Waikato couple are Farming to Succeed

MEDIA RELEASE

16 May 2011

Waikato couple are Farming to Succeed

AgITO’s North Island Farming to Succeed programme sponsored by FIL New Zealand had a unique pair of attendees this year. Farming couple Jared Crawford and Sara Preston were both accepted out of nearly 80 applicants to attend the life changing career development programme.

“It was so cool that we both got to go together,” Sara says. “We were really glad to be able come home and be on the same page”.

Farming to Succeed runs once yearly over five days, during which participants go through a structured series of workshops, farm visits and discussion groups.

Participants work with course facilitator Grant Taylor and other leading agribusiness practitioners to explore the key ingredients required for the achievement of personal and business success. Only 25 people are accepted to each course.

Topics covered include career development, staged capital growth and asset management, goal setting and motivation, successful business partnerships, financial development, time management and managing stress.

Jared and Sara are currently working on a 530 cow dairy operation north of Hamilton, where Jared is the 2IC and Sara is the farm assistant.

“I grew up on a farm and when I left school I did three years on dairy farms and then decided to go plumbing for seven years and got my trade,” Jared says. “It was my first season back on a farm this year.”

“Jared wanted to go back to his roots,” former chef and nanny, Sara, says. “His parents were successful farmers and we want to head that way as quickly as we can – which is why we applied for the course, it’s a way to fast track your career.”

“We’re entering dairy a bit later,” Jared adds. “We’re both 27, so we want to get ahead as fast as we can.”

Jared is about to complete his National Certificate in Agriculture, Dairy Farming, Level 4, through AgITO, whilst Sara has completed her Level 2 National Certificate and more recently the National Certificate in Agriculture, Animal Health and Husbandry, Level 3. She is looking forward to starting her Breeding course mid-2011.

“I should finish Level 4 in June and I want to carry on and do as much as I can,” Jared says. “Training has been a massive help for me as I’ve been out of the industry for nearly eight years and a lot has changed since then. Coming back in I had the basics, but the feed budgeting and animal health training is more in depth and helps a lot.”

They are both full of enthusiasm about their experience at the week long programme.

“I thought it was awesome,” Jared says. “Grant is an inspiring guy, his tips and dedication and the info he’s gathered together help so much.

“Our goals were planned out before we went. We want to become sharemilkers and move up, but we learned there are all these other things you can do to get to where you want to go – like investing.”

“There are so many ways to invest money to make money,” Sara agrees.

The pair came away so focused and motivated that they’ve since upgraded their goals.

“Grant talks about the top ten percent and that’s where we want to get to,” Jared says. “Anything is possible if you go for it We met so many different people and found there’s always a way to get to your goal – it’s not always a straight line.”

Farming to Succeed doesn’t just focus on one farming sector, a fact that Sara enjoyed.

“A really great part of the course is that we got to see what happens beyond the farm gates, like at the meatworks and a Fonterra factory. It was a real eye opener,” she says. “We could be chicken farmers, we don’t just have to be dairy cow farmers.

“We visited different farms and saw other people in the industry who’ve made it. They started from nothing just like us – it was inspirational to hear them talk. Learning from those people is really beneficial.”

“I’d definitely recommend the course,” Jared says. “It has opened my eyes. It’s been a massive turning point in my life and I 100% recommend that people go. Anyone with a real dedication to go farming and move up in their career should apply.”

Farming to Succeed applications are open to eligible Level 3 or above AgITO trainees from any farming sector. Further info can be found at www.farmingtosucceed.co.nz or by contacting AgITO on 0800 691 111. Applications for 2012 will open later this year.

ENDS

About AgITO

Agriculture ITO (AgITO) provides leadership in education and training, develops national qualifications, maintains national standards and provides ongoing support for their trainees and employers. AgITO training is subsidised by industry and Government. For more information on our qualifications, please visit www.agito.ac.nz.

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