7 July 2008 Lincoln hosting student visitors to Young Farmer Contest's Practical Challenge Day

 

Over a dozen students chosen from across New Zealand secondary schools and polytechnics are going to experience a taste of Lincoln University plus a day at the Grand Final of the National Bank Young Farmer Contest in Ashburton, this Thursday and Friday. (10-11 July)

Students from Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington have come south at Lincoln University’s invitation to join others from Canterbury and together they are spending a day and night at Lincoln University followed by a day at the Practical Challenges final of the Young Farmer Contest.

“We have encouraged agricultural students who have displayed aptitude, particularly those from urban backgrounds, to participate in the two full-on days, which also coincide with the second week of the school holidays,” says Lincoln University Liaison Officer Kirsten Hooper.

“Lincoln University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roger Field, is already on record as saying there needs to be a greater participation and interest in New Zealand’s land-based industries by those from urban backgrounds. Well, with this programme we’re trying to contribute to encouraging such interest.”

On the first day of the programme the students will be exposed to the daily running of campus life, attending an Animal Science lecture with Associate Professor Graham Barrell; going to a short lecture with Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Grant McKenzie on bio-technology and researching and constructing the gene-marker test; enjoying a tour the Lincoln University/ South Island Dairying Development Centre Dairy Farm; and listening to Professor of Soil Science Keith Cameron talk about the environmental projects/opportunities in dairying which are facing New Zealand’s agricultural industry. They will also meet with Bill Barwood of DairyNZ and Lincoln University’s Scholarships Manager Jane Edwards to talk about opportunities available for students heading into the agricultural sector.

The students will be staying in the halls of residence, eating with the other halls residents and even attending the Students’ Association’s “Snowboard Department” Jib Jam.

“We are buddying up the group with some of our Future Leader Scholars who are studying Agriculture at Lincoln as mentors, but as far as possible the aim is to leave students pretty much to their own devices so they feel right at home,” says Kirsten.

The Young Farmer Contest Practical Day, held at the Ashburton Domain, will expose the visitors to some of New Zealand’s very best farmers, and it will be a full day of entertainment.

“Our main aim in this new initiative is to expose young students to some of the key issues facing the future of the agricultural industry and introduce them to some of the research projects that Lincoln University is currently undertaking in relation to these.  As well we hope that they will enjoy student life while they are with us.

“We hope that the visit will breakdown some of the perceived mental barriers surrounding university study and the challenges facing young farmers so that these students take away a sense focus to do well in  their NCEA and the Ag ITO courses plus have a few new goals to work towards in 2009.”