Teen pushing for agricultural growth
A lot of 15-year-old boys look to get a part-time job, but Simeon Cook has gone one better - he runs his own cattle stud.
Now the new chairman of Stratford High School’s 25-strong Young Farmers Club is hoping to get others interested in agricultural careers.
‘‘I really want to grow the club’s membership and ensure we have a full busload of students for field trips,’’ he said.
Cook is studying Level 1 Agriculture this year and hoped there would be more agricultural options next year.
‘‘I hope Stratford High School will offer Agribusiness as a subject next year because it’d help me with the financial side of my stud,’’ he said.
The Mangatoki farmer started breeding Santa Gertrudis beef cattle in 2011 and now has 14 cows and calves.
‘‘My goal is to get accepted as a cadet at Smedley Station in the Hawke’s Bay when I finish high school,’’ he said.
Stratford High School’s head girl Olivia Slater, who lives on a sheep and beef farm at Toko, is also involved in the club.
‘‘I’m currently doing Level 3 Agriculture by correspondence and I want to end up working in the primary industries sector,’’ she said.
‘‘There aren’t enough students studying agriculture and hopefully our school’s club will help change that.’’
The club’s run by NZ Young Farmers and is part of TeenAg, which aims to show the fun side of agricultural careers.
Taranaki / Manawatu NZ Young Farmers field officer Megan Bates said any students were encouraged to give it a go.
‘‘You don’t have to be off a farm,’’ she said.
Brandon Andrews, 14, has just signed up to the club and is keen to become an agricultural contractor.
‘‘I live in town, but I like machinery and I’m interested in planting and harvesting crops,’’ he said.
TeenAg has grown rapidly since the first clubs started in 2009, Bates had noticed this in her time as a field worker.
‘‘When I started in this role in 2014, there were just three TeenAg clubs in Taranaki. Now there are 10,’’ she said.
‘‘They’ve really helped increase students’ awareness of the career options available in primary industries.’’