Shea Stevenson Young dairy farmer nominated for Outstanding Trainee of the Year At just eight years old, Shea Stevenson set his sights on a career in the dairy industry when he started helping his brother-in-law on his dairy farm. Now 19, Shea is well on the way to completing a Modern Apprenticeship in Dairy Farming through Agriculture ITO and is nominated for the Braeside Cup for Outstanding Junior Agriculture ITO Trainee for 2005. "The thing I like best about the dairy industry is that there are lots of opportunities to progress quickly if you put your mind to it," Shea says. "This is my second season in this job and my boss is giving me responsibility. The training really helps with that. It means you know what you are talking about." Work and home for Shea is David and Sarah Marshall's 180-hectare dairy farm, Tutu Totara, just outside Marton, which is currently milking 520 cows. On farm, he works closely with his manager, Richard Ash, who is also his registered assessor. "There are three of us working on the farm and we're all involved in some sort of study," Shea says. "I studied agriculture at Feilding Agricultural High School which gave me the basics and the training I'm doing now is building on that.   "You take your classroom learning back to the farm and put it into practice straight away." Shea has completed the National Certificate in Agriculture Level 2 and the National Certificate at Level 3 and is currently studying towards his Level 4 qualification. He hopes to complete his Modern Apprenticeship and a National Certificate in Agriculture Production Management towards the end of 2007. As a Modern Apprentice, Shea learns on the job and takes part in regular off job training with industry specialists. He works to a personalised training plan and gets regular visits and personal mentoring support from local Agriculture ITO Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator Danielle Donovan. "Danielle visits me every three months and helps me to set my goals. It keeps me focused. I'd definitely recommend a Modern Apprenticeship to other young people in the same position as me. I get to mix with people of my own age who are at the same stage. It's a way of getting ahead." Shea, who enjoys hunting, fishing, motorbikes and car restoration when he's not on the job, says he was 'rapt' to be nominated for the Braeside Cup, which will be announced at the Wanganui/Rangitikei Regional Sharemilker of the Year in March. I'd like to be a manager in three years, sharemilking in five and eventually own my own farm," he adds with a smile. Back to training success stories