Agriculture students at Waitaki Boys High are learning practical skills and contributing to research on Fraser Farm – a 20-hectare sheep property that borders their Oamaru school.
Elizabeth Prentice – the teacher in charge of agriculture – works closely with farm manager Murray Isbister to ensure farm work is linked to the agri-business course she has developed for Year 9-13 students.
"I think you need to have that balance of practical and academic," she says.
For two years in a row. Year 12 boarder Jack Price has won an award for his services to the farm, which is home to a flock of 100 sheep.
Despite not coming from a farming background, Jack has developed an interest in sheep & beef and chose to study agriculture and agri-business in his final year of school.
"I didn't have these sorts of opportunities at home so it's been awesome learning alongside Murray and with other boys."
Elizabeth is encouraging Jack to continue his studies at Lincoln University.
"Boys and girls like this are the future, and one of the things I continually say to them, when we talk about environmental issues, is 'you're going to have to clean up the mess that my generation's made'. It's a huge challenge facing farming".
