But farming can be tough. The hours are demanding, the wind can be cold and the friends can be distant. Dragging yourself out of bed before the birds have even thought about singing day after day can get old quickly.
So it seems young people are turning more and more to other trades that offer good pay and hours that afford them a social life. Unemployment is low in many but not all regions and people have choices.
As one high school principal says “Why would a young up-and-coming 17 or 18-year-old choose that industry when they have options for another job with better pay?” So what’s the solution?
Well, apart from better pay, providing an environment that’s happy and healthy is a great start. A roster that gives someone the time to play sport, see family and friends and recover and relax is a must. A supportive work environment where guidance is given and opinions are valued is also a good idea.
This isn’t about coddling young people. It’s about recognising societal and workforce changes and to attract good people, farming needs to change too. Schools are starting to teach pupils land-based skills that will complement the business, economics, civics and literacy skills they already gain. There are institutions like Taratahi, Massey and Lincoln that can further that education.
But if that first job or even the second isn’t much fun, all that training might be lost to our industry. With tens of thousands of workers required in the next few years to help grow the primary industries we need to get this right. The future of our industry and our communities depend on it.
