Amazing Race gives students a taste of primary industries

Thursday 14th June 2018

Amazing Race gives South Auckland students a taste of primary industries careers

South Auckland students have been given a taste of careers in the primary industries as part of an Amazing Race at Fieldays.

Almost 60 students from Aorere College and Manurewa High School took part in the food challenge yesterday.

The race saw students zigzag across the Waikato site of the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere.

“I thought we were coming to see cows being milked, but this is mind-blowing,” said Year 12 student Linda-Rae Porter.

The Amazing Race is designed to show city students the career opportunities available in the primary industries.

The event is organised by NZ Young Farmers and funded by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP).

“It’s about showing city kids that there is more to food production than cows and gumboots,” said Leeann Morgan from NZ Young Farmers.

One lucky group of students even got to meet Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.

“Being here has really opened my eyes. It’s exciting. I didn’t realise most of these companies even existed,” said Year 12 student Jillianne Faletaogo.

Fieldays plays host to almost 1000 exhibitors and attracted more than 133,000 visitors last year.

Year 12 student Saane Fotu wants to study science at university and had planned to enter the health sector.

“Then I arrived at Fieldays and was like ‘wow’. This is not what I expected. Now I’m considering working in agri-science,” she said.

Students visited sites of tertiary education providers, companies and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

They met former Aorere College student Shaleen Nandan, who now works as a biosecurity officer for MPI.

The Auckland resident completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in botany at the University of Otago.

“The career prospects in the primary industries are endless, it’s not just about farming,” said Shaleen.

Students were told Lincoln University graduates could earn between $80,000 and $150,000 working as rural consultants.

“When we heard that I thought ‘that’s going to be my new career’,” laughed Linda-Rae.

It’s the third time NZ Young Farmers has run the Amazing Race food challenge at Fieldays.

Photos from yesterday's Amazing Race can be found by clicking on this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DLioBJCz8Wt8g5YrVdFVSoxZ9DqI3a2_

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