book.sorell - Flipbook - Page 13
JUNE 2024 - 13
It’s a growing concern
BRONWYN LISSON
TASMAN District School’s Rural
Futures class is spreading the seeds
of agricultural passion among its
students.
The class has 22 students –ranging
from grades eight to 10 – learning
about the vital role of agriculture.
Leading the class is Bill Shoobridge, a seasoned agriculture teacher
with experience in working on a beef
cattle, running his own small farm and
teaching agriculture at TasTafe before
teaching Rural Futures at Tasman District School.
For these students, the classroom
extends far beyond the traditional,
with the option to get outside, interact
with animals, tend to the gardens and
learn about farming.
Among the students taking the class
is grade eight student Lara Bone,
whose upbringing in sheep farming
sparked an interest in agriculture.
“I really like that we get the opportunity to learn about this stuff at
school,” Miss Bone said.
“We don’t just talk about farming and animal care; we actually get
shown it as well.”
Miss Bone hopes to one day work
on a farm or even run her own cattle.
This year the class was gifted
two steers from Bream Creek Dairy
in October for the “Cows Create
Careers” initiative.
The initiative sees students growing
the cows until they are big enough
to sell.
The students have also been managing four Angus beef which were
The Rural Futures class at Tasman District School with their Merino ewes.
purchased at 300kg and are now over
400 kg.
Additionally, the class will participate in the Australian Merino Wether
Challenge next term.
The challenge involves schools
from 昀ve different states and requires
each school team to look after several
wethers over six months before they
are judged on their wool quality, temperament and meat at Campbell Town.
The school was given their wethers
from local Merino stud, Bangor.
“The Wether Challenge gives the
students a chance to learn about
handling, feed and have a hands-on
experience within the Merino industry,” Mr Shoobridge said.
Emphasising the local relevance
of the class, Mr Shoobridge said his
aim to make sure the class represents
what happens in the industry locally.
“We aim to represent what’s
relevant to the Tasman Peninsula
and that changes each year based
what’s happening locally and what
the students are showing an interest
in,” he said.
Recently, the class started a new
garden to plant things like garlic
and pears that typically do well
in the area. Currently the students
are growing all sorts of winter
vegetables.
In the class, senior students have
taken on responsibilities like vaccinating cows and weighing sheep
before they are paired with a ram.
With excursions to nearby farms
and hands-on activities, the class
takes a holistic approach to the rural
industry.
This has included excursions to
Bangor sheep stud and beef farms
with plans to visit a dairy or a cattle
sale soon.
Past students are a testament to the
value of the class, with many now
employed in agriculture or pursuing
further studies in 昀elds such as veterinary studies and ag science.
Mr Shoobridge has also seen his own
children through the program.
“My daughter is now a veterinarian
and my son has an agriculture contracting business.”
Overall, the Rural Futures class covers a wide range of rural topics that are
related to what is relevant in the industry.
“Last term was all about the sheep
industry, this term it’s been more about
the beef industry, later on we’ll look at
local producers,” Mr Shoobridge said.
For Mr Shoobridge the class is more
than just farming, it’s about having
engaged students.
“This class is vitally important.
There’s so much employment out there,
from cattle, to land management, to tourism and national parks. My aim is to
have eyes on all of those industries
so that the students know about the
opportunities.
“Whatever we can do to show them
the parts of the industry, we will try to
make it happen.
“There are some students that really
thrive in this class where they might
not be as engaged in other areas, it’s
great to just get those students so
engaged.”
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