The first ever "Clash of the Colleges" event was held at Telford yesterday and students went head to head in farming modules to see who was the fastest and would come out on top.
Agri Futures general manager Daniel O’Regan said the day brought energy to children in the area.
"It’s all about getting these kids excited about agriculture and horticulture and showing them all the different opportunities and pathways they can take, from the racing sector, through to dairy, sheep and beef and even forestry," he said.
"There is lots of jobs out there and plenty that never used to be there.
"There are environmental scientists, technicians, and many more opportunities that we are hoping to show these schoolkids.
"Kids need to realise that the days of just being a shepherd are still there, but there is so much else you can do."
"This event is about not having to rely on the school curriculum to expose these students on what is happening all around New Zealand," he said.
"We found out through Covid-19 that farming was the backbone of New Zealand and was trying to keep us going, so this event is just exposing these kids to everything to do with agriculture and horticulture.
"It gives them a good nudge and a crack into the various modules and we also put a competitive edge on it as well to get the kids into it."
Blue Mountain College students Addie McHutchon, Anna Herriott, Jeremy Sanford and Angus Weir won first place in the junior team awards.
Otago Boys’ High School students Dustin Young, Charlie Hore, Henry Chittock and Toby McLean were first in the senior team awards.
