Getting ahead in farming takes motivation, knowledge and dedication, as a dozen go-getting Modern Apprentices learned when they embarked on Future Farmers in April.
About the programme
Future Farmers is a week-long leadership development programme run by Agriculture ITO. It is designed for motivated Modern Apprentices working in the agriculture industry and aims to give our young farmers of the future inspiration and knowledge about how to succeed in farming today.
The intensive programme is structured around a series of workshops, farm visits and discussion groups and is facilitated by businessman and farmer Grant Taylor. Leading agribusiness practitioners and advisers explore with trainees a broad range of topics, from career development and goal setting through to asset management and business partnerships.
Only the most motivated apprentices are encouraged to apply; it's a packed and demanding programme suited to those who are prepared to put in the hard yards to get ahead.
Dane Titze
Twenty-one-year-old Dane Titze is a dairy farmer from Whakatane. He grew up on dairy farm and has been full time farming for three years. He was keen enough to use a week of annual leave to join the Future Farmers programme in the Waikato in April. Dane's goals are good financial management and stock ownership.
"The programme really opened my eyes," he says. "I tried to take away as much as I could.
"You've got to be keen on farming to take part, really motivated, because there's a lot to take on board and quite a few late nights. But if you're a Modern Apprentice, you are already pretty motivated, I think. And for a dairy farmer, getting up at 7am is a pretty good lie-in!"
Farm visits
The highlight of the programme for most trainees was the farm visits, which provided many of them with their first up-close look at working farms in other sectors.
"It was good to see how other types of farms worked," says Dane. "I've always been interested in sheep and beef farming, so to see a real sheep and beef farm in action was great."
Financial planning
Future Farmers provides trainees with plans and advice for achieving financial success through investment in agribusiness. Dane says he took away a much better understanding of the business side of farming as a result. "Getting my head round the financial stuff was tough - I'm not very mathematical - but I know a lot more now about managing money and owning assets.
"It was a real inspiration. Now I know I can be more than just a dairy farmer. I can work but also have a business that works for me. One day I could own a multimillion dollar business outside of farming, selling stock."
For now, Dane will be focusing on completing his level 3 National Certificate and building up his own herd. "I'll buy more each season, then hopefully go 50/50 sharemilking," he says. "I might buy a bit of dry stock as well and try to make some money out of that. Anything's possible."
Arna Grattan
As the only female organic dairy farmer in the programme, Arna Grattan from Mangakino, 21, was a bit unsure at the start about how things would go, but in the end enjoyed everything on offer.
"It is a really good initiative," says Arna. "I know someone who went on Future Farmers a few years ago and she said it was amazing. I just wish it had been longer - maybe two weeks in length? Heaps of people should apply."
A full-on week
Recalls Arna, "It was really full-on but I enjoyed everything - learning how other farm businesses work, experiencing other ways of life. Our facilitator was excellent and I loved talking things over at night.
"I found learning about the business side of things particularly interesting. The man who came from the bank explained things to us in way that was easy to understand. It has made me feel a lot more motivated, knowing there are other ways I can learn about the industry."
Something for everyone
Future Farmers is really worth doing, agrees Dane Titze. "It's a great initiative. Everyone there got something out of it and seemed pretty motivated afterwards.
"It's also a really social time. It was good to meet people like me, around the same age. If we're going to be the future farmers, it's good to know each other now."
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