True hands-on experience works
PRACTICAL hands-on experience backed up by theory knowledge is the theme behind the cadetships at Smedley Station and Cadet Training Farm in Central Hawke’s Bay.
Smedley offers a unique opportunity for young people looking for a rural career by taking on 11 trainees each year for two years.
‘‘It’s always had a practical base with hands-on training with theory to back it up,’’ says manager Rob Evans.
Training takes place when the work needs to be done.
‘‘Our emphasis is to have the cadets learn by actually doing the work. The station is a commercial farm first and decisions are made on that basis. Every day the cadets are doing the work they will expect to do in their future employment.’’
The station runs sheep, cattle, bull beef and deer – carrying approximately 28,000 stock units on about 5054ha (3186ha effective) on the original Smedley land as well as new blocks Onepoto and Ridgeland’s. It winters 10,500 ewes and 3000 hoggets (mated) with all progeny finished, 500 angus breeding cows with all progeny finished, 250 red hinds mated to red stags and 500 velvet stags. Friesian two-year bulls and mixed 15-month steers are also bought and finished.
Stock work includes working with sheep, beef, deer, horses, dogs and some dairy experience. This includes breeding, mating, handling and mustering. Delving deeper, there’s experience in finishing stock using feed budgeting, the understanding and treatment of diseases and injuries, experience and training in the use of working dogs, handling and breaking in horses. Cadets learn how to kill and dress sheep, beef and pigs.
The use of new technology is also continually updated.
‘‘We have introduced some EID technology through a beef and lamb progeny trial started in the past couple of months. The boys are right into this where they are exposed to AI, BCS, weight collection, blood testing and DNA and the use of an auto drafter and the technology around this. We see the introduction of some of this sort of technology to be very beneficial to the cadet’s future in this changing world,’’ Rob says.
‘‘We’re also using more crops and specialised forages such as lucerne and plantain alongside our brassicas. The cadets get to understand the growth patterns, grazing management and live weight gains etc, and how they can add value for us in the different climate we face these days.’’