Students test their agricultural knowledge and skills in mini junior judging competition at Henty Machinery Field Days

Young people interested in a career in agriculture have a chance to compete in a mini junior judging competition and come away with some fantastic prizes thanks to the TAFE NSW, Primary Industries Centre North Wagga campus, at Henty.

The junior judging was launched at last year’s field days and drew 250 school aged students, with the winners St Pauls College, Walla Walla, and Yanco Agricultural High School taking home prizes donated by the Riverina Co-op and RB Sellers.

TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre North Wagga Wool classing and Agriculture Teacher Anna Ingold said students competed across seven different stations, testing their knowledge and skills in beef cattle, sheep and wool, crops and grains. 

“One station involved questions on bull selection in relation to calving ease, while others were identifying the different microns of wool, plants and seeds, counting sheep and using data for profitability in animal production,” Miss Ingold said.

Afterwards students were able to learn welding skills on the virtual welder or shear a sheep under the watchful eye of experienced shearer and TAFE NSW trainer Bill Kimber. 

“We are actively seeking to create engagement around the Primary Industries Centre, agriculture and what we do, and have students aware of what their options are throughout school and after school,” Miss Ingold said. 

“We had students last year from urban backgrounds and they were given an insight into what agriculture meant, the different enterprises and their future options in agriculture as a career.

“The average age of students was 13 and they ranged from eight to 18 years.”

This year’s visitors to the TAFE NSW site can learn about the basic, novice and improver shearing courses, along with wool handing and classing, Certificate II, III, IV and Diploma of Agriculture, horticulture, permaculture and animal studies (animal care and vet nursing). 

“We have a dummy fleece for people to practice wool handling skills. The shearing industry is experiencing a lack of skilled staff and within agriculture in general it is hard to find employees with appropriate knowledge and skills,” Miss Ingold said. 

“Even for those young people who work on farm for their parents during the holidays, we encourage them into undertake a course within agriculture. There are some really good options for students to do school based traineeships whilst still at school, and traineeships on completion of schooling.”

School students are welcome to visit the TAFE NSW Wagga Wagga site at Block N, 562-563 and enter the junior judging during the field days on September 17-19. 

TAFE NSW (site N562-N563) Practical Demonstration Times:

Tuesday

Wednesday & Thursday