Ricky’s Rural Studies Posted by Posted by Imogen Loakman on 24 August 2015 Posted on: 24 August 2015

Farming is in Ricky’s blood. He grew up going to the stockyards and watching his Dad bring in the cattle.

Now 19, he’s studying for a National Certificate in Agriculture under the Youth Guarantee programme, with the aim of working on a dairy farm. Ricky started at the National Trades Academy in January. The 12-month course is hands-on and he has so far experienced dairy farming, sheep and beef farming, shearing, mustering, tractor-driving, quad-bike driving, chain-sawing, fencing and working with dogs.

“Tractor driving has been one of my favourite things so far,” Ricky says. His confidence is growing at the course and he is getting good marks. He has extra help with his English and maths and he is determined to improve so that he can carry out the measuring required in the milking shed. He has also established a great relationship with his tutor Jason who is very supportive of his career goals. “If I am ever struggling I let Jason know. He’ll take you through things if you don’t understand,” Ricky says.

The class often head to the stockyards on field-trips. The connections Ricky makes here will be very important when he starts job-hunting. It’s also a great place to find out if a farmer needs the help of the whole class to get a big task done, for example putting up a new fence. “They say gidday to you and we find out if they need some help. They have a lot of respect for us students,” Ricky says.

The class gets on well together and Ricky has made a good group of mates who like to joke around with each other during breaks. He often helps others with their work, including teaching some international students how to ride a motorbike correctly.

Ricky’s training is preparing him for the real life experiences of farming and he is excited about entering the workforce. “I have always wanted to get into dairy. Farming is my passion,” Ricky says.

Potential students who need support to study at the National Trades Academy can email donelle@nta.co.nz

Story taken from Christchurch's Enabling Good Lives Newsletter | June 2014.