More than 1,000 primary and intermediate pupils connected with farmers last year through Farmer Time for Schools. The programme, supported by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, is now in its fifth year.

National Coordinator Marie Burke says the programme links classrooms with food and fibre producers by video call, running fortnightly across seasons so pupils follow production through the year.

“The children don’t have to go anywhere; they can visit the farm from the comfort of their classroom,” she says.

Their recent student participant survey asked pupils about farming careers.

“Over half of them said that they could now be interested in a farming job or something that supports farming.”

She says farmers involved range from mushroom growers and goat milkers to pig, sheep, beef and dairy.

Read the full report here.

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