PRO N e w Z e a l a n d ® Forbes Cameron 06 329 4050 | 027 529 4050 Angus Cameron 06 329 4711 | cameronfamily@inspire.net.nz NZ performance Recording Services BULL SALE DATE: 10TH JUNE 2024, 3PM
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