Under 35? Win a once-in-a-lifetime farming trip to New Zealand!
Ready to progress your career? Passionate about safeguarding British agriculture post-Brexit and beyond?
Are you motivated to embrace a new personal challenge?
Whatever your dream, it could become a reality as Farmers Guardian joins forces with The Louise Hartley Scholarship Fund and JCB to create an eight-strong study group to travel together to New Zealand in 2019.
The once-in-a-lifetime competition is offering those working in agriculture a chance to explore the landscape and country renowned for its innovation and liberalised non-subsidy system.
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There is no better time for the next generation in agriculture to be challenging conventional thinking and preparing for future challenges post-Brexit.
Leaders
The trip, which will take place in February 2019, will enable a group to understand the culture which has helped NZ become world leaders in a globally, competitive agricultural market and to meet the farmers who are excelling in their sector as they look to safeguard their future.
As well as looking at best practice, successful candidates will take a look at the core sectors of dairy, red meat, white meat, arable, fresh produce and agricultural diversifications.
The exclusive placements, worth £7,000 each, are being provided by The Louise Hartley Scholarship Fund following last year’s partnership with JCB which saw an online auction of its Pro Agri Loadall raise £74,000.
The prize includes flights, insurance, accommodation and travel.
The group will report their findings and recommendations to the wider farming community through regular correspondence with Farmers Guardian and at an event to be confirmed at a later date.
In addition to the eight places, Kite Consulting, ForFarmers and New Zealand House will also be sponsoring a further three places.
John Allen, managing partner at Kite, says: “Kite are delighted to be supporting this opportunity for young people to be inspired with new ideas and positively embrace change in the industry.”
Candidates
The competition is open to all young people involved in agriculture and horticulture in the UK and Northern Ireland and aims to recognise individuals who are looking to learn from, influence and motivate the farming industry.
Once the shortlist is established, candidates will be invited for an interview at JCB’s world headquar- ters in Staffordshire in mid-July.
Ben Hartley, Louise’s brother, who farms with his parents on a dairy unit in Lancashire, says: “Modern farmers have a lot going on and sometimes I think we lose focus of what makes our businesses profitable.
“Hopefully this broad-thinking group we are looking to send can find some bit of the Kiwi culture which allows them to make tough decisions and keep adapting.”
JCB DONATES £50,000 TO MEMORIAL FUND
Last November, a JCB Loadall Agri PRO telescopic handler, built entirely by 68 JCB apprentices, was auctioned online and raised £74,000 for charity.
The one-of-a-kind machine was unveiled in March to highlight the individuals working in the company’s apprenticeship programme and generate an interest in attracting new talent for the future.
The beneficiaries were The Louise Hartley Scholarship Fund, which received £50,000 to support young people in their farming careers, and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, which received £24,000 to help farmers and families suffering from mental health illness.
Legacy
Louise was a livestock journalist at Farmers Guardian and following her death in July 2016 after battling ovarian cancer, the family decided to create a legacy by launching her fund.
This year, the Hartley family would like to establish a bespoke one-off study group to travel to New Zealand and be inspired to learn and return to the UK to feedback to the farming industry.
AIMS
- To join a study tour and travel to New Zealand exploring the country’s agricultural success
- To understand the culture which has fostered successful benchmarking
- To meet innovative farmers changing their business models
- To understand how New Zealand ag farm without subsidies, embrace change and are export-driven
- Learn from New Zealand’s world class operators in different agricultural sectors, discover their supply chains, business metrics, and marketing organisations
- Develop an understanding of opportunities and challenges for UK agriculture post-Brexit
- Understand how the UK cansurvive and thrive better in a global market
- To test the theory that New Zealand farmers have a more open culture to scrutinise their businesses
ITINERARY
A 22-day tour with 19 days in NZ. Flying from UK to Christchurch
Day 1-4: Meeting influencers in the agricultural sector; visit farms from sheep, beef, dairy and arable sectors; farm stay accommodation and optional visit to Kaikoura for sea kayaking or whale watching.
Day 5-7: Drive to Mount Cook and visit Tasman Glacier. Stay in Mount Cook Village and visit a high
country sheep station and irrigation project in Central Otago.
Stay overnight in Wanaka. Visit a farm diversification project and stay overnight in Queenstown before flying to Nelson.
Day 8-11: Explore the vine and wine industry and visit Marlborough vineyards and Kiwi orchards. Drop by top fruit and fresh produce farms to learn about international export.
Take the opportunity for overnight farm stays and an optional visit to the Able Tazman National Park for sea kayaking and hiking in one of NZs most beautiful nature reserves.
Travel to Picton staying overnight before catching the morning ferry for Wellington.
Day 11-13: Opportunity to meet with senior industry figures and influencers. Optional visit to the National Museum and Weta Studios.
Travel north to Massey University to learn about how NZ farmers improve their resilience.
Day 13-16: Travel through North Island visiting leading farmers, agriculturalist and food processors in Taranaki, Taupo, Rotorua and the Waikato districts.
Day 16-18: Farm visits and travel on to Auckland for meetings with Fonterra and other agri businesses with an opportunity for last minute souvenir shopping.
Day 19: Depart Auckland and fly home.
- The tour itinerary is indicative and may change with local circumstances.
DIARY DATES
- Entry closing date: June 29
- Shortlist announced: July 6.
Candidates must be available for a final selection day on July 16 at JCB headquarters in Staffordshire - Winners announced: July 27.
What's included:
- A leaving reception at New Zealand House in London
- Welcome reception in Christchurch and Wellington organised by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
- Media training with Farmers Guardian
- Flight tickets, including airport taxes
- Subsistence and accommodation including overnight accommodation breakfasts and evening meals
- Transport and travel across NZ
- Travel insurance cover
- 24-hour emergency support service in NZ and the UK
HOW TO ENTER
You must:
- Be aged under 35
- Demonstrate why you wish to travel abroad
- You do not need to come from a farming background but you must demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm for a career in agriculture or allied industries
- Have a full British passport and driving licence before departure
- Provide two references
- Be available to travel during February 2019
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