Business Rural Summer 2021

Your Farming Future Starts at Telford – Enrol Now for 2022 Get into the Agricultural sector with a trusted and well-known quali ication from Telford. Learn from the experts through hands-on education and training. At the heart of rural education since 1964, Telford’s core focus on agriculture remains; an established campus with purpose-built facilities is tailored to provide a current and relevant learning experience. With a strong tradition in producing graduates capable of entering sectors where particular skill sets are required, Telford’s emphasis on practical learning sees work experience incorporated into many of its programmes and graduates are valued in the workplace because of their practical abilities, having had applied skills taught from day one at Telford. There’s never been a better time to train or upskill for a career in agriculture with government funding through the Targeted Training Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF); this funding remains in place until December 2022, study any of these programmes with no course costs: Massey Diploma in Agriculture (Level 5) Farming Systems and Equipment (Level 3) (Dairy, Sheep and Beef) Foundation Certi icate in Agriculture New Zealand Certi icate in Animal Technology (Level 5) Rural Animal Technician Mason Jones came to study Agriculture at Telford from a city background. Realising he would be starting from scratch, he chose to study there because he knew he needed to learn the basics properly. “What sold me on Telford, was the range of practical skills they taught, and being able to go out to work experience for a week each month. I also liked the idea of training my own dog.” Mason chose the usual path of starting with the Certi icate in Agriculture in year one, continuing with the Diploma in he second year. The highlight of his time at Telford was the dog training, Mason enjoyed seeing the transformation from pup to working dog. “Watching them progress to the stage where they could head a small mob of sheep to you, was awesome.” Attaining quali ications helped open doors to work immediately for Mason; after completing the DipAg. he went straight into employment as a Junior Shepherd on a sheep and beef farm near Te Anau, having found the job through his Work Experience manager at Telford while still studying. Two years later, he advanced to a station in the North Island, where he’s employed as a Senior Shepherd on the deer unit. Mason sees his future in Agritech. “My quali ications and experience have helped me understand the basic running of a farm, with further experience I should be able to progress into an Agritech role.” The knowledge he’s gained so far will also come in handy one day, when he ful ils the goal of owning or leasing his own block of land, with his partner. Secure your place at Telford for 2022, enrol now. Enquiries welcome, phone 0800 835 367 or visit https://www.sit.ac.nz/campus/Te lford to view the full range of courses available. Telford - 498 Owaka Highway, Balclutha The SIT Zero Fees Scheme (ZFS) is subject to NZ government policies.